James Tedesco wins second Dally M Medal after standout NRL season

James Tedesco couldn’t make the NSW team, but the former Blues skipper has shown Origin selectors what they missed out on with a stellar NRL season that ended with him winning the Dally M Award.

Tamika Upton won the NRLW Dally M Award, becoming the first player to win it twice after claiming it in 2023. The Dally M Fulback of the Year will play with the Broncos against the Roosters in the NRLW grand final on Sunday.

Tedesco also picked up his second Dally M, having first won it in 2019 — a magical year that saw the Roosters win the premiership and the Blues claim the State of Origin series.

“I probably have had a lot of critics, a lot of doubters the last few years, so I guess to be back on this stage with this medal is a proud achievement for myself,” he said after receiving the award.

“I am just humbled to be up here.

“I really enjoyed this season. It helps not playing Origin, Nat (Cleary) missed a lot of games through Origin and he got rested. I played every game which definitely helped me score more points.”

Tedesco said his success tonight was proof kids should believe in themselves no matter the adversity they faced.

“I just want to encourage any kids out there with dreams of playing NRL to chase your dreams. There’s going to be setbacks along the way, but you can achieve anything with a great mindset,” he said.

Roosters centre Robert Toia was crowned rookie of the year in a season where he made a brilliant State of Origin debut for Queensland.

It definitely probably helped me not playing Origin

But in reality the night belonged to Tedesco.

In Wednesday night’s gala ceremony at Randwick Racecourse, Tedesco polled 67 points to put him well ahead of Nathan Cleary (45), Isaiya Katoa and Payne Haas (both 44).

With six points on offer for the best player in each match, Tedesco’s three-and-a-half game gap at the top was the biggest since Johnathan Thurston’s win in 2015.

Warriors halfback Luke Metcalf was the hard luck story of the night. He was right in the mix and challenging Tedesco when he ruptured his ACL in round 17.

The 32-year-old was also named Dally M Captain of the Year and named Fullback of the Year (the fifth time he has won it).

“It would be very special, some of the players that have this award multiple times are legends of the game, so to be up there with them would be really cool,” Tedesco said earlier in the evening before he had won.

“The goal of each year is to win a premiership but to be acknowledged with this award would mean a lot to me.”

Tedesco said on the red carpet not playing Origin had been a godsend.

“It definitely probably helped me not playing Origin, it’s a draining period, that six week period. It’s mentally draining, it’s physcially draining,” he said.

Tedesco, who finished second to Storm half Jahrome Hughes in the Dally M count last year, topped the competition with the most tackle breaks (164), the most runs (521) and most run metres (4862).

The two-time NRL title winner, in what could be viewed as a snub after being overlooked for last year’s Pacific Championships, said on Tuesday he would not play for Australia in the upcoming Ashes tour due to it clashing with his brother’s wedding.

He was also dropped from the NSW side after Game I last year in favour of Dylan Edwards.

Canberra’s Ethan Strange was the other big winner, named Dally M five-eighth of the year.

He was also awarded the tackle of the year for his try-saver on Connor Tracey against Canterbury in round 10.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart was named coach of the year for the first time since 2016, while Canberra won the headline moment for their Miracle in Mudgee - a sensational golden-point try scored by the Kaeo Weekes against against Penrith.

Grand-finalists Brisbane and Melbourne each had two players in the team of the year - Xavier Coates and Eliesa Katoa from the Storm, and Payne Haas and Kotoni Staggs representing the Broncos.

Dragons rookie Indie Bostock won NRLW’s Try of the Year for an incredible wing sprint against the Canberra Raiders.

The NRL try of the year went to Roosters star Mark Nawaqanitawase, who made the NRL team of the year on the wing, for a freakish “chip-and-chase” four-pointer against the Bulldogs.

DALLY M TEAM OF THE YEAR:

James Tedesco (capt), Mark Nawaqanitawase, Kotoni Staggs, Stephen Crichton, Xavier Coates, Ethan Strange, Nathan Cleary, Addin Fonua-Blake, Blayke Brailey, Payne Haas, Eliesa Katoa, Hudson Young, Erin Clark. Coach: Ricky Stuart

DALLY M LEADERBOARD:

James Tedesco 67

Nathan Cleary 45

Isaiya Katoa 44

Payne Haas 44

Blayke Brailey 42

Tom Dearden 42

Reece Walsh 41

Luke Metcalf 40

Daly Cherry-Evans 39

Will Kennedy 37

With AAP and Newswire