Nathan Cleary and Tamika Upton win Dally M awards
Thursday 1 October 2026 · 3 outlets · 3 reports · updated In this story Warriors, NRL, Andrew Webster, Penrith Panthers, Nathan Cleary, NRL Women's (NRLW)
Nathan Cleary won his first Dally M Medal from home following an ankle injury. Brisbane fullback Tamika Upton secured her third NRLW player of the year award in four seasons. Additionally, Warriors coach Andrew Webster was named NRL coach of the year.
Key facts
4 facts
- Nathan Cleary won the Dally M Medal with 67 votes
- Tamika Upton won the NRLW player of the year award for the third time in four seasons
- Andrew Webster was named NRL coach of the year
- The Dally M winner is decided by a 3-2-1 points system from independent judges
The full story
1 min read · 3 outlets
Penrith Panthers star Nathan Cleary won his first Dally M Medal, finishing 14 votes ahead of Cronulla Sharks' Braydon Trindall. Cleary accepted the award via video message from his couch after undergoing emergency surgery for a compound fracture of his left leg sustained during the Panthers' preliminary final loss. He finished with 67 votes, while Trindall polled 53 and Dylan Edwards polled 52.
In the NRLW, Brisbane Broncos fullback Tamika Upton secured her third player of the year award in four seasons. Upton finished with 31 votes, narrowly defeating Wests Tigers' Raecene McGregor, who earned 29 votes. McGregor was noted as having pushed Upton to the final round of the season.
Warriors coach Andrew Webster was named NRL coach of the year for the second time in four seasons, beating Justin Holbrook. Several Warriors players received individual honours, including James Fisher-Harris as captain of the year and prop of the year. Wayde Egan was named hooker of the year, Erin Clarke was named lock of the year, and Taine Tuaupiki won tackle of the year.
The awards also recognised Ethan Sanders as NRL rookie of the year and Mercedez Taulelei-Siala as NRLW rookie of the year. South Sydney's Jai Arrow was presented the Provan-Summons spirit of the game award following his motor neurone disease diagnosis.
Where reports differ
- Reports differ on the margin of Upton's victory over McGregor, citing two votes in one report and six points in others
- One report states Cleary suffered a compound fracture, while another describes it as an ankle injury
Compiled from reports by RNZ, NZ Herald and 1News.
