2019 Dally M Awards: Medal winner favourites, ultimate guide
The 2019 Dally M Awards will be a highly coveted affair ahead of this season's NRL Grand Final between the Sydney Roosters and Canberra Raiders.
Players will be vying for the glory of being named the player of the year, while coaches and rookies will also be competing for top honours in their own categories.
Sydney Roosters superstar James Tedesco is currently thought to be the front runner to claim the Dally M, with NRL veteran Cameron Smith and Parramatta Eels play-maker Mitchell Moses both nipping at his heels.
Manly Sea Eagles Coach Des hasler is expected to top the coaches category but he'll have stiff competition in the form of Parramatta Eels coach Brad Arthur and legendary Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy.
James Tedesco and Des Hasler Getty
2019 Dally M Awards
Date: Wednesday October 2
Time: 8:30pm - 10pm (Red carpet kicking off from 7pm)
Venue: Horden Pavilion, Moore Park, Sydney
Broadcaster: Fox Sports
Tedesco the early Dally M favourite
Should James Tedesco take out this season's Dally M Award he would continue the fullback position's long history of top honours. Mick Potter (1984 and 1991), Jarryd Hayne (2009 and 2014), Billy Slater (2009), Ben Barba (2012) and Tuivasa-Sheck (2018) all dominate the awards' previous winners list. Preston Campbell also switched between fullback and halfback in his 2001 victory.
Tedesco will have to overcome Melbourne Storm veteran Cameron Smith who is in contention to bag his Dally M hat-trick after claiming the award in 2006 and 2017.
Of the top six contenders in line to take out the Dally M Award, only Cowboys lock Jason Taumalolo does not play in the spine.
Dally M favourites (odds via Sportsbet)
Odds at time of publish:
- James Tedesco $1.20
- Cameron Smith $5.00
- Mitchell Moses $21.00
- Roger Tuivasa-Sheck $26.00
- Cameron Munster $41.00
- Jason Taumalolo $41.00
- Mitchell Pearce $41.00
- Payne Haas $41.00
- Cameron Murray $51.00
- Damien Cook $51.00
James Tedesco during the Roosters' thumping of the Warriors. AAP
Dally M Award Round 12 Leaderboard
Mitchell Pearce 15
Cameron Munster 14
Damien Cook 14
Jason Taumalolo 12
Cameron Smith 12
James Tedesco 12
Mitchell Moses 11
Cody Walker 10
Clint Gutherson 10
Chad Townsend 10
Payne Haas 10
Sam Burgess 10
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 10
John Bateman 9
Cameron Murray 9
Siosiua Taukehaio 9
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 9
* Votes become confidential after after Round 12
Mitchell Pearce AAP
Dally M Coach of the Year
It's a tighter field in the coaches category with five candidates in the mix to take out top honours.
Des Hasler's efforts to take Manly from wooden spoon contenders to NRL finalists has him as the front runner to claim his second Dally M coach of the year award.
Hasler will lead a host of contenders for the category including Canberra grand final coach Ricky Stuart and Parramatta's Brad Arthur.
But Storm coach Craig bellamy is currently leading the betting markets after claiming the 2019 NRL minor premiership by six points.
- Craig Bellamy $1.67
- Des hasler $2.75
- Ricky Stuart $6.00
- Brad Arthur $23.00
- Trent Robinson $41.00
(Odds at time of publish via Sportsbet)
Des Hasler AAP
Dally M Rookie of the year contenders
Maika Sivo: The Fijian flyer has lit up the NRL after he was signed on a minimum wage deal from Penrith. The 25-year-old quickly found his feet however, racing to become the season's top try scorer and arguably the Eels' biggest asset.
Payne Haas: The 19-year old has been devastating for the Brisbane Broncos alongside David Fifita in the forward pack. Haas selected to play for NSW after just 10 NRL games and helped secure a famous series win.
Ryan Papenhuyzen: Papenhuyzen seemed to come out of nowhere when he featured early in the season for Craig Bellamy. Come the end of the season and the 19-year-old is looking ever more capable of filling the huge Billy Slater sized hole at AAMI Park, impressing with every showing at fullback.
Bronson Xerri: The 18-year-old has stamped his authority as Cronulla's x-factor in the centres. His speed was a dangerous asset for John Morris throughout the season as he regularly burned past his opponents for scinitllating solo tries.
Maika Sivo scores in Parramatta's big win over Brisbane. Getty
Dally M Team of the Year Contenders
Fullback: James Tedesco
Winger: Maika Sivo, Josh Addo-Carr, Daniel Tupou, Blake Ferguson
Centre: Joseph Manu, Latrell Mitchell, Jarrod Croker
Five-eighth: Luke Keary, Cameron Munster, Jack Wighton
Halfback: Daly Cherry-Evans, Mitchell Moses, Cooper Cronk
Prop: Josh Papalii, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
Hooker: Cameron Smith, Josh Hodgson
Second-row: John Bateman, David Fifita, Boyd Cordner
Lock: Cameron Murray, Jake Trbojevic, Jason Taumalolo
Interchange: Brandon Smith, Manase Fainu
Cameron Murray stars for the Blues in the Origin decider Getty
Dally M Honour Roll
1979 Steve Morris
1980 Robert Laurie
1981 Steve Rogers
1982 Ray Price
1983 Terry Lamb
1984 Michael Potter
1985 Greg Alexander
1986 Peter Sterling
1987 Peter Sterling
1988 Gavin Miller
1989 Gavin Miller
1990 Cliff Lyons
1991 Michael Potter
1992 Gary Freeman
1993 Ricky Stuart
1994 Cliff Lyons
1995 Laurie Daley
1996 Allan Langer
1997 Not Awarded
1998 Andrew Johns
1999 Andrew Johns
2000 Trent Barrett
2001 Preston Campbell
2002 Andrew Johns
2003 Not awarded due to industrial action
2004 Danny Buderus
2005 Johnathan Thurston
2006 Cameron Smith
2007 Johnathan Thurston
2008 Matt Orford
2009 Jarryd Hayne
2010 Todd Carney
2011 Billy Slater
2012 Ben Barba
2013 Cooper Cronk
2014 Jarryd Hayne and Johnathan Thurston
2015 Johnathan Thurston
2016 Cooper Cronk and Jason Taumalolo
2017 Cameron Smith
2018 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
