Tom Trbojevic had one of the greatest seasons in rugby league history but his Dally M Award tally shows just how great it truly was.
Manly Sea Eagles fullback Tom Trbojevic has won the 2021 Dally M Medal, having wrapped up the honour with a round still to play.
The most destructive and dominant player in the NRL, he missed the opening five rounds of the season but turned the Sea Eagles around to take the side from the bottom of the ladder with one win to a top four finish.
Ultimately the side made it to the preliminary final where the Sea Eagles were knocked out by the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
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He becomes the third Sea Eagles player to win the award alongside Cliff Lyons in 1990 and 1994 and Matt Orford in 2008.
“I’ll start off by saying what an honour it is to win this award,” Trbojevic said in his award speech. “I was just reading the past winners and to be recognised among that list is pretty special. I don’t think it will ever sink in.
“I’ll start my thank you’s to the NRL and Queensland government, what they’ve done for the past three months has been incredible. To the Manly boys, Dessie (Hasler) and Chez (Daly Cherry-Evans), I couldn’t have done it without you. This medal is a beneficiary for all your hard work and effort.
“To the family back home, mum and dad, you know how much I love and miss you. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me over the years and this medal’s on the back of everything you’ve done for me and without you two, I wouldn’t be getting it. So big thank you.”
It was a special season for Trbojevic as he had one of the greatest years ever seen.
Trbojevic played 18 games in 2021 — just 15 in the regular season voting period — and scored 28 tries, and yet he still finished just one point short of the highest points tally in Dally M history — Johnathan Thurston’s 2007 tally of 36 points made over 22 games. Thurston’s tally also included an Origin game where he picked up two points, but Origin games no longer go towards the final Dally M tally. Trbojevic also won the Wally Lewis Medal for the player of the series in Origin.
He is also the winner who played the least amount of games.
Trbojevic (35 votes) had to beat Nathan Cleary (30 votes), Cody Walker (29 votes), James Tedesco (23 votes) and Daly Cherry-Evans (23 votes) for the award.
Once again, Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary has fallen just short as he was the only player who could have beaten Trbojevic with two rounds to go.
But with no points in the second last game of the season against the Tigers, and a man of the match performance from Trbojevic, the favourite claimed the award.
Trbojevic’s coach Des Hasler paid his superstar an incredible tribute after he was crowned the game’s best player.
“Considering he did it in 15 games it’s quite an amazing effort,” Hasler said.
“I think the way he approaches it, a lot of players who have watched him play just knows how he handles himself.
“He’s a wonderful human being and the way he carries himself with distinction and great humility, they’re other features that go into the player he is and the reason why we watch.”
Full list of Award Winners
Fullback of the Year: Tom Trbojevic (Manly Sea Eagles)
Winger of the Year: Reuben Garrick (Manly Sea Eagles) and Brian To’o (Penrith Panthers)
Centre of the Year: Matt Burton (Penrith Panthers) and Justin Olam (Melbourne Storm)
Five-Eighth of the Year: Cody Walker (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Halfback of the Year: Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers
Prop of the Year: James Fisher-Harris (Penrith Panthers) and Payne Haas (Brisbane Broncos)
Hooker of the Year: Brandon Smith (Melbourne Storm)
Second Rower of the Year: Viliame Kikau (Penrith Panthers) and Isaiah Papali’i (Parramatta Eels)
Lock of the Year: Isaah Yeo (Penrith Panthers)
Coach of the Year: Craig Bellamy (Melbourne Storm)
Captain of the Year: James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters)
Rookie of the Year: Sam Walker (Sydney Roosters)
Peter Frilingos Award: Melbourne Storm’s 19 straight wins
Provan-Summons Award: Josh Morris (Sydney Roosters) for supporting his brother after his career ending knee injury
Top Point Scorer: Reuben Garrick (Manly Sea Eagles) — 304 points
Ken Irvine Medal (Top Try Scorer): Alex Johnston (South Sydney Rabbitohs) — 27 tries
VB Hardest Working Player: Isaiah Papali’i (Parramatta Eels)
Try of the Year: Tom Trbojevic (Manly Sea Eagles)
Tackle of the Year: Xavier Coates (Brisbane Broncos)
Coach of the year: Craig Bellamy
The 2021 coach of the year is Craig Bellamy. The 19-game winning streak that equalled the all-time record was impossible to ignore for voters.
A minor premiership with just three losses through the regular season, it was brilliant performance for the Storm, even though they didn’t come away with a title after the loss to the Panthers on the weekend.
“I know it was a disappointing finish but what the boys did this year was quite incredible,” Bellamy said. “The players did a great job being away for two years, sometimes we had our families with us and sometimes we didn’t. I’ve enjoyed what the players have provided for us.”
Captain of the Year: James Tedesco
The Roosters’ James Tedesco led his side on an improbably finals campaigns after the side’s shocking injury toll.
Most shocking was the retirement of both Boyd Cornder and Jake Friend, the club’s two skippers to start the year.
Tedesco took the reins however and led the Roosters to fifth on the NRL ladder and a second week of the finals berth.
“This year ended in a disappointing way, but the fight we showed week in week out, guys getting better every week,” Tedesco said.
“I was proud to lead the club. I want to thank Robbo for his leadership. He was our true leader and he guided me through it all.
“Also to Boyd Cordner, he came up with us and I leaned on him in important times. He was a great leader and to have him around and his presence was awesome for us all year.”
Rookie of the Year: Sam Walker
Sydney Roosters rookie star Sam Walker has won the 2021 Dally M rookie of the year after a stunning performance in his breakout season.
Thrust into the spotlight after injuries, Walker made the transition to the NRL look easy as he starred for the injury ravaged side.
“The belief that was instilled in me through the club, Robbo and players this year was brilliant,” Walker said,
“They allowed me to go out there and play my game. I would not be here without the club and what they’ve done for me the last two years.”
First awards handed out at Dally M’s
Retiring Sydney Roosters champion Josh Morris has won the first award of the night for the vision of him consoling his brother Brett after his career-ending knee injury in round 8.
The champion twins both retired from rugby league this season and Morris claimed the Provan-Summons Medal.
The Peter Frilingos Award for the headline moment of the year was handed out next to the Melbourne Storm for their 19-game winning streak, which equalled the longest streak in rugby league history.
“To win 19 straight in this era is unbelievable, I’m really proud of them. It’s been a long year again but they performed so well,” Storm coach Craig Bellamy said.
“We didn’t make a big thing of it but it’s obviously a wonderful performance by our players.”
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