Departing Warriors front rower Addin Fonua-Blake and Penrith’s Warriors-bound prop and Kiwi captain James Fisher-Harris are both shortlisted for the NRL’s Dally Team of the Year to be announced in Sydney on Wednesday night.
Fonua-Blake was last week named in the RLPA’s Players’ Dream Team along with teammate Mitchell Barnett.
While he is one of five players nominated for Dally M team, Barnett hasn’t been listed.
Fisher-Harris is joined as a front row nominee by his Penrith and Kiwi teammate Moses Leota as the pair prepare for one last ride together in Sunday’s grand final against Melbourne, the Panthers’ fifth straight appearance in the decider.
Penrith also has fullback Dylan Edwards, winger Brian To’o, standoff Jarome Luai and loose forward Isaah Yeo shortlisted.
Among the other nominees are Melbourne’s ex-Warriors second rower Eliesa Katoa as well as a trio of New Zealanders – Melbourne halfback Jahrome Hughes, Storm winger Will Warbrick and Canberra front rower Joseph Tapine – who are all in line for the Kiwis’ coming Pacific Championship campaign.
The nominees for the Dally M Team of the Year include Dally M Medallist James Tedesco, who won the prestigious award in 2019, and five players named in the 2023 Dally M Team of the Year.
They are centres Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins) and Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs), both of whom have changed clubs this season, Fonua-Blake, hooker Harry Grant (Storm) and lock Pat Carrigan (Broncos).
The NRL Dally M Team of the Year recognises the best player in each position across all rounds of the regular season.
One of the three nominees for the Dally M Rookie of the Year is Cronulla Sutherland centre Kayak Iro, a former Warriors under-20 player and son of ex-Kiwi centre Kevin Iro.
DALLY M AWARDS | NOMINEES
Fullback of the Year
Dylan Edwards (Panthers)
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins)
James Tedesco (Roosters)
Winger of the Year
Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Titans)
Jacob Kiraz (Bulldogs)
Zac Lomax (Dragons)
Brian To'o (Panthers)
Will Warbrick (Storm)
Centre of the Year
Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs)
Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins)
Val Holmes (Cowboys)
Jesse Ramien (Sharks)
Kotoni Staggs (Broncos)
Five-eighth of the Year
Matt Burton (Bulldogs)
Tom Dearden (Cowboys)
Jarome Luai (Panthers)
Halfback of the Year
Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles)
Jahrome Hughes (Storm)
Ben Hunt (Dragons)
Hooker of the Year
Blayke Brailey (Sharks)
Harry Grant (Storm)
Reece Robson (Cowboys)
Prop of the Year
Lindsay Collins (Roosters)
James Fisher-Harris (Panthers)
Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors)
Moses Leota (Panthers)
Joseph Tapine (Raiders)
Second rower of the Year
Angus Crichton (Roosters)
Eliesa Katoa (Storm)
Viliame Kikau (Bulldogs)
Jaydn Su'A (Dragons)
Hudson Young (Raiders)
Lock of the Year
Pat Carrigan (Broncos)
Reuben Cotter (Cowboys)
Isaah Yeo (Panthers)
Coach of the Year
Craig Bellamy (Storm)
Cameron Ciraldo (Bulldogs)
Ivan Cleary (Panthers)
Captain of the Year
Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs)
Harry Grant (Storm)
Isaah Yeo (Panthers)
Rookie of the Year
Jack Bostock (Dolphins)
Kayal Iro (Sharks)
Ethan Strange (Raiders)
Provan-Summons Medal
Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs)
Tyrone Munro (Rabbitohs)
Joe Ofahengaue (Eels)
Top Tryscorer
Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Titans)
Top Pointscorer
Val Holmes (Cowboys)
