With just a month of the regular season remaining, it’s time to home in on the only six true contenders for the 2022 Dally M Medal.
We’re making a call that there really are only six players still in the running for the NRL’s ‘best and fairest’- the Dally M Medal.
The unique characteristic of this ‘player of the year’ award is that the votes remain public for the first 12 rounds, before they go behind closed doors. It’s a helpful indicator of who’s in the running mid-season, but often elevates the drama on Dally M Medal night, too.
Here’s the list of six players that remain in the conversation.
Ben Hunt – 19 points after Round 12
The difference between the Dragons vying for a Top-8 berth this season or fighting to avoid the wooden spoon has been Ben Hunt. Their captain has been consistently emphatic in a severely underwhelming and mismanaged squad.
Since the votes went private he should have polled heavily in all three of St George Illawarra’s wins against the Rabbitohs, Raiders and Sea Eagles.
Votes in all three will place him in an extremely healthy position heading into the final weeks of the regular competition where the Dragons play the 16th placed Titans, 15th placed Tigers and Hunt’s old club the Broncos in Round 25. Strong showings will make him very hard to chase down in his quest to become the first Dally M Medalist donning the Red V since Trent Barrett in 2000.
Isaah Yeo – 17 points after Round 12
It was a dominant start to the season for the menacing middle man who is proving to be perhaps the most influential cog in the Panthers’ dazzling attacking machine.
He unfortunately missed three games since Round 12 due to Origin and concussion, but should have placed in the voting in their wins over the Warriors in Round 15 and the Raiders last week.
A big finish to the season in a side missing Cleary and Luai will provide Yeo a golden opportunity to become just the second big forward to win the Dally M in the past 33 years.
Nicho Hynes – 16 points after Round 12
Nicho’s calm and controlled influence on a revamped Sharks lineup has been evident from pre-season. His ability to know when to straighten his runners, take the line on, or provide early ball to his devastating outside backs has him standing out.
He missed Round 17 but was influential in their victories against the Titans, Bulldogs, Rabbitohs and Dragons, which could easily see him atop the secret leaderboard after 21 rounds.
Cronulla have perhaps the easiest run home in the competition with all four remaining games against opposition currently sitting 10th or worse on the ladder so there is every chance they will be celebrating their first Dally M Medalist since Preston Campbell in 2001.
James Tedesco – 14 points after Round 12
Teddy shouldered the load of an underperforming Roosters side early in 2022, grinding his way to a respectable vote tally after twelve rounds.
He was extremely quiet throughout the Origin period, but since then he’s been a man-possessed with three tries, six try assists and an average of 243 metres and 10 tackle busts per game in a four week stretch, surely catapulting him into serious contention.
This form will undoubtedly continue over the final four rounds, determined to solidify the Roosters’ spot in the top eight. If successful, he’d also become the first Rooster in history to become a dual-winner.
Dylan Edwards – 13 points after Round 12
Edwards is perhaps the most underrated player in the NRL by those who do not follow the Panthers closely. He consistently leads the NRL for total runs, metres and support-plays which are statistical categories that define effort and provide insight into just how valuable he is to this current Penrith lineup. Additionally he is a dynamite defender who saves as many points at the back as he contributes in attack.
Edwards should collect votes in five of Penrith’s victories since round 12, making him a legitimate darkhorse for the 2022 Dally M Medal and like Yeo should poll healthily on the run home if Penrith can maintain their winning form with Cleary and Luai absent.
If he can charge home and claim Australian rugby league’s top individual gong, he will be the first to do so at the foot of the mountains since Greg Alexander in 1985.
Cam Munster – 12 points after Round 12
Munster had to compete for points with a red-hot Ryan Papenhuyzen to start the season, but had still played well enough to sit in the top 10 when votes went dark.
Origin commitments, a case of covid and the Storm’s four-match losing skid stalled his momentum in recent months, but he’s every chance of polling in Melbourne’s victories over Brisbane and the Warriors, plus possibly in the loss to Canberra.
His undeniable Man of the Match performance against the Titans last week has no doubt provided him with a handy boost of votes and confidence ahead of the final stretch. He has a chance to join Storm royalty Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater as Dally M Medal winners.
