Home / Sports / Cleary Caps Career: First Dally M Medal Won
Cleary Caps Career: First Dally M Medal Won
30 Sep
Summary
- Nathan Cleary secured his maiden Dally M Medal despite an ankle injury.
- Tamika Upton achieved her third NRLW player of the year award.
- Andrew Webster was named coach of the year for the NRL.
Nathan Cleary has achieved a significant career milestone by winning his first Dally M Medal, the NRL's top individual honor. Despite being unable to attend the gala event due to emergency ankle surgery, Cleary finished the voting period with a substantial 14-point lead. This victory marks a long-awaited accolade for Cleary, who has been a dominant force in the sport.
In the women's competition, Tamika Upton secured her third Dally M Medal as the NRLW player of the year, successfully defending her title from the previous season. Warriors coach Andrew Webster was named the NRL's coach of the year, recognized for his team's performance. Canberra's Ethan Sanders received the rookie of the year award, highlighting emerging talent.
Cleary's win caps off a remarkable season where he played 23 games, contributing significantly to Penrith's preliminary final run. He had previously won the Wally Lewis Medal for his State of Origin performance and two Clive Churchill Medals. The Dally M team of the year also featured notable players, though the Knights had no representatives despite their strong run.
The awards night also celebrated Jai Arrow for his resilience in facing motor neurone disease, receiving two special honors for his spirit and courage. The NRLW saw Mercedez Taulelei-Siala named rookie of the year and Karyn Murphy as coach of the year.
