Dally M Medal 2025 Blog

The best players and the biggest moments of the 2025 season are set to be honoured at Wednesday night's Dally M Awards ceremony.

The player of the year across the NRL and NRLW competitions headline the list of awards to be handed out at the glittering ceremony in Sydney.

The Team of the Year will also be named, while Try of the Year and Tackle of the Year will be presented.

Follow all the action from rugby league's night of nights, the 2025 Dally M Awards at Sydney's Royal Randwick racecourse on Wednesday night on NRL.com's live blog.

Dally M Awards 2025 - The Best of the Best

10pm: That concludes the formal proceedings tonight, with James Tedesco and Tamika Upton claiming the NRL and NRLW Dally M Medals and headlining a list of winners. The grand final is now just four days away so be sure to embrace the build up to the big game and tune in for a massive day on Sunday.

9:50pm: The final Dally M tally has been revealed, with James Tedesco racing away with the award. The Roosters fullback finished first on 67 points, 22 points ahead of Nathan Cleary. Isaiya Katoa and Payne Haas finished one point behind in equal third on 44 points.

It's Tedesco's second Dally M, six years after his first and he is proud to have overcome some challenging years to take out the honour. 

"I'm at a different point in my life, part of my career," Tedesco said. "I've had a lot of critics and doubters the last couple of years so to be back on this stage winning this medal is a proud achievement for myself. 

"I'm really happy to be up here receiving this award alongside so many great players."

9:43pm: James Tedesco is the NRL Dally M Medallist. The Roosters fullback was a standout throughout the entire season, playing all 24 games to lead his side into the top eight. Tedesco joins an exclusive club as a multi-time winner, having also claimed the honour in 2019.

9:35pm: Tamika Upton is the NRLW Dally M Player of the Year. The Broncos fullback has become the first woman to win the award twice, after she won it in 2023. Upton scored 18 tries throughout a stunning regular season, with 41 tackle breaks and 18 line breaks.

Upton finished on top with 35 points, three points clear of Brisbane teammate Julia Robinson. Knights halfback Jesse Southwell is third with 31 points.

9:30pm: Now on to the NRL Team of the Year.

Fullback: James Tedesco

Wing: Mark Nawaqanitawase, Xavier Coates

Centre: Kotoni Staggs, Stephen Crichton

Five-eighth: Ethan Strange

Halfback: Nathan Cleary

Hooker: Blayke Brailey

Prop: Addin Fonua-Blake, Payne Haas

Second row: Eli Katoa, Hudson Young

Lock: Erin Clark

9:28pm: The NRLW Team of the Year has been announced. 

Fullback: Tamika Upton

Wing: Payton Takimoana, Sheridan Gallagher

Centre: Isabelle Kelly, Julia Robinson

Five-eighth: Gayle Broughton

Halfback: Jesse Southwell

Hooker: Emma Manzelmann

Prop: Ellie Johnston, Jessika Elliston

Second row: Romy Teitzel, Yasmin Clydsdale

Lock: Olivia Kernick

9:20pm: It's now time to unveil the votes for the NRL Dally M Medal for Rounds 19-23. Leader James Tedesco claimed a swag of votes and has extended his lead at the top of the standings. The fullback sits first on 56 points, with Luke Metcalf still second on 40. Isaiya Katoa and Nathan Cleary are equal third on 39 points.

9:15pm: James Tedesco is the NRL Captain of the Year, joining Isabelle Kelly as the Roosters sweep the two awards. The fullback led his side through what many expected to be a rebuilding year, with the Roosters surprising plenty of experts to finish inside the top eight.

9:10pm: The best on-field leaders in the game are now being celebrated, with Isabelle Kelly named the NRLW Captain of the Year. Alongside John Strange, the Roosters skipper has led her side to an undefeated regular season, with the team looking to cap a perfect year when they take on the Broncos in Sunday's decider.

9:05pm: It's time to reveal the NRLW Coach of the Year, with Roosters mentor John Strange receiving the honour after leading his side to an undefeated regular season. The team has won a staggering 18-games in a row, dating back to last year, and will shoot for a 19th-straight victory in Sunday's grand final.

9pm: Ricky Stuart is the 2025 NRL Coach of the Year after leading the Raiders from ninth in 2024 to the Minor Premiership in 2025. The experienced mentor guided a youthful side through the season, helping develop Ethan Strange, Xavier Savage and a host of other emerging stars.

8:50pm: We have now moved to the Ken Stephen Medal, presented to the NRL player who dedicates their time to supporting their community. Kieran Foran has received the award for his advocacy in the mental health space. Having spoken openly about his own mental health struggles, the retiring halfback has dedicated hours supporting programs helping youngsters improve their mental health.

8:45pm: NRL Hall of Famer Veronica White is now on stage to present the award named in her honour for the women's player who has gone above and beyond to contribute to their community and support those around them. The 2025 Veronica White Medallist is Rhiannon Byers for her work supporting Indigenous youngsters throughout the Sutherland Shire and beyond.

8:40pm: It's now time for the NRL Rookie of the Year, with 2020 winner Harry Grant presenting the award to Maroons teammate Rob Toia. It's easy to forget the Roosters centre only made his NRL debut in Round 1 this year, with the 21-year-old coming from the clouds to play for Queensland in the State of Origin series. Toia starred for the Maroons and played a key role in helping the side win back the shield before helping a young Roosters side make the finals.

8:35pm: Shalom Sauaso is the NRLW Rookie of the Year after a stunning debut season for the Broncos. The 18-year-old forward beat out Raiders fullback Elise Simpson and Dragons centre Indie Bostock to claim the award. Sauaso only left school last year and played for the Queensland Under 19 team earlier this season. The forward scored four tries for the Broncos and has averaged a whopping 138 running metres this year.

8:25pm: It's time for the next batch of NRL votes to be unveiled, with votes from Rounds 13-18 revealed. The standings have received a shakeup during this period, with Luke Metcalf suffering a season-ending knee injury in Round 17. The Warriors halfback remains in second on 40 points, but does not poll another vote this season. James Tedesco has hit the front, climbing to first on 42 points, with Isaiya Katoa rising to third on 37 points. A gap has opened up to Tom Dearden, who rose to fourth on 30 points, with Will Kennedy fifth on 29.

8:18pm: The votes for Rounds 6-8 of the NRLW season have been unveiled, with a number of players climbing up the leaderboard. Julia Robinson is our new leader on 27 points, with Isabelle Kelly remaining on 23 points. Jakiya Whitfeld is third on 22, with Tamika Upton climbing to fourth on 22 points.

8pm: We have moved inside now from the green carpet to the formal part of the evening, with Braith Anasta hosting proceedings. Voting for the NRL Dally M Medal went behind closed doors after Round 12, with Luke Metcalf sitting on top of the standings on 31 points. Will Kennedy was second on 29 and James Tedesco third on 28 points. Isabelle Kelly led the NRLW standings after five rounds, six points clear of Jesse Southwell. Julia Robinson was one point further back on 16 points.

7:57pm: Brisbane have been rewarded for their attacking brilliance throughout the year, with Tamika Upton named the NRLW Top Try-Scorer after finishing the regular season with 18 tries.

7:52pm: Romy Teitzel has been named the NRLW Top Point-Scorer for 2025. The Brisbane second rower finished the season with 106 points consisting of four tries and 45 goals.

7:50pm: The young guns continue to clean up, with Ethan Strange receiving the Youi Tackle of the Year for a stunning try on Canterbury's Connor Tracey in Round 10. The fullback looked destined to score before Strange hit him from behind and held him up over the line.

7:47pm: Mark Nawaqanitawase has claimed a pair of awards after a breakout season with the Roosters. The winger received the Ken Irvine Medal after topping the NRL try-scoring tally with 24 tries from just 23 games. Nawaqanitawase has also been presented the Drinkwise Try of the Year for his spectacular solo effort against the Bulldogs in Round 11.

7:41pm: Another NRLW rookie has picked up some silverware tonight, with Warriors youngster Ivana Lauitiiti claiming the Youi Tackle of the Year.

7:40pm: St George Illawarra rookie Indie Bostock has claimed the Drinkwise NRLW Try of the Year for her length of the field effort in the Dragons' Round 1 win over the Raiders. The try was the first try of Bostock's career and came in her NRLW debut.

7:05pm: The Raiders have taken home the first award of the night, the Peter Frilingos Memorial Award for the Headline Moment of the Year. The club received the award for the Miracle of Mudgee, their dramatic golden-point victory over the Panthers in Round 25.

7pm: Welcome to one of the biggest nights on the rugby league calendar, with the game's stars set to be honoured throughout the evening. The biggest names in the sport have started arriving and made their way down the green carpet as anticipation builds towards the presentation of the NRL and NRLW Dally M Medals.