Monday September 27 2021
Former Mona Vale Raiders player and Manly Warringah Sea Eagles fullback Tom Trbojevic has capped a spectacular 2021 season by being crowned the 2021 Dally M Medal winner in Brisbane.
In a ceremony held in Brisbane for the first time ever, Tom became the first Sea Eagles player to win the coveted award since Matt Orford won in 2008.
The Sea Eagles star polled 35 points, ahead of Penrith Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary (30), and Cody Walker (29). Trbojevic’s teammate Daly Cherry-Evans and Sydney Roosters fullback James Tedesco (both 23) rounded out the top five.
Trbojevic’s ascension to the medal was complete in Round 24, when he polled three points against the Bulldogs. Remarkably, he polled three points in 11 matches in 2021.
This year’s Dally M Awards once again featured a full 13-man team as its Team of the Year.
Grand finalists Penrith Panthers dominated the Team of the Year, with six members crowned – prop James Fisher-Harris, second-rower Viliame Kikau, lock Isaah Yeo, winger Brian To’o and centre Matt Burton joining Cleary at halfback.
Melbourne Storm’s remarkable season was celebrated with a number of landmark achievements - Craig Bellamy won Dally M Coach of the Year, while the 19-match winning streak – which equalled the efforts of the 1975 Roosters team – was named the Peter Frilingos Headline Moment, alongside Justin Olam (Centre of the Year) and Brandon Smith (Hooker of the Year).
Retiring Sydney Roosters centre Josh Morris was given the honour of winning the Provan-Summons Medal – the Spirit of the Game award – after the emotional embrace with his twin brother Brett following Brett’s season-ending injury in Round 8.
Sydney Roosters fullback James Tedesco was awarded Captain of the Year, while teammate Sam Walker was rewarded for a stellar season with Rookie of the Year honours.
“On behalf of the game, congratulations to Tom Trbojevic on winning rugby league’s highest individual honour,’’ NRL Chief Executive Andrew Abdo said.
“It’s a remarkable achievement in a remarkable year to poll 3 points in 11 different games.
“Congratulations to every winner. Tonight we reflected on the people and moments of the season. The players. The coaches. The teamwork. The deep tribalism. The unmatched athleticism. The unforgettable moments of brilliance.”
Tom Trbojevic was also named the Dally M Fullback of the Year and Try of the Year for the Sea Eagles' Round 25 win over the Cowboys, and the length-of-the-field team try finished by Tom.
Manly Captain and half-back Daly Cherry-Evans and Sydney Roosters fullback James Tedesco (both 23) rounded out the top five.
Trbojevic secured the Dally M Medal in Round 24 after polling three points in the win over the Bulldogs.
He polled an incredible three points in 11 matches in 2021 to finish the regular season with 25 tries, 30 line breaks and 27 try assists in 15 matches after missing the first five matches through a hamstring injury.
The Dally M Medal then capped off arguably the best ever season seen by an individual player by finishing the entire season with 28 tries, 28 try assists, 124 tackle breaks, and 33 line breaks from a combined 18 games.
"I'll start off by saying what an honour it is to win this award," Tom said.
"I was just reading the past winners and to be recognised amongst that list is pretty special. I don't think it will ever sink in.
"I'll start my thank-yous to the NRL and Queensland government, what they've done over the past three months has been incredible.
''Transferring the Game up here and everyone being able top keep doing what we love doing; everyone is very thankful for that.
"To the Manly boys, Dessie and Chez (Cherry-Evans) and the playing group, I couldn't have done it without you. This medal is a beneficiary for all your hard work and effort. I can’t thank you enough for it.
"To the family back home, mum and dad, you know how much I love and miss you. I appreciate everything you've done for me over the years and this medal is on the back of everything you've done for me. Without you two I wouldn't be getting it so a big thank you."
The Dally M Medal follows on from Trbojevic winning the Roy Bull ‘Best and Fairest’ Award at Manly’s presentation night on Sunday. It was the second time Trbojevic won the award after claiming it in 2016.
Trbojevic also set a new Club record for Most Tries in a Season for Manly with 28 tries to break Phil Blake’s 1983 record of 27 tries in 24 games, including finals.
The Sea Eagles also had six players nominated for the nine positions in the Dally M Team of the Year, being Tom Trbojevic (full-back), Jason Saab and Reuben Garrick (wing), Daly Cherry-Evans (half-back), Jake Trbojevic (lock), and Haumole Olakau’atu (second-row).
Garrick took one of the two wing positions alongside Brian To’o for his phenomenal record-breaking season that saw him record 334 points.
Cherry-Evans was also nominated for Captain of the Year, won by James Tedesco.
Des Hasler was also nominated for the Coach of the Year award, won by Craig Bellamy.
Family bond...Tom Trbojevic shares his Dally M Medal win with proud brothers Jake and Ben. Photo: NRL Media
The full list of winners is:
Dally M Player of the Year – Tom Trbojevic – Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Prop – Payne Haas – Brisbane Broncos
Prop – James Fisher-Harris – Penrith Panthers
Second Row – Viliame Kikau – Penrith Panthers
Second Row – Isaiah Papali’i – Parramatta Eels
Lock – Isaah Yeo – Penrith Panthers
Winger – Brian To’o – Penrith Panthers
Winger – Reuben Garrick – Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Centre – Matt Burton – Penrith Panthers
Centre – Justin Olam – Melbourne Storm
Five-Eighth – Cody Walker – South Sydney Rabbitohs
Halfback – Nathan Cleary – Penrith Panthers
Hooker – Brandon Smith – Melbourne Storm
Fullback – Tom Trbojevic – Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Rookie of the Year – Sam Walker – Sydney Roosters
Captain of the Year – James Tedesco – Sydney Roosters
Coach of the Year – Craig Bellamy – Melbourne Storm
Top Points Scorer – Reuben Garrick – Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Top Try Scorer (Ken Irvine Medal) – Alex Johnston – South Sydney Rabbitohs
Peter Frilingos Headline Moment: Melbourne Storm’s 19-match winning streak
Provan-Summons – Josh Morris – Sydney Roosters
DrinkWise Try of the Year: Tom Trbojevic (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
YOUI Tackle of the Year: Xavier Coates (Brisbane Broncos)
VB Hardest Working Player of the Year: Isaiah Papali’i (Parramatta Eels)
Dally M Medal Honour Roll:
2021: Tom Trbojevic (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
2020: Jack Wighton (Canberra Raiders)
2019: James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters)
2018: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors)
2017: Cameron Smith (Melbourne Storm)
2016: Cooper Cronk (Melbourne Storm) and Jason Taumololo (North Queensland Cowboys)
2015: Johnathan Thurston (North Qld Cowboys)
2014: Johnathan Thurston (North Qld Cowboys) and Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta Eels)
2013: Cooper Cronk (Melbourne Storm)
2012: Ben Barba (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
2011: Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm)
2010: Todd Carney (Sydney Roosters)
2009: Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta Eels)
2008: Matt Orford (Manly Sea Eagles)
2007: Johnathan Thurston (North Qld Cowboys)
2006: Cameron Smith (Melbourne Storm)
2005: Johnathan Thurston (North Qld Cowboys)
2004: Danny Buderus (Newcastle Knights)
2003: Not awarded
2002: Andrew Johns (Newcastle Knights)
2001: Preston Campbell (Cronulla Sharks)
2000: Trent Barrett (St George Illawarra Dragons)
1999: Andrew Johns (Newcastle Knights)
1998: Andrew Johns (Newcastle Knights)
1997: Not awarded
1996: Allan Langer (Brisbane Broncos)
1995: Laurie Daley (Canberra Raiders)
1994: Cliff Lyons (Manly Sea Eagles)
1993: Ricky Stuart (Canberra Raiders)
1992: Gary Freeman (Eastern Suburbs Roosters)
1991: Michael Potter (St George Dragons)
1990: Cliff Lyons (Manly Sea Eagles)
1989: Gavin Miller (Cronulla Sharks)
1988: Gavin Miller (Cronulla Sharks)
1987: Peter Sterling (Parramatta Eels)
1986: Peter Sterling (Parramatta Eels)
1985: Greg Alexander (Penrith Panthers)
1984: Michael Potter (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
1983: Terry Lamb (Western Suburbs Magpies)
1982: Ray Price (Parramatta Eels)
1981: Steve Rogers (Cronulla Sharks)
1980: Robert Laurie (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
1979: Steve Morris (St George Dragons)
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Tom Trbojevic wins Sea Eagles top award for 2021
Sunday September 26, 2021
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles full-back Tom Trbojevic has tonight taken out the Club’s top honour of Best and Fairest Player for the second time.
Trbojevic was presented with the Roy Bull ‘Best and Fairest’ Award for 2021 by Coach Des Hasler at a Sea Eagles presentation night held for players and coaching staff as well as their families at Lilys On The Lagoon at the Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort.
The Roy Bull ‘Best and Fairest’ Award is named after Manly’s first international player. Bull played 22 Tests for Australia and 177 games at prop for Manly.
Trbojevic previously won the prestigious award in 2016. Former forward Glenn Stewart (2007, 2008, 2011) and Jake Trbojevic (2015, 2018, 2019) are the only players to have won the Roy Bull award on three occasions.
Twenty-four-year-old Trbojevic produced one of the finest individual seasons ever seen, taking all before him in 2021.
Trbojevic scored 28 tries in 18 games to set a new Club record for Most Tries in a Season in a year that saw him cross for five hat-tricks for the Sea Eagles.
It was a very rewarding night for Trbojevic who also received the NRL Players’ Player Award, the NRL Leading Try Scorer award, and the Gordon Willoughby Medallion for Best Player as voted by the Manly Members.
Reuben Garrick’s record-breaking season for the Sea Eagles saw him take out the Club’s NRL Leading Point Scorer Award.
Garrick finished the season with an incredible 334 points from 23 tries and 121 goals to set a new Club Record for Most Points in a Season.
The Club also revamped the eligibility criteria for the Ken Arthurson Rising Star Award to encompass players who may have debuted in a previous year but had accumulated less than five NRL appearances prior to the beginning of the current season.
Jason Saab and Josh Schuster were announced as joint winners of the Ken Arthurson Rising Star Award after their strong seasons for Manly.
Schuster established himself as a quality, ball playing back-rower while Saab capped off a superb club debut season for Manly with 26 tries.
Josh and Jason had breakout seasons and displayed enormous professional growth through a challenging year. The players enjoy a bond that was initially forged at school and also included their close friend Keith Titmuss. There is no doubt that Keith, who was tragically lost to the Club last year, would have put himself right in contention for this year’s award.
Josh Schuster, Sea Eagles Player #622, Keith Titmuss, Sea Eagles Player #623 and Jason Saab, Sea Eagles Player #624 – a trio of Sea Eagles players that the Club is all very proud of.
The Steve Menzies Medal for the Play of the Year was awarded to Rueben Garrick for his outstanding effort that led to the NRL Try of the Year award against the Nth Qld Cowboys in Townsville in round 25.
The Doug Daley Clubman of the Year Award was presented to the very popular Toff Sipley for his dedication, passion and commitment, on and off the field for the Sea Eagles.
Sean Keppie won the Club’s Community Award in recognition of his outstanding work with the Sunnyfield, Heroes with Ability, and What Ability Disability Services organisations.
The night also saw the Club highlight the player milestones of Daly Cherry-Evans (250 games), Martin Taupau (200 games), Dylan Walker (100 games for Manly, 150 NRL), Tom Trbojevic (100 games) and Josh Aloiai (100 games).
2021 Manly Sea Eagles Award winners
Roy Bull Best and Fairest Award: Tom Trbojevic
NRL Players’ Player Award: Tom Trbojevic
NRL Leading Try Scorer Award: Tom Trbojevic
Gordon Willoughby Medallion (Best Player as voted by Manly Members): Tom Trbojevic
NRL Leading Point Scorer Award: Reuben Garrick
Ken Arthurson Rising Star Award: Jason Saab, Josh Schuster
Steve Menzies Medal for the Play of the Year: Reuben Garrick
Doug Daley Clubman of the Year Award: Toafofoa Sipley
NRL Club Community Award: Sean Keppie