Dally M Medal 2026: The NRL's night of nights

The best players and the biggest moments of the 2026 season have been honoured at Wednesday night's Dally M Awards ceremony with Nathan Cleary and Tamika Upton taking home the game's most coveted individual honour.

For Panthers supremo Cleary this was his first Dally M Medal while Broncos superstar Upton now has three Dally Ms to her name.

The NRL and NRLW Teams of the Year were also named along with Coach of the Year and Rookie of the Year.

Recap all the action from rugby league's night of nights, the 2026 Dally M Awards at The Cutaway in Barangaroo on Wednesday night on NRL.com's live blog.

Dally M Awards 2026 

9.30pm Panthers gun NATHAN CLEARY has claimed his first Dally M Medal. Cleary sends in a message from home as he recovers from surgery on his leg. The champion halfback thanked his family and his teammates and his partner Mary Fowler. 

Final Dally M Men’s Leaderboard

Nathan Cleary           67
Braydon Trindall         53
Dylan Edwards           52
Haumole Olakau'atu   46
Herbie Farnworth        45
Scott Drinkwater         45
Jackson Ford              39|
Harry Grant                 37
James Tedesco           37
Kalyn Ponga                37

 

9.24pm Broncos superstar TAMIKA UPTON has been crowned the 2026 NRLW Dally M Medal winner. This is Upton's third Dally M Medal winner after taking the honour in 2023 and 2025. Upton finished on 31 votes, two clear of Wests Tigers halfback Raecene McGregor.

“It feels pretty crazy accepting this individual award in a team sport, so I couldn't do this without my teammates," Upton said. “Got some incredible ones sitting in the room tonight, but a lot of which will be back home watching.

“I'm surrounded by some of the best people and like I said before, they always push you to be your best on the field, but off the field as well, and that's what makes our club so special.

“I have to thank my family as well, they're always supporting me, making the trek.

“I know they'll be all watching from back home, far and wide, all across central Queensland.

“Like I said, I play footy for fun, but I'm hoping I make a few people proud along the way, those included."

Final Dally M Women’s Leaderboard

Tamika Upton             31
Raecene McGregor     29
Tarryn Aiken                23
Evania Isa'ako             22
Jess Sergis                  20
Jesse Southwell          20
Teagan Levi                20
Sienna Lofipo             18
Isabelle Kelly              17
Abbi Church                16 

 

9.20pm Unveiling the NRL Dally M Team of the Year

Fullback: Dylan Edwards
Wingers: Thomas Jenkins, Selwyn Cobbo
Centres: Herbie Farnworth, Rob Toia
Five-eighth: Braydon Trindall
Halfback: Nathan Cleary
Props: James Fisher-Harris, Naufahu Whyte
Hooker: Wayde Egan
Second-Rowers: Haumole Olakau'atu, Hamish Stewart
Lock: Erin Clark

9.15pm Unveiling the NRLW Dally M Team of the Year

Fullback: Tamika Upton
Wingers: Julia Robinson, Brydie Parker
Centres: Isabelle Kelly, Jess Sergis
Five-eighth: Teagan Levi
Halfback: Raecene McGregor
Prop: Millie Elliott, Sarah Togatuki
Hooker: Keeley Nizza
Second-rowers: Evania Isa'ako, Shaylee Bent
Lock: Olivia Kernick

9.10pm After Round 23 of the NRL season it's Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary leading the way on 56 points from Sharks playmaker Braydon Trindall on 53, Panthers No.1 Dylan Edwards on 46 and Haumole Olakau'atu and Scott Drinkwater both on 40.

9.00pm The 2026 NRL Dally M Captain of the Year is Warriors skipper James Fisher-Harris, who paid tribute to his co-captain Mitch Barnett. "I have been around a lot of great captains through the years and learned a lot off them," Fisher-Harris said. 

8.55pm The 2026 NRLW Dally M Captain of the Year is Wests Tigers skipper Kezie Apps who led her team to the finals for the first time in their history. The Tigers climbed from wooden spooners in 2025 to finalists in 2026 under Apps' leadership. "I have a great group of leaders around me and they have really helped me drive the standards this year," Apps said.

8.50pm The 2026 NRLW Dally M Coach of the Year is Titans coach Karyn Murphy, who led her team to a 10-1 record and into the preliminary final. "We've had a great year but equally shocked to be up here," Murphy said. "I'd like to congratulate Princey and Strangey for taking their teams to a grand final."

"I knew something really special was building this year and it's really exciting for the future."

8.45pm The 2026 NRL Dally M Coach of the Year is Warriors mentor Andrew Webster, who takes out the award for the second time after collecting the gong in 2023. "The way our boys play, I think they do the whole country so proud," Webster said. "We are one team, one country, so it is definitely unique. Everywhere we go, everyone wants to be part of the Wah Nation."

A special tribute to the members of the rugby league family we lost in 2026

8.35pm The 2026 Veronica White Medal winner for her community work is Millie Elliott from the Roosters.

Through the Trainer Group Foundation, she delivers free disability and wellbeing programs, creating inclusive opportunities for people of all abilities through workshops, five-week programs and regional outreach.

As a Goanna Academy Stick With It ambassador, Millie supports mental health initiatives and community awareness. She also contributes through Sydney Roosters programs, Sydney Children's Hospital visits, Physical Disability Rugby League initiatives and youth development. Her generosity, authenticity and leadership continue to create lasting impact beyond the field.

8.30pm The 2026 Ken Stephen Medal winner for his work in the community is South Sydney's Campbell Graham. 

Graham is an active contributor to Souths Cares programs, he regularly participates in school engagement visits, delivering workshops focused on healthy relationships and wellbeing as part of an initiative that reaches more than 25,000 students across Sydney each year. 

Beyond his commitments with the Rabbitohs, Campbell has built a strong and ongoing relationship with the St Vincent de Paul Society. He regularly volunteers with the Vinnies Vans, helping provide food and support to people experiencing homelessness across Sydney. His sustained commitment to serving others reflects his generosity, leadership and character, making him a respected role model within the club and the broader community. 

8.25pm The NRL Rookie of the Year is Ethan Sanders from the Canberra Raiders. The 22-year-old played all 27 matches for the Green Machine and came up with 18 try assists and 17 line break assists.

“It's a pretty famous No.7 jersey that 'Stick' wore for a long time, so to be able to have him, to be able to speak to and ask questions, couldn't ask for a better," Sanders said. “Super grateful for the Raiders for bringing me down two years ago. I needed to come out of my comfort zone, I had moved away from home and I'm grateful that I did that."

8.25pm The NRLW Dally M Rookie of the Year is Newcastle winger Mercedez Taulelei-Siala who scored an incredible 14 tries in 13 games in her rookie season. The 20-year-old now heads into the World Cup with Samoa full of confidence after taking out this prize.

8.20pm After Round 18 of the NRL season we have Panthers superstars Dylan Edwards and Nathan Cleary leading the way on 44 points from Warrior Jackson Ford on 39 Sharks playmaker Braydon Trindall on 38.

8.15pm We begin the 2026 NRL Dally M Medal Count. Here's how the leaderboard looked when votes went silent after Round 12.

8.15pm After Round 8 of the NRLW season it's Wests Tigers halfback Raecene McGregor leading the way on 26 points from Roosters halfback Tarryn Aiken on 23 points and Broncos fullback Tamika Upton on 19 points. Titans star Teagan Levi is next on 18 points.

8.10pm We begin the 2026 NRLW Dally M Medal count. Here's how the leaderboard looked when votes went silent after Round 4. 

7.50pm The NRL Provan-Summons Award for 2026 has been won by Jai Arrow for his 99th and 100th games for South Sydney as 'You'll Never Walk Alone" rang out around Cbus Super Stadium and Allianz Stadium. The image of the supercoach Wayne Bennett helping Jai put his socks on for the Round 26 game at Cbus Super Stadium will never be forgotten.

7.50pm The NRL's leading pointscorer for 2026 is Dolphins sharpshooter Jamayne Isaako while the NRLW's top pointscorer title was shared by Bronco Jesse Southwell and Rooster Jocelyn Kelleher, who are set to square off in Sunday's decider.

7.45pm The Ken Irvine Medal for the NRL's leading tryscorer has been won jointly by Alex Johnston and Thomas Jenkins who both crossed the line 30 times. The NRLW's Leading Tryscorer for 2026 is superstar Roosters centre Jessica Sergis.

Youi Tackle of the Year Winners

7.40pm The NRLW Provan-Summons Award for 2026 is Warriors captain Apii Nicholls for leading a haka for Ali Brigginshaw in her farewell home game at Totally Workwear Stadium, honouring the Broncos great. Warriors players were joined by Brisbane's Maori players in making the special presentation for Brigginshaw's incredible truly unforgettable. .

7.35pm The 2026 NRLW Try of the Year has been won Canberra's Mackenzie Wiki who completed her hat-trick in Round 9 against the Titans by finishing off a stunning team try when she latched on to a Zahara Temara cross-field kick to score wide out.

7.35pm The 2026 Try of the Year has been won by Alex Johnston's record-breaking try against the Roosters in Round 2 when he crossed just after half-time to break Ken Irvine's all-time tryscoring record.

7.10pm The Peter Frilingos Headline Moment of the Year is Jai Arrow. The emotional day in Round 26 when Jai played his 99th game for the Rabbitohs at Cbus Super Stadium will live long in the memory of the fans who were there and all those who watched on TV. Then in Round 27 at Allianz Stadium, Arrow took the field against the Roosters for his 100th game, leaving the field after kick-off and coming to the sideline where Wayne Bennett was holding the interchange card. Not a dry eye in the house.

7.00pm Jai Arrow and Berina Colakovic strut the red carpet ahead of attending Sunday's NRL grand final at Accor Stadium.

6.45pm Knights skipper Kalyn Ponga is four sleeps away from the biggest game of his life as Newcastle take on the Roosters in the 2026 NRL grand final. "There's excitement about the whole week in general," Ponga told NRL.com. "Enjoy moments like this and when we have to train we train. Everyone is excited and there is definitely an energy."

Ponga was full of praise for his coach Justin Holbrook who is a leading contender for Dally M Coach of the Year. "It takes a special man to get the wooden spooners to the grand final and whether he wins it or not, he has had an unreal year."

6.30pm The stars of the NRL and NRLW are making their way along the red carpet and stopping for a chat with Sofia Bamonte from NRL.com team.

6.15pm Voting for the NRL Dally M Medallist went behind closed doors after Round 12, with Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary leading the way on 38 votes from Warriors forward Jackson Ford on 35 and Cleary's teammate Dylan Edwards on 32.

Ford played only four games in the remainder of the season after suffering a pectoral injury in Round 16 while Cleary and Edwards both played 10 of a possible 13 games for the Panthers.

In the chase for the NRLW’s highest individual honour, Broncos fullback Tamika Upton led the way on 12 votes from Raiders fullback Sheridan Gallagher and Roosters playmaker Tarryn Aiken both on 11 when voting went behind closed doors after Round 4. Upton is the only two-time winner of the Dally Medal having taken the gong in 2023 and 2025, and she will enter even more rarefied air should she secure a third.

6.00pm: Welcome to rugby league's night of nights, with the 2026 Dally M Medal winners set to be announced for the NRL and NRLW player of the year. A host of other awards will also be handed out, including the Team of the Year and the Ken Stephen and Veronica White Medals for Man and Woman of the Year. 

The stars have started arriving and made their way down the red carpet as anticipation builds towards the presentation of the NRL and NRLW Dally M Medals.