League: NRL Sport: Rugby Country: Australia Category: Scores & Results

Nathan Cleary wins first Dally M Medal at NRL awards night

The Guardian Sport • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 30, 2026, 12:17 PM

Last updated Sep 30, 2026

Nathan Cleary wins first Dally M Medal at NRL awards night

Summary

Nathan Cleary secured his first Dally M Medal at the NRL’s gala night in Sydney, concluding a season where he was recognized as player of the year. Cleary, recovering from an ankle injury sustained during Penrith’s preliminary-finals loss, won the award by a significant margin, finishing 14 points ahead of Braydon Trindall of Cronulla. The achievement marks a key milestone for Cleary, who has been a standout player in the league. While he was unable to attend the ceremony due to injury, his performance throughout the season has been widely acknowledged.

Source Links

The Guardian Sport

Status Watch

•Cleary wins his first Dally M Medal at the NRL gala night
•He finished 14 points clear of Braydon Trindall in the voting
•Cleary missed the ceremony due to a severe ankle injury
•This award completes his 'boxset' of rugby league honors
•Tamika Upton also won her third NRLW medal

Latest Updates

12:17 PMThe Guardian Sport — Nathan Cleary completes NRL boxset with his first Dally M medal

What they're saying

"
Player of the decade finally wins player of the year Tamika Upton wins her third NRLW medal Nathan Cleary has completed rugby league’s boxset of awards after the Penrith star was voted the runaway winner of his first Dally M Medal at the NRL’s gala night. Unable to attend Wednesday’s awards in Sydney after his horror ankle injury in Penrith’s preliminary-finals loss, Cleary finished 14 points clear of Cronulla half Braydon Trindall. Continue reading...
— The Guardian Sportby Australian Associated Press

Related Teams & Leagues

NRL Rugby