A number of the NRL’s superstars have started the 2019 season with a bang and have been rewarded in the first set of Dally M votes for the year.
2016 joint winner, Jason Taumalolo earned maximum votes in North Queensland’s win over the Dragons, while Cameron Munster, a top-ten finisher in last year’s medal, got three votes from judge Darren Lockyer as the Storm beat his former side 22-12.
Players that also received three votes include Wests’ Robbie Farah, the Warriors’ Blake Green and Adam Reynolds from the Rabbitohs.
Round 1 Dally M Votes
Storm v Broncos
Cameron Munster (Storm) 3, Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm) 2, Corey Oates (Broncos) 1. Judge: Darren Lockyer
Knights v Sharks
David Klemmer (Knights) 3, Edrick Lee (Knights) 2, Matt Moylan (Sharks) 1. Judge: Steve Roach
Roosters v Rabbitohs
Adam Reynolds (Rabbitohs) 3, Sam Burgess 2 (Rabbitohs), Damien Cook (Rabbitohs) 1. Judge: Dene Halatau
Warriors v Bulldogs
Blake Green 3 (Warriors), Bunty Afoa (Warriors) 2, Ken Maumalo (Warriors) 1. Judge: Braith Anasta
Tigers v Sea Eagles
Robbie Farah (Tigers) 3, Esan Marsters (Tigers) 2, Josh Aloiai (Tigers) 1. Judge: Greg Alexander
Cowboys v Dragons
Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys) 3, Michael Morgan (Cowboys) 2, Jordan Kahu (Cowboys) 1. Judge: Justin Hodges
Panthers v Eels
Mitchell Moses (Eels) 3, Blake Ferguson (Eels) 2, Shaun Lane (Eels) 1. Judge: Andrew Johns
Titans v Raiders
Josh Papalii (Raiders) 3, John Bateman (Raiders) 2, Josh Hodgson (Raiders) 1. Judge: Corey Parker
RTS got zero points in the Warriors game. Ridiculous. Was the best player on the field by a mile. Anasta – no idea. Surprised he didnt give all 6 points to dogs players.
In the Melbourne/Broncos game I find it hard to believe that judge Lokyer could find a reason to give Oates a point. All other winning teams took all the votes, and rightly so, but in this game? Nepotism is alive and well.
Agreed, Oates was good, but not enough to get a dally M point I think. Maybe Hughes should have got the 1 point.
Yeah, A Broncos board member and one club player should not be adjudicating votes on a Broncos game. How would anybody take the Dally M seriously with such stupid conflicts of interest. I’m sure he believed the decision was right, but he couldnt possibly be able to view the game from an objective position.
I have zero respect for the Dally M system and award, particularly when recently retired players are judges. How did Kahu get a point? Hodges voting for his QLD mate. Why not get the fans to vote in some sort of interactive process, rather than ex players voting for their mates.