After standout NRL seasons, Sharks trio Jesse Ramien, Blayke Brailey and Kayal Iro are in the running to win prestigious Dally M awards at Wednesday night's ceremony in Sydney.
Ramien and Brailey have been shortlisted for Centre of the Year and Hooker of the Year respectively, while Iro is among three Rookie of the Year contenders.
The NRL Dally M Team of the Year recognises the best player in each position across all rounds of the regular season. There are three nominees for single positions – fullback, five-eighth, halfback, lock and hooker – and five nominees for dual positions – wing, centre, second row and front row.
Ramien, who has enjoyed arguably a career-best campaign with six tries, 13 try assists, 11 line breaks and an elite average of 163 metres across 24 appearances, is up against Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs), Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins), Valentine Holmes (Cowboys) and Kotoni Staggs (Broncos) in his category.
For a fourth-straight year, the ever-consistent Brailey played every match – a remarkable feat given he churned out 1,108 tackles (second only to Canterbury's Reed Mahoney) and had the most ball receipts (3,360) in the competition.
Brailey is nominated for the Hooker of the Year gong alongside North Queensland's Reece Robson and Melbourne's Harry Grant.
Iro, meanwhile, will face off with Dolphins winger Jack Bostock and Raiders playmaker Ethan Strange to claim Rookie of the Year honours. The Cook Islands international made the left centre role his own after earning an opportunity in Round 4, recording six tries, 10 try assists and 161 average metres in 23 games.
Cronulla halfback Nicho Hynes could also be honoured at the Dally Ms as one of four finalists for the Ken Stephen Medal – Man of the Year community award.
The Dally M Awards recognise the game's most outstanding performers from both the NRL Telstra Premiership and NRL Telstra Women’s Premiership each season.
The Dally M Player of the Year will be announced, along with the Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Captain of the Year, Rookie of the Year and a raft of other awards for the NRL and NRLW, including leading tryscorer and pointscorer.
The event will be broadcast from 7.30pm on Fox League and Kayo.
NRL Dally M Awards nominees
Fullback of the Year
Dylan Edwards (Panthers)
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins)
James Tedesco (Roosters)
Winger of the Year
Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Titans)
Jacob Kiraz (Bulldogs)
Zac Lomax (Dragons)
Brian To'o (Panthers)
Will Warbrick (Storm)
Centre of the Year
Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs)
Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins)
Val Holmes (Cowboys)
Jesse Ramien (Sharks)
Kotoni Staggs (Broncos)
Five-eighth of the Year
Matt Burton (Bulldogs)
Tom Dearden (Cowboys)
Jarome Luai (Panthers)
Halfback of the Year
Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles)
Jahrome Hughes (Storm)
Ben Hunt (Dragons)
Hooker of the Year
Blayke Brailey (Sharks)
Harry Grant (Storm)
Reece Robson (Cowboys)
Prop of the Year
Lindsay Collins (Roosters)
James Fisher-Harris (Panthers)
Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors)
Moses Leota (Panthers)
Joseph Tapine (Raiders)
Second-row of the Year
Angus Crichton (Roosters)
Eliesa Katoa (Storm)
Viliame Kikau (Bulldogs)
Jaydn Su'A (Dragons)
Hudson Young (Raiders)
Lock of the Year
Pat Carrigan (Broncos)
Reuben Cotter (Cowboys)
Isaah Yeo (Panthers)
Coach of the Year
Craig Bellamy (Storm)
Cameron Ciraldo (Bulldogs)
Ivan Cleary (Panthers)
Captain of the Year
Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs)
Harry Grant (Storm)
Isaah Yeo (Panthers)
Rookie of the Year
Jack Bostock (Dolphins)
Kayal Iro (Sharks)
Ethan Strange (Raiders)
Provan-Summons Medal
Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs)
Tyrone Munro (Rabbitohs)
Joe Ofahengaue (Eels)
Top Tryscorer
Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Titans)
Top Pointscorer
Val Holmes (Cowboys)
Ineligible players
Any player suspended for a total of two NRL regular season games becomes ineligible to claim any Dally M award, while a one-game suspension brings with it a deduction of six points.
Players who become ineligible for awards due to suspension are still able to pick up points in subsequent games so as not to distort the voting process throughout the regular season.
However, players who are suspended for two games are ineligible to collect any awards.
- Spencer Leniu (Round 1, Contrary Conduct – suspended 8 games)
- Briton Nikora (Round 2, Careless High Tackle – suspended 2 games)
- Lachlan Galvin (Round 4, Dangerous Contact – suspended 2 games)
- Max Plath (Round 4, Dangerous Contact – suspended 2 games)
- Kurt Morrin (Round 4, Dangerous Throw – suspended 2 games)
- Kurt Donoghue (Round 5, Careless High Tackle – suspended 2 games)
- Latrell Mitchell (Round 5, Dangerous Contact – suspended 3 games)
- Dom Young (Round 5, Careless High Tackle – suspended 2 matches)
- Anthony Milford (Round 6, Dangerous Contact – suspended 2 games)
- Haumole Olakau'atu (Round 8, Dangerous Throw – suspended 2 games)
- Jacob Host (Round 9, Dangerous Contact – suspended 2 games)
- Aidan Sezer (Round 9, Dangerous Contact – suspended 4 games)
- David Klemmer (Round 12, Dangerous Contact – suspended 3 games)
- Joseph Sua'ali'i, NSW (Reckless High Tackle – suspended 4 games)
- Josh Aloiai (Round 14, Dangerous Contact [Tripping] – suspended 2 games)
- Kurt Mann (Round 14, Crusher Tackle – suspended 2 games)
- Jordan Riki (Round 15, Dangerous Contact – suspended 2 games)
- Kelma Tuilagi (Round 15, Dangerous Throw – suspended 5 games)
- Junior Pauga (Round 16, Reckless High Tackle – suspended 4 games)
- Kurt Donoghoe (Round 17, Careless High Tackle – suspended 3 games)
- Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Round 18, Careless High Tackle – suspended 4 matches)
- Jaeman Salmon (Round 18, Dangerous Contact – suspended 2 games)
- Haumole Olakau'atu, NSW (Contrary Conduct – suspended 2 games)
- Cameron Murray, NSW (Contrary Conduct – suspended 2 games)
- Aidan Sezer (Round 20, Dangerous Contact – suspended 2 games)
- Joe Chan (Round 20, Careless High Tackle – suspended 2 games)
- Toby Couchman (Round 21, Crusher Tackle – suspended 2 games)
- Michael Jennings (Round 21, Careless High Tackle – suspended 2 games)
- Justin Olam (Round 22, Careless High Tackle – suspended 4 games)
- Kyle Flanagan (Round 23, Dangerous Contact – suspended 4 games)
- Wiremu Greig (Round 24, High Tackle - Careless – suspended 2 games)
- Cameron Murray (Round 25, Careless High Tackle – suspended 3 games)
- Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Round 25, Careless High Tackle – suspended 3 matches)
- Corey Waddell (Round 25, Careless High Tackle – suspended 2 games)
- Elliott Whitehead (Round 26, Dangerous Contact – suspended 3 games)
- Api Koroisau (Round 27, Dangerous Throw – suspended 3 games)
