When are the Dally M Awards? Who is the favourite?

Dally M Awards: When is it? Is Nathan Cleary favourite for NRL's top honour?Posted Wed 30 Sep 2026 at 5:54amWed 30 Sep 2026 at 5:54amJames Tedesco and Tamika Upton are the reigning Dally M medallists. (Getty Images: Mark Metcalfe)The NRL's and NRLW's best gather in Sydney tonight to crown rugby league's biggest stars at the Dally M Awards.Here is what you need to know.What time is the Dally M ceremony?The NRL's Dally M Awards ceremony will start at 6:30pm AEST at The Cutaway in Barangaroo on Sydney Harbour.Players are set to start arriving on the red carpet at 5:30pm.How can I watch?Wednesday's ceremony will be broadcast live on Fox League and Kayo Sports.ABC Sport will be live-blogging the red carpet and the vote count.Who are the Dally M favourites?Brisbane Broncos fullback Tamika Upton is favoured to win her third women's award in four years, while Penrith Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary is the frontrunner for the men's award, which would be his first.Cleary, who is in hospital after surgery on his badly broken leg, and Upton led the men's and women's counts before voting went behind closed doors earlier in the season.Cleary led with 38 points after round 12. Warriors prop Jackson Ford was his closest competitor on 35, but suffered a pectoral injury in round 16 and missed the rest of the regular season.Cleary's next closest competitors are a trio of fullbacks — Penrith's Dylan Edwards (32), North Queensland's Scott Drinkwater (29) and defending winner James Tedesco (27) of the Roosters.Upton had 12 points from four NRLW games when voting became secret and faces tough competition from Roosters playmaker Tarryn Aiken (11), Raiders fullback Sheridan Gallagher (11), Brisbane halfback Jesse Southwell (10) and rugby sevens star turned Titans five-eighth Teagan Levi (9).Players can earn a maximum of six points per game, so margins can be closed or extended quickly.Who are the previous Dally M medallists?YearMenWomen*2025James TedescoTamika Upton2024Jahrome HughesOlivia Kernick2023Kalyn PongaTamika Upton2022Nicho HynesRaecene McGregor2021Tom TrbojevicMillie Boyle, Emma Tonegato2020Jack WightonAli Brigginshaw2019James TedescoJessica Sergis2018Roger Tuivasa-SheckBrittany Breayley*Before the start of the NRLW in 2018 the best female player was awarded the game's top international women's player.What other awards will be handed out?There will be NRL and NRLW Team of the Year named, highlighting the leagues' best in each position, as well as:Rookie of the YearCaptain of the YearCoach of the YearTry of the YearTackle of the YearThe Ken Stephen Medal and Veronica White Medal will also be awarded to the men's and women's players who made the biggest contribution to their rugby league communities.