NRL Dally M Medal Winner 2019
After an off-season of player, coach and positional changes the race to the 2019 Dally M medal winner is as open as it’s ever been. Read through our preview of the top favourites and a few outsides to watch.
Kalyn Ponga $8
Kalyn Ponga burst onto the scene last season as he almost claimed the Dally M medal in his first full season of NRL. Ponga relished the opportunity last season but question marks surround his impending shift from fullback to five-eighth and how this will affect his performance. Despite this, many have tipped Newcastle to return to finals footy and you would have to think it would be on the back of some Kalyn Ponga magic, aiding his bid for a first Dally M medal.
James Tedesco $11
Last years Brad Fittler medalist, James Tedesco, won about everything he could in his first season as a Sydney Rooster, claiming the Roosters first premiership in 5 years and the NSW Blues first series in 4 years. Scarily that was his first full season as a Rooster and with his continued development it poses a frightening prospect for opposition teams and rival players in the race for the Dally M.
Mitchell Pearce $15
Mitchell Pearce amazingly finished 5th in the 2018 Dally M medal after playing only 15 games in the Newcastle colours. If he is able to string together a full season then he could be close to his first Dally M medal in 2019 but it remains to be seen if having the talented Kalyn Ponga as his halves partner will effect or enhance his chances.
Luke Brooks $15
The 2018 Dally M Halfback of the year has finally filled his talented boots and arrived as one of the NRLs leading halfbacks. With the signing of Michael Maguire as coach, who has a history of taking halfbacks to the next level, could it be the year that Brooks outshines his opponents. A lot will depend on how close his team go to making the finals.
Cameron Smith $17
Duel winner of the Dally M medal in 2006 and 2017, Cameron Smith enters the 2019 season without the prospect of representative football after his retirement last year. This poses a scary prospect for opposition and with the departure of champion Billy Slater it requires Smith to step up on the field, an area that a player of Smiths capability flourishes in.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck $17
Last years Dally M medal winner, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will be out to be the first player since champion halfback Johnathan Thurston to go back-to-back in the most coveted individual award in the NRL. If the Warriors can continue their consistent form from last season then it will go a long way to helping RTS secure a second Dally M medal in as many years.
Anthony Milford $17
Earmarked as the future of the NRL a few years back it has been a disappointing run with injury that has prevented Anthony Milford from reaching the games summit. This year Milford has a coach in Anthony Seibold who encourages open, attacking styles of football, which should provide Milford with the room to move in order to recapture his best form.
The Outsiders to watch
Damien Cook $21
Damien Cook enjoyed a breakout season in 2018 as he was awarded the Dally M Hooker of the year and achieved his first Australian Kangaroos Jersey. He looks value at $21 but it remains to be seen how new coach Wayne Bennett will best use Cook’s attacking prowess.
Nathan Cleary $21
NSW Blues star Nathan Cleary has had an interrupted pre-season after undergoing ankle surgery but it hasn’t stopped many from tipping the Panthers to go all the way in 2019. If the Panthers are to go deep in September then it would be on the back of Cleary’s form, making him an enticing prospect at this price.
Cameron Munster $21
Cameron Munster had his best year in 2018 as he finished 6th on the Dally M leaderboard and will look to use the added responsibility with the experience of playing in the last 3 grand finals to help feature heavily in the 2019 count.
Josh Hodgson $34
After missing more than half of last season through injury Josh Hodgson returned to the Canberra Raiders with a match-winning performance in Round 15 of 2018. With a full pre-season under his belt, the incumbent English hooker will be a forced to be reckoned with for opposition teams.
Michael Morgan $34
Playing behind one of the competitions strongest forward packs and with the keys to North Queensland after Johnathan Thurstons retirement, Michael Morgan has the ability to replicate his 2017 form that led the Cowboys to a shock grand final appearance and possibly a first Dally M medal in 2019.
Luke Keary $51
At $51, Luke Keary is huge value. In 2018, he won the Clive Churchill Medal in the grand final and won his first Australian jersey. With the impending retirement of Cooper Cronk providing Keary with more responsibility and the strength of the Roosters, expect Keary to feature towards the top of the count, much to the surprise of the odds he is at.
Prediction
In what is one of the most open races for the Dally M medal I believe we could see Newcastle Knights captain, Mitchell Pearce, lead the Knights to their first Dally M medal since 2004 on the back of a full season of NRL.
Mitchell Pearce $15
Best Outsider: Luke Keary $51
