The Dally M judges made a huge mistake and did one of the best players in the NRL dirty
Lost amid Jahrome Hughes' overall triumph was a complete snub for one of the game's top fullbacks.
Jahrome Hughes was arguably the most deserving winner of the Dally M medal in recent years, after a stellar season in which he was the Melbourne Storm's best. But for Tom Trbojevic to miss out on being one of three players in the running to win fullback of the year was completely laughable.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that James Tedesco, Dylan Edwards and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow were the three fullbacks on the short-list to make the Dally M team of the year at their position. And the final tally for the Dally M medal proved the judges got it wrong that Tabuai-Fidow was included in the three best fullbacks.
Hughes won the top gong with 62 votes ahead of Tedesco on 61, while Manly stars Daly Cherry-Evans and Trbojevic got 51 and 46 respectively. Next was Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater on 45, and Tabuai-Fidow wasn't even in the top 10 overall.
So how on earth did the Dally M judges think Tabuai-Fidow was in the top three fullbacks of the year? Even Drinkwater polled more votes than the Hammer, but the downfalls of the voting system were laid bare on Wednesday night.
The voting for the team of the year is separate to the overall Dally M winner, but is conducted by the same judges. They vote at certain intervals throughout the year for each position, and then again at the end of the regular season. But the fact that Trbojevic and Drinkwater both polled much better than Tabuai-Fidow shows they made a huge mistake.
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Tom Trbojevic snubbing a complete mistake from Dally M judges
The fact that Trbojevic and Cherry-Evans both finished in the top-four overall actually shows they would have taken a lot of votes off each other. If Cherry-Evans had played a few less games, maybe Trbojevic would have given Hughes and Tedesco a run for their money at the top.
In terms of stats, Trbojevic scored 17 tries in 18 games in the regular season, while Tabuai-Fidow scored 15 in 16 games. Trbojevic had 17 try assists to the Hammer's four, and made 16 line breaks compared to 10. Wayne Bennett didn't even think Tabuai-Fidow was the Dolphins' best fullback at the end of the season, shifting him to centre for the final two games.
Tedesco was the righftful winner of fullback of the year, with Edwards a close second. But the judges' decision to overlook Trbojevic was one of the biggest snubs in recent memory.
Turbo & DCE robbing each other
— Cam Sánchez (@CamMagicMan) October 2, 2024
The Dally M Team of the Year nominations are a bit of a piss take. No Barnett, No Tupou, No Turbo, No Talagi for ROTY etc
Not to mention the likes of Warbrick and Hudson Young being nominated
Also the suspension rule needs to be lifted, Galvin is the real ROTY 💯— NRL Silverback (@NRLSilverback) September 30, 2024
Dally M final leaderboard after 27 rounds:
Jahrome Hughes - 62 votes
James Tedesco - 61
Daly Cherry-Evans - 51
Tom Trbojevic - 46
Scott Drinkwater - 45
Dylan Edwards - 34
Ben Hunt and Isaah Yeo - 33
Harry Grant - 32
Matt Burton - 31
NRL team of the year:
James Tedesco, Zac Lomax, Stephen Crichton (capt), Herbie Farnworth, Brian To'o, Tom Dearden, Jahrome Hughes, Joseph Tapine, Harry Grant, Addin Fonua-Blake, Angus Crichton, Elisa Katoa, Isaah Yeo
NRLW team of the year:
Abbi Church, Julia Robinson, Isabelle Kelly, Tiana Penitani (capt), Stacey Wacka, Zahara Tamara, Lauren Brown, Shannon Mato, Keeley Davis, Millie Elliott, Olivia Kernick, Yasmin Clydsdale, Simaima Taufa
