2026 Dally M Awards: Every Award, Nominee and Predicted Winners

Photo: Getty Images

The NRL's biggest individual awards night arrives tonight, with the 2026 Dally M Awards bringing together the stars of the NRL and NRLW to crown the best players, coaches, captains and performers of the season.

The ceremony takes place in Sydney on Wednesday, September 30, with players arriving on the red carpet from around 5:30pm before the ceremony begins at 6:30pm AEST at The Cutaway in Barangaroo.

The awards will be broadcast live on Fox League and Kayo Sports, while ABC Sport is providing live coverage of the red carpet and vote count.

Dally M Medal — NRL

The main prize of the night is the Dally M Medal, awarded to the player judged to have been the best and fairest player of the 2026 NRL regular season.

Leading contenders

The final votes have been kept secret since Round 12, meaning the public does not know the complete leaderboard entering tonight's ceremony.

The last publicly released standings were:

1. Nathan Cleary — Panthers — 38

2. Jackson Ford — Warriors — 35

3. Dylan Edwards — Panthers — 32

4. Scott Drinkwater — Cowboys — 29

5. James Tedesco — Roosters — 27

6. Braydon Trindall — Sharks — 23

7. Haumole Olakau'atu — Sea Eagles — 22

8. Adam Doueihi — Tigers — 20

9. Latrell Mitchell — Rabbitohs — 20

10. Kalyn Ponga — Knights — 19

Other players inside the top 20 included Harry Grant, Jake Clifford, Jye Gray, Mitchell Moses, Naufahu Whyte, Tanah Boyd, Herbie Farnworth, Nicho Hynes and Adam Reynolds.

Nathan Cleary entered the awards night as the widely reported frontrunner after leading the count on 38 points following Round 12.

However, his season ended in dramatic fashion when he suffered a serious leg injury during Penrith's preliminary-final defeat to Newcastle. A win would give Cleary his first Dally M Medal.

James Tedesco is the reigning men's winner, having claimed the award in 2025.

MY TIP - Nathan Cleary

The women's equivalent will also be awarded tonight.

Brisbane Broncos fullback Tamika Upton entered the awards as the leading contender after collecting 12 votes from the opening four NRLW rounds before voting went behind closed doors.

Her closest publicly known challengers were:

Tarryn Aiken — Roosters — 11

Sheridan Gallagher — Raiders — 11

Jesse Southwell — Broncos — 10

Teagan Levi — Titans — 9

Andie Robinson — Bulldogs — 8

Jaime Chapman — Titans — 8

Zahara Temara — Raiders — 8

Upton won the women's Dally M in 2023 and 2025, meaning another victory would make her a three-time winner.

Dally M Team of the Year — NRL

The Dally M Team of the Year recognises the best player at every position across the regular season.

The team consists of:

* Fullback

* Winger

* Centre

* Five-eighth

* Halfback

* Prop

* Hooker

* Second-rower

* Lock

Here's who I think will win (not necessarily who I would pick):

Kalyn Ponga

Mark Nawaqanitawase

Selwyn Cobbo

Rob Toia

Herbie Farnworth

Braydon Trindall

Nathan Cleary

Payne Haas

Naufahu Whyte

Blayke Brailey

Haumole Olakau'atu

Tallis Duncan

Erink Clark

Unlike the publicly released leaderboard, the final positional voting is not fully revealed before tonight's ceremony.

There is one important automatic-selection rule: any player who finishes inside the top three of the overall Dally M Medal automatically receives selection in the position they polled highest in.

The NRLW will also receive its own Team of the Year.

Rookie of the Year — NRL

The Rookie of the Year recognises the best eligible first-year/early-career player.

Players can be eligible during their debut season and the following two NRL seasons, although playing five professional matches in another sporting competition can affect eligibility under the Dally M rules.

The 2025 winner was Roosters centre Robert Toia.

There is also an NRLW Rookie of the Year.

MY TIP: Francis Manuleleua

Coach of the Year — NRL

The Dally M Coach of the Year recognises the coach judged to have had the strongest regular-season campaign.

The award is decided by the Dally M judges at the conclusion of the regular season rather than through the weekly public Dally M leaderboard.

The 2025 winner was Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart.

An NRLW Coach of the Year is also awarded.

MY TIP: Justin Holbrook

Captain of the Year — NRL

The Captain of the Year recognises the captain judged to have provided the strongest leadership throughout the season.

Voting takes place at the conclusion of the regular season.

James Tedesco won the 2025 award after also taking out the Dally M Medal and Fullback of the Year.

There is also an NRLW Captain of the Year.

MY TIP: Kalyn Ponga

Provan-Summons Medal

The Provan-Summons Medal recognises a player who demonstrates the spirit of rugby league through their actions and conduct.

The judging considers four values:

* Respect

* Honesty

* Bravery

* Sportsmanship

It was historically a fan-voted award, but the Dally M judges now determine the winner.

The 2025 winner was Parramatta's Zac Lomax.

An NRLW Provan-Summons Medal is also awarded.

MY TIP: Mitch Kenny

Try of the Year — NRL

One of the most visually spectacular awards of the night.

The Dally M Try of the Year recognises the outstanding individual or team try from the season.

The 2025 winner was Sydney Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase.

There is also an NRLW Try of the Year.

MY TIP: Alex Johnston's record-breaking try

Tackle of the Year — NRL

The Dally M Tackle of the Year recognises the standout defensive effort of the season.

The 2025 award went to Canberra's Ethan Strange.

An NRLW Tackle of the Year is also awarded.

MY TIP: Latrell Mitchell

Top Try Scorer/Ken Irvine Medal — NRL

This is determined by the regular-season try-scoring tally rather than a judges' vote.

The 2026 season finished with:

Thomas Jenkins — Panthers: 30 tries

Alex Johnston — Rabbitohs: 30 tries

Top Point Scorer — NRL

Jamayne Isaako — Dolphins

Isaako finished the regular season as the NRL's leading point scorer with 310 points.

NRLW Top Try Scorer

NRLW Top Try Scorer: Jessica Sergis — Roosters: 17 tries

NRLW Top Point Scorer

Jesse Southwell — Broncos: 114 points

Ken Stephen Medal — NRL Man of the Year

The Ken Stephen Medal recognises an NRL player who combines their football career with significant community work.

MY TIP: Jamal Fogerty

The award recognises contributions away from the football field, including charity, youth development, grassroots rugby league and community support.

Veronica White Medal — NRLW Woman of the Year

The women's equivalent is the Veronica White Medal. The award recognises an NRLW player's contribution to her community.

MY TIP: Jaime Chapman

When is the 2026 Dally M Awards?

Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Red carpet: From approximately 5:30pm AEST

Ceremony: 6:30pm AEST

Location: The Cutaway, Barangaroo, Sydney

Broadcast: Fox League and Kayo Sports

The main Dally M Medal is expected to be announced later in the ceremony, with reports putting the announcement at around 9:30pm AEST.