Departing Panthers star Jarome Luai is in line to claim his first Dally M positional award before taking up his $6 million move to the Wests Tigers, but his replacement at Penrith, Blaize Talagi, has been surprisingly overlooked for rookie of the year honours.
Storm star Jahrome Hughes and Roosters captain James Tedesco are expected to battle it out for the Dally M medal, with Hughes considered a warm favourite after a stunning season for the minor premiers.
At the other end of the spectrum, the Dally M rookie of the year field will raise eyebrows considering rising Eels star Talagi and Storm speedster Sua Fa’alogo have both been overlooked for Ethan Strange (Raiders), Jack Bostock (Dolphins) and Kayal Iro (Sharks).
Tigers tyro Lachlan Galvin was already ruled ineligible for the award having picked up a two-game suspension early in the season.
But Talagi, who is Panthers-bound next season to replace Luai, had been considered a front-runner for the award given his 11 tries in 19 games playing across Parramatta’s backline.
His emergence for the Eels proved bittersweet, after he knocked back a lucrative extension at Parramatta to join their western Sydney rivals on a three-year deal.
Last man standing: Only Ethan Strange (right) has been nominated for NRL rookie of the year ahead of Sua Fa’alogo and Blaize Talagi.Credit: Jamie Brown/SMH
Fa’alogo’s form for Melbourne after one debut game last season also had the Samoan fullback predicted to challenge for one of the more anticipated Dally M awards.
The Panthers and Storm have 10 players nominated for positional awards between them ahead of Sunday’s grand final, while Stephen Crichton and Cameron Ciraldo’s Canterbury revival have them odds on to claim captain and coach of the year.
Luai, Dylan Edwards, Brian To’o, James Fisher-Harris, Moses Leota and Isaah Yeo have all been nominated in their respective positions, along with Melbourne’s Will Warbrick, Hughes, Harry Grant and Eliesa Katoa.
Five-eighth of the year shapes as the tightest battle for a Dally M nod given Luai’s career-best season pits him up against former teammate and Bulldogs pivot Matt Burton and Cowboys maestro Tom Dearden.
Luai’s form in Nathan Cleary’s absence for much of 2024 has been key to Penrith’s charge to a fifth-straight grand final, which will be their No.6’s last for the club before linking with the Tigers.
Despite winning three premierships at Penrith and rising to regular representative honours, even Luai has described himself as ‘Robin’ to Cleary’s ‘Batman’ throughout his career, and he has never won an individual Dally M.
The 27-year-old has been nominated for Dally M honours as a five-eighth. But it’s as a game-managing halfback that he has taken charge this season, regaining his NSW Origin jumper and dismissing doubts about the Tigers $1.25 million-a-year investment.
“I think I’d be playing the same way even if I wasn’t going to the Tigers next year,” Luai said at the start of the finals.
“People have said that I’ve evolved and have picked up stuff that I haven’t had in my game before, but I’ve never really had to play this role.
Panthers playmaker Jarome Luai.Credit: Getty Images
“Back in my junior days I was a seven and I knew that if I needed to step into this role that I’d be sweet because it comes naturally anyway.”
Penrith and Melbourne’s dominance of the six-again era is laid bare in the Dally M field that features both Yeo and Grant as captain of the year nominations, and Ivan Cleary and Craig Bellamy in the coaching category.
The Bulldogs rise is also reflected though in Crichton and Ciraldo’s acknowledgements, along with flying winger Jacob Kiraz, Burton and back-rower Viliame Kikau all being nominated in their respective positions.
Dally M award nominations
Fullback: Dylan Edwards (Panthers), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), James Tedesco (Roosters).
Wingers (two winners): Alofiana Khan Pereira (Titans), Brian To’o (Panthers), Jacob Kiraz (Bulldogs), Will Warbrick (Storm), Zac Lomax (Dragons).
Centres (two winners): Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins), Jesse Ramien (Sharks), Kotoni Staggs (Broncos), Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs), Val Holmes (Cowboys).
Five-eighth: Jarome Luai (Panthers), Matt Burton (Bulldogs), Tom Dearden (Cowboys).
Halfback: Ben Hunt (Dragons), Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles), Jahrome Hughes (Storm).
Hooker: Blayke Brailey (Sharks), Harry Grant (Storm), Reece Robson (Cowboys).
Prop (two winners): Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors), James Fisher-Harris (Panthers), Joseph Tapine (Panthers), Lindsay Collins (Roosters), Moses Leota (Panthers).
Second-row (two winners): Angus Crichton (Roosters), Eliesa Katoa (Storm), Hudson Young (Raiders), Jaydn Su’A (Dragons), Viliame Kikau (Bulldogs)
Lock: Isaah Yeo (Panthers), Pat Carrigan (Broncos), Reuben Cotter (Cowboys).
Coach of the Year: Cameron Ciraldo (Bulldogs), Craig Bellamy (Storm), Ivan Cleary (Panthers).
Captain of the Year: Harry Grant (Storm), Isaah Yeo (Panthers), Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs)
Rookie of the Year: Ethan Strange (Raiders), Jack Bostock (Dolphins), Kayal Iro (Sharks).
Provan-Summons Medal: Joe Ofahengaue (Eels), Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs), Tyrone Munro (Rabbitohs)
Why the Panthers will be pretty in pink for the decider
Adam Pengilly
They’ve played in the past four grand finals and won three straight titles, but the Panthers will have to do something they haven’t done before in the biggest game of the season – wear a pink jersey.
In 116 years of top grade rugby league in Australia, no team has ever worn a pink jumper in a grand final, but the Panthers will be required to do so against the Storm at Accor Stadium next Sunday night.
Nathan Cleary and the Panthers will wear their pink jersey in the grand final.Credit: Getty
Minor premiers Melbourne have won the right to wear their traditional purple strip having secured the JJ Giltinan Shield, and Penrith’s first-choice black jersey is considered a clash with the Storm outfit.
The Panthers have donned their black jerseys in each of the last four grand finals, including wins over South Sydney (2021), Parramatta (2022) and Brisbane (2023).
The Storm were forced to wear their alternate white jersey against the Panthers in the 2020 grand final because Ivan Cleary’s side finished as minor premiers.
The pink Panthers are expected to trigger a rush from fans to buy the jersey before Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo lead their team in a bid to win a historic fourth straight title, with the colour to be dotted through the stands at Sydney Olympic Park.
The jersey has proven hugely popular with their young fans, in particular, and Panthers Group chief executive Brian Fletcher admitting the jumper has won over a new legion of fans.
“Every time we wear it, it’s amazing the number of young, female fans we get,” Fletcher said. “And the young kids love the jersey. I hear them ask their parents, ‘can you buy me that pink jersey?’ If we sell out of the stock, we’ll order more. It’s a great point of difference for our fans.”
The Panthers wore their pink jersey in the round one clash against the Storm in Melbourne, losing a frenetic match 8-0 shortly after they returned from the World Club Challenge in the United Kingdom.
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