Jack Wighton is the 2020 Dally M Medallist, beating out Nathan Cleary and Clint Gutherson to take home the award for the NRL’s player of the year.
Nathan Cleary is the red-hot favourite to take home the Dally M Medal, but could someone spoil the Panthers halfback’s party? Join The Roar for a live blog and updates of the 2020 Dally M Awards from 7:30pm (AEDT).
No Panther has won the NRL’s top individual honour since 1985 when Greg Alexander was awarded the prestigious medal, but Clearly looks set to break that trend tonight.
The young playmaker was just two points from the top of the leaderboard when voting went behind closed doors after Round 10, and given Penrith’s incredible run of form to end the year – and the role Cleary played in it – it would be an almighty upset if anyone else was to win the gong.
That being said, there are some other players right in the mix. Both Cameron Smith and Clint Gutherson were a point ahead of Cleary after Round 10, and while Gutherson’s Eels dropped off as the season progressed, their captain and fullback was their star performer right throughout 2020. Smith missed some time through injury, but when on the field consistently played at an exceptionally high level.
Harry Grant was atop the public leaderboard with 13 votes, one ahead of Smith and Gutherson and two in front of Cleary. The Tigers hooker recently picked up the RLPA Rookie of the Year and enjoyed a sensational year for the joint venture, but Wests’ poor form could see him tail away in later rounds.
Also up for grabs tonight are coach of the year, captain of the year and the Provan-Summons Medal for fan’s choice of player of the year. The 2020 NRL team of the year will have a diferent look to it, with a full side of 13 players named rather than just picking one prop, winger, centre and second-rower. Other awards that will be handed out tonight include female player of the year and the Peter Frilingos Memorial Award for headline moment of the year.
Tonight’s formalities will be an unusual affair, with the pandemic forcing the ceremony to be held at Fox Sports HQ. Some players will be on hand at the venue and others will call in via video link.
All the action gets underway at 7:30pm (AEDT), so be sure to tune into The Roar to see who takes home the 2020 Dally M Medal.
Start time: 7:30pm (AEDT)
TV: Fox Sports
Live stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel, NRL Live Pass
Odds: N/A
Harry Grant (Wests Tigers), 13
Cameron Smith (Melbourne Storm), 12
Clint Gutherson (Parramatta Eels), 12
Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys), 11
Shaun Johnson (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), 11
Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers), 11
Jack Wighton (Canberra Raiders), 10
Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers), 9
Matthew Dufty (St George Illawarra Dragons), 9
Tom Trbojevic (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles), 9
George Williams (Canberra Raiders), 8
James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters), 7
Apisai Koroisau (Penrith Panthers), 7
Cameron Munster (Melbourne Storm), 7
James Fisher-Harris (Penrith Panthers), 7
Luke Keary (Sydney Roosters), 7
Moeaki Fotuaika (Gold Coast Titans) 7
Ryan Papenhuyzen (Melbourne Storm), 7
bazza200
Guest
How well does a halfback do in a crap team not very well. You need decent people around you to win. RTS is a super star and does his brilliance dispute others.
The Barry
Roar Guru
PS I think Smith winning hooker of the year has broken another record - most positional Dally M awards I’m pretty sure he was tied with the great man Terry Lamb before tonight who won 5/8 of the year seven times
The Barry
Roar Guru
There’s maybe an element of that but that’s how the trophy is decided every year It’s not like Wighton was playing in a dud team with no one else competing for points. Papalii was arguably the best prop in the comp and guys like Whitehead and Williams had big seasons For Wighton to jag eight man of the match awards in 19 games in that Raiders team is phenomenal and makes him a deserving winner
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Agree 100%
Harry
Guest
Congratulations Jack Wighton and all the other winners and runners-up. There’ll be a lot of chat about how the voting system favours dominant players in weaker teams over players in teams with multiple stars (just like there was when RTS won recently) but to be a dominant player in a team which made it to a preliminary final is no mean feat. Not much to say about the other awards except that, without wishing to take anything away from what Ivan Cleary’s done this year, I would’ve given coach of the year to Todd Payten - coaching is about so much more than winning and he held the Warriors - and by extension the competition - together and even made them stronger when they could have so easily fallen apart after Stephen Kearney was sacked.
Daniel Jeffrey
Editor
Thanks everyone for joining me for the 2020 Dally M Medal, and be sure to keep it locked on The Roar this week for all the build-up to the NRL grand final this Sunday.
Daniel Jeffrey
Editor
And to finish things off, the full Dally M Team of the Year (now with thirteen players!). Props: Josh Papalii and James Fisher-Harris Hooker: Cameron Smith Second-rowers: Viliame Kikau and Tohu Harris Lock: Isaah Yeo Halfback: Nathan Cleary Five-eighth: Jack Wighton Centres: Kotoni Staggs and Stephen Crichton Wingers: David Nofoaluma and Josh Addo-Carr Fullback: Clint Gutherson
Daniel Jeffrey
Editor
With the awards all wrapped up for the year, here's the full list of winners from tonight: Dally M Player of the Year: Jack Wighton Dally M Female Player of the Year: Ali Brigginshaw Coach of the Year: Ivan Cleary Rookie of the Year: Harry Grant Captain of the Year: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck Provan-Summons People's Choice Medallist: New Zealand Warriors Ken Irvine Medallist for leading tryscorer: Alex Johnston Top pointscorer: Adam Reynolds Peter Frilingos Headline Moment of the Year: The NRL’s Project Apollo NRLW Rookie of the Year: Kennedy Cherrington NRLW tackle of the year: Hannah Southwell NRLW try of the year: Madison Bartlett VB Hard Earned Player of the Year Award: Jake Trbojevic & Tohu Harris Try of the year: Kotoni Staggs vs Dragons, Rd 15 Tackle of the year: Josh Papalii vs Titans, Rd 15
Daniel Jeffrey
Editor
The final leaderboard was a close-run thing. Just two votes separated first and third, and fourth-placed Cameron Smith was only two points further behind. Winner: Jack Wighton (26 votes) 2nd: Clint Gutherson (25) 3rd: Nathan Cleary (24) 4th: Cameron Smith (22) 5th: Luke Keary & Shaun Johnson (18)
Daniel Jeffrey
Editor
Expect to see lots of chat about that Telegraph error over the next few days. It took away just about all of the suspense from what should have been a thrilling finish to a close race. A complete farce, really, and not what anyone wanted. Still, take nothing away from Wighton, who had a very good year for Canberra in a side that was decimated by injury. The development in his game over the last two years has been outstanding.
Daniel Jeffrey
Editor
Well, can't say I had Wighton finishing that high, but he did have a strong year for the Raiders. Shows how some players will benefit from being in a side where they won't have teammates who take votes off them too often. That's exactly what happened with Gutherson and particularly Cleary - there'll be plenty who say Gutherson deserved a point from Round 20, while Cleary had to contend with the likes of Jarome Luai and Api Koroisau getting votes with standout performances of their own.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
On ya Jack!
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
Nice to see Gutho get runner up; but I’d have given him a point in Round 20.
Phil
Roar Rookie
Jack Wighton the winner. OK we have to accept the judges' decision but I doubt it would pass the pub test.
Daniel Jeffrey
Editor
All of the top three failed to score in Round 20, leaving Jack Wighton the player of the year for 2020 by a single vote.
Parklane7835
Roar Rookie
What Club does Clint Gutherson play for?
Daniel Jeffrey
Editor
Jack Wighton is the 2020 Dally M Medallist!
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Shhhhhhhh. Channel 9 love league
Daniel Jeffrey
Editor
V'landys back to announce the Dally M Medallist. And the winner is...
Daniel Jeffrey
Editor
Clint Gutherson takes home fullback of the year, with Nathan Cleary at halfback and Jack Wighton at five-eighth rounding out the team of the year.