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Kalyn Ponga, Tamika Upton crowned Dally M Medal winners

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Kalyn Ponga and Tamika Upton create history as the Newcastle Knights make a clean sweep in the NRL and NRLW Dally M Awards.

Newcastle Knights players Kalyn Ponga and Tamika Upton emerged as the Dally M Medal winners, causing a stir in the NRL community.

They were honoured with the Dally M Medals during a ceremony held in Sydney on Wednesday night.

Ponga’s triumph came as a surprise since he managed to secure the medal by one point, narrowly edging out Shaun Johnson, who was expected to win.

This victory marked a comeback for Ponga, who had to overcome a career-threatening concussion scare that kept him out of action for five weeks.

However, he made a return and led the Newcastle Knights to an outstanding nine-game winning streak, which not only secured them a spot in the finals but also earned Ponga the Dally M Medal.

The voting system for the Dally M underwent changes this season. Two independent judges awarded six points for each game based on a 3-2-1 basis, allowing for fluctuation in the leaderboard.

These changes worked in Pongas favour, as they enabled him to make a surge and claim the medal.

In the NRLW category, Tamika Upton was awarded the Dally M Medal, completing an achievement for both her and the Newcastle Knights.

Uptons remarkable performance as women’s player of the year further solidified the Knights success in these awards.

While some fans and analysts were surprised by Ponga’s win and suggested changes to the voting system, it was evident that both Ponga and Upton showed resilience and determination throughout the season.

These victories made for a night for the Knights as they achieved honours in both the NRL and NRLW categories, a feat that hasn’t been seen in Newcastle since 2004.

In addition to the Dally M Medals awarded to Kalyn Ponga and Tamika Upton, several other prestigious awards were announced during the Dally M Awards night:

2023 Dally M Medals For The NRL

  • Rookie of the Year: Sunia Turuva (Penrith Panthers)
  • Captain of the Year: Adam Reynolds (Brisbane Broncos)
  • Coach of the Year: Andrew Webster (New Zealand Warriors)
  • Provan-Summons Medal: Nicho Hynes (Cronulla Sharks)

    2023 Dally M Medals For The NRLW

  • Rookie of the Year: Annessa Biddle (Cronulla Sharks)
  • Captain of the Year: Simaima Taufa (Canberra Raiders)
  • Coach of the Year: Karyn Murphy (Gold Coast Titans)
  • Provan-Summons Medal: Lavinia Gould (Brisbane Broncos)

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    Topics: Dally M Awards, Dally M Medal, Kalyn Ponga, Newcastle Knights, NRL

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