The Dally M Medal is the most prestigious award in rugby league, and this year will be no different as some of the game's biggest stars will battle it out.
Tom Trbojevic and Cody Walker are the favourites for the award, while Nathan Cleary's early-season form could see him near the top once again.
There isn't a heap of information about the ceremony itself at this stage, with the NRL dealing with a litany of other issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here's everything you need to know about the Dally M 2021.
WHEN IS THE DALLY M MEDAL NIGHT 2021?
Dally M Medal night usually takes place in the lead-up to the NRL Grand Final.
With the entire NRL relocated to Queensland, there is no word at this stage whether it will be a virtual/studio ceremony like 2020, or whether there will be an official function like there was pre-pandemic.
HOW DOES THE DALLY M VOTING SYSTEM WORK?
Each game of the regular season, an independent judge will vote on a 3-2-1 basis for the best player in that particular game.
The judges include past players and rugby league experts.
A player who is suspended for one game during the season will be deducted three points, while any player who is suspended for two or more weeks will be ruled out of winning the Dally M Medal.
HOW IS THE DALLY M TEAM OF THE YEAR DECIDED?
Similarly to the Dally M Medal, the 'Team of the Year' is decided by the voting panel.
Any time a player polls a vote in a game, that will go towards their standing in the Team of the Year voting.
At the end of the season, the judges will then give one vote in each position and whoever polls the most votes in each position will be selected in the Team of the Year.
In 2017, the NRL brought in an Interchange Player of the Year and in 2020 they moved to picking two players in a dual position (wing, centre, prop, second-row).
DALLY M MEDAL AWARDS
- Dally M Player of the Year
- Provan Summons Medal (Fan's Choice)
- NRL Rookie of the Year
- Captain of the Year
- Coach of the Year
- Ken Irvine Medal (Top Tryscorer)
- Top Pointscorer
- Peter Frilingos Memorial Award for Headline Moment of the Year
- Try of the Year
- Tackle of the Year
- Dally M Team of the Year
DALLY M LEADERBOARD AFTER ROUND 12
| PLAYER | POINTS |
| Nathan Cleary (Panthers) | 21 |
| Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors) | 17 |
| James Fisher-Harris (Panthers) | 16 |
| Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles) | 15 |
| Latrell Mitchell* (Rabbitohs) | 13 |
| Will Kennedy (Sharks) | 12 |
| James Tedesco (Roosters) | 12 |
| Ryan Papenhuyzen (Storm) | 12 |
| Adam Doueihi (Tigers) | 11 |
*Mitchell is ineligible for the award due to suspension.
DALLY M MEDAL PAST WINNERS
| YEAR | WINNER |
| 1979 | Steve Morris (Dragons) |
| 1980 | Robert Laurie (Rabbitohs) |
| 1981 | Steve Rogers (Sharks) |
| 1982 | Ray Price (Eels) |
| 1983 | Terry Lamb (Magpies) |
| 1984 | Mick Potter (Bulldogs) |
| 1985 | Greg Alexander (Panthers) |
| 1986 | Peter Sterling (Eels) |
| 1987 | Peter Sterling (Eels) |
| 1988 | Gavin Miller (Sharks) |
| 1989 | Gavin Miller (Sharks) |
| 1990 | Cliff Lyons (Sea Eagles) |
| 1991 | Mick Potter (Dragons) |
| 1992 | Gary Freeman (Roosters) |
| 1993 | Ricky Stuart (Raiders) |
| 1994 | Cliff Lyons (Sea Eagles) |
| 1995 | Laurie Daley (Raiders) |
| 1996 | Allan Langer (Broncos) |
| 1998 | Andrew Johns (Knights) |
| 1999 | Andrew Johns (Knights) |
| 2000 | Trent Barrett (Dragons) |
| 2001 | Preston Campbell (Panthers) |
| 2002 | Andrew Johns (Knights) |
| 2004 | Danny Buderus (Knights) |
| 2005 | Johnathan Thurston (Cowboys) |
| 2006 | Cameron Smith (Storm) |
| 2007 | Johnathan Thurston (Cowboys) |
| 2008 | Matt Orford (Sea Eagles) |
| 2009 | Jarryd Hayne (Eels) |
| 2010 | Todd Carney (Roosters) |
| 2011 | Billy Slater (Storm) |
| 2012 | Ben Barba (Bulldogs) |
| 2013 | Cooper Cronk (Storm) |
| 2014 | Jarryd Hayne (Eels)/Johnathan Thurston (Cowboys) |
| 2015 | Johnathan Thurston (Cowboys) |
| 2016 | Cooper Cronk (Storm)/Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys) |
| 2017 | Cameron Smith (Storm) |
| 2018 | Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors) |
| 2019 | James Tedesco (Roosters) |
| 2020 | Jack Wighton (Raiders) |
