Kalyn Ponga pips Shaun Johnson for NRL’s Dally M Medal, Andrew Webster wins coach gong

Newcastle Knights superstar Kalyn Ponga has beaten Shaun Johnson to the tag of the NRL’s best player by a single point.

Ponga was crowned the Dally M Medal winner at the NRL’s glitzy awards ceremony at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Wednesday night, with the Warriors halfback having to settle for second.

Earlier, Warriors mentor Andrew Webster won the NRL’s Coach of the Year.

There was some consolation for Johnson, who beat out Nathan Cleary and Daly Cherry-Evans for the halfback spot in the Dally M Team of the Year. Ponga was named at fullback alongside Warriors’ Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (winger) and Addin Fonua-Blake (prop).

Under a new format in 2023, where two independent judges were tasked with handing out six points each on a 3-2-1 basis for regular season matches, players could potentially earn six points in one match.

With neither Johnson nor Ponga playing in round 27, it all came down to the penultimate round of the regular season.

Johnson with 52 points, held a two point lead and scored three more in the 18-6 victory over the Dragons to make the gap five, but Ponga grabbed the perfect six points that he needed to scoop the Dally M.

Standing side-by-side, Ponga rested his head on Johnson’s shoulder when the result was read out.

Ponga’s victory was remarkable given he only played 20 games due to concussion issues early in the season and there was even talk of him retiring because of them when he went to Canada to seek specialist treatment in March.

“While I was over there I decided I wanted to stop letting people down and start making people proud and I think I came back and did that,” Ponga said when accepting the award.

Johnson, who brought up his 200th game for the club and his 250th NRL appearance during his 2023 season, guided the Warriors to the preliminary final and produced the best season of his 13 year career.

In his first year as a head coach, Webster, who beat out his old boss Ivan Cleary (Panthers) and Kevin Walters (Broncos), took the Warriors to the club’s first preliminary final since 2011.

It was the most dramatic of form turnarounds for the club that recorded their worst-ever finish of 15th in 2022.

Webster said he was incredibly proud to win the award and gave special thanks to his players and wife Emma.

“She’s let me chase my dreams,” Webster said when accepting the award.

“Moved countries, become a head coach and have your first baby in a different country, you’re a champ Em and I love ya (sic),” Webster said.

He said there was a special movement happening with “Up the Wahs” in New Zealand following the club’s return to form and first finals appearance since 2018.

“From the first day of training to where we are now, it’s amazing boys.”

Johnson said the award was “thoroughly deserved”.

Most experts were picking for a change in fortunes but also for the club to miss the top eight come finals time.

To finish top four on the NRL ladder and get down to the final four teams with a preliminary final appearance must have exceeded the expectations of even the staunchest of Warriors fans.

From the 2022 season when the Warriors were stranded in Australia due to Covid-19, where the club scored just six wins and finished 15th, the worst result in the club’s history, the Warriors won 16 regular season games plus the 40-10 victory over the Newcastle Knights at Mt Smart in week two of the finals.

Warriors skipper Tohu Harris missed out on Captain of the Year to Broncos halfback Adam Reynolds and along with fellow nominee Wayde Egan, also missed out on Team of the Year.

Former New Zealand Sevens star Will Warbrick, from the Melbourne Storm, missed out on Rookie of the Year to Penrith winger Sunia Turuva.

Newcastle Knights star Tamika Upton was crowned the NRLW Dally Medal winner.

NRL Daly M team of the year:

Fullback: Kalyn Ponga (Knights)

Winger: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Warriors)

Centre: Stephen Crichton (Panthers)

Centre: Herbie Farnworth (Broncos)

Winger: Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins)

Five-eighth: Ezra Mam (Broncos)

Halfback: Shaun Johnson (Warriors)

Prop: Payne Haas (Broncos)

Hooker: Harry Grant (Storm)

Prop: Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors)

2nd Row: Liam Martin (Panthers)

2nd Row: David Fifita (Titans)

Lock: Patrick Carrigan (Broncos)

NRLW Daly M team of the year:

Fullback: Tamika Upton (Knights)

Winger: Jakiya Whitfeld (Tigers)

Centre: Isabelle Kelly (Roosters)

Centre: Mele Hufanga (Broncos)

Winger: Julia Robinson (Broncos)

Five-eighth: Tarryn Aiken (Roosters)

Halfback: Ali Brigginshaw (Broncos)

Prop: Shannon Mato (Titans)

Hooker: Destiny Brill (Broncos)

Prop: Sarah Togatuki (Tigers)

2nd Row: Yasmin Clydsdale (Knights)

2nd Row: Olivia Kernick (Roosters)

Lock: Simaima Taufa (Raiders)