Definition
The 2020 Dally M Awards were an annual awards ceremony presented by the National Rugby League (NRL) to honour the outstanding individual and team performances in the 2020 NRL season. The event’s centerpiece was the Dally M Medal, awarded to the player judged to be the best and fairest over the course of the season.
Overview
The ceremony took place on 20 October 2020 and was broadcast live on Fox League. Due to restrictions imposed by the COVID‑19 pandemic, the awards were presented without a public audience and were held at the Crown Perth entertainment complex in Western Australia. The awards recognised achievements across a range of categories, including Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, and positional honours (e.g., Fullback, Wing, Centre, etc.).
Jack Wighton of the Canberra Raiders secured the Dally M Medal, finishing the season with the highest cumulative points tally under the league’s voting system. The 2020 awards also highlighted standout contributions from other players and staff, reflecting the shortened and disrupted nature of the season, which comprised 20 regular‑season rounds rather than the usual 25.
Etymology/Origin
The term “Dally M” derives from the nickname of Herbert Henry "Dally" Messenger (1883–1959), a pioneering Australian rugby league footballer whose influence helped establish the sport in the early 20th century. The “2020” prefix simply indicates the year of the season for which the awards were given.
Characteristics
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Voting system | After each regular‑season match, a panel of experts awards 3, 2 and 1 points to the three players judged best on the field. Points are accumulated across the season; the player with the highest total receives the Dally M Medal. |
| Award categories | * Dally M Medal (Player of the Year) * Dally M Rookie of the Year * Dally M Coach of the Year * Positional awards (Fullback, Wing, Centre, Five‑Eighth, Halfback, Prop, Hooker, Second‑Row, Lock) * Team of the Year (selected based on positional point totals) |
| Eligibility | Only players who participated in the NRL’s regular‑season matches are eligible for point accumulation. Points earned in finals series matches are excluded. |
| Ceremony format | The 2020 ceremony featured on‑stage presentations, video highlights, and acceptance speeches, all conducted under health protocols that limited in‑person attendance. |
| Broadcast | The event was aired live on the Fox League pay‑TV channel and streamed via the NRL’s official digital platforms. |
| Notable winners | * Dally M Medal – Jack Wighton (Canberra Raiders) * Rookie of the Year – Harry Grant (South Sydney Rabbitohs) * Coach of the Year – Craig Bellamy (Melbourne Storm) * Fullback – James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters) * Prop – Payne Haas (Brisbane Broncos) (and other positional awardees as listed in the official announcement) |
Related Topics
- Dally M Medal – the principal individual honour of the NRL, awarded annually since 1980.
- National Rugby League (NRL) – the professional rugby league competition in Australia and New Zealand.
- 2020 NRL season – the twentieth season of the NRL, shortened to 20 rounds because of the COVID‑19 pandemic.
- NRL awards and honours – other recognitions presented by the league, such as the Provan‑Summons Medal and the Peter Frilingos Memorial Award.
- Dally M Awards (general) – the broader awards program encompassing yearly ceremonies, categories, and historical records.
All information is drawn from publicly available NRL releases and contemporary news reports pertaining to the 2020 awards ceremony.