NRL star fuming after Dally M snub

Olam was one of the biggest surprises when the nominees for every position were announced on Monday night ahead of the second night of the prestigious event, which is being held at Brisbane’s Howard Smith Wharves.

According to reports there has been a last-minute backflip from the NRL to grant Olam an invite to the event where the NRL will announce the best centre of the 2021 season, alongside the Player of the Year Award.

Watch every 2021 NRL Telstra Finals Series match before Grand Final. Live & Ad-Break Free on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free >

The Courier-Mail first reported the league did a U-turn on extending an invite to Olam for Monday’s ceremony after first claiming an “administrative oversight” was behind the failure to recognise Olam’s performances in 2021.

The Papua New Guinea star has had a breakout season leading to recognition from NRL immortal Andrew Johns that he was the “best centre in the world” earlier this year.

Munster clearly agrees, taking to Instagram on Tuesday slaying the NRL for the mistake.

“I’m not usually one for a rant, but pretty disappointed my PNG brother Justin Olam didn’t even get nominated for centre of the year!” Munster posted on Instagram.

“He’s easily a top three centre.

“Don’t come at me. The system needs a change, NRL.”

Munster’s post has again brought the voting system into the spotlight with the process behind the awards coming under criticism almost every year.

The 2021 voting process for the team of the year includes all players having their 3-2-1 votes for the Dally M player of the year award being tallied before each member of the judging panel adds an additional vote to the player they believe is the best in every position.

Manly’s Tom Trbojevic is a hot favourite to take out the Dally M Medal ahead of South Sydney’s Cody Walker.

Nathan Cleary, James Tedesco and Daly Cherry-Evans have also been announced as the top contenders for the Player of The Year award.