Cleary and Upton lead Dally M Awards race in Sydney
The NRL and NRLW will hold the Dally M Awards ceremony in Sydney, with Nathan Cleary and Tamika Upton identified as the leading contenders for the men’s and women’s prizes. Cleary led the men’s count before voting went private, while Upton topped the women’s standings.
The NRL and NRLW’s leading players are due to gather in Sydney for the Dally M Awards, with Nathan Cleary and Tamika Upton the reported favourites for the men’s and women’s prizes. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 6:30pm AEST at The Cutaway in Barangaroo. Players are expected on the red carpet from 5:30pm, with the event to be broadcast live on Fox League and Kayo Sports.
Cleary, Penrith’s halfback, led the men’s count with 38 points after round 12 before voting went behind closed doors. Warriors prop Jackson Ford was next on 35, but missed the rest of the regular season after a pectoral injury. The other leading men’s contenders listed were Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards on 32 points, North Queensland’s Scott Drinkwater on 29 and reigning medallist James Tedesco on 27.
Brisbane Broncos fullback Upton had 12 points from four NRLW matches when voting became secret. Her closest listed challengers were Roosters playmaker Tarryn Aiken and Canberra fullback Sheridan Gallagher, both on 11. Brisbane halfback Jesse Southwell had 10 points, while Titans five-eighth Teagan Levi had nine.
Players can receive up to six points per match, meaning the later voting could alter the margins. The awards will also include NRL and NRLW Teams of the Year, the Ken Stephen Medal and the Veronica White Medal for contributions to rugby league communities. Cleary is in hospital after surgery on a badly broken leg, according to the supplied report.
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