NRL 2021

Trbojevic became the third player in Manly history behind Cliff Lyons (1990 and 1994) and Matt Orford (2008) to win the award in a record-breaking year.

The Sea Eagles star polled 35 points, the second-highest count in rugby league history, ahead of Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary (30) and Rabbitohs five-eighth Cody Walker (29).

Trbojevic’s teammate Daly Cherry-Evans and Roosters fullback James Tedesco (both 23) rounded out the top five.

Eight Panthers and six Rabbitohs are among the who's who of Telstra Premiership players after the NRL announced the positional candidates for Monday night's Dally M Awards.

Of the 40 players named across the nine positions, only three were from teams that didn't make the NRL finals.

Sharks fullback William Kennedy is joined by Wests Tigers five-eighth Adam Doueihi and Brisbane prop Payne Haas in select company.

Grand Final Week officially kicked off on Sunday evening with Brisbane City Hall, King George Tower and the Hilton lit up with iconic images from the season, tributes to Penrith and South Sydney, the game’s fans and a thank you to the Queensland community for their hospitality.

King George Square in the Brisbane CBD is being renamed King Wally Square in honour of Queensland Immortal Wally Lewis as part of a two-day NRL Fan Fest on Thursday and Friday, culminating with the appearance of both teams on Friday afternoon.

It came as vision of the arrest surfaced on social media, with onlookers watching on.

Queensland Police confirmed that at 12.15am on Sunday morning police officers from Surfers Paradise ordered a move on direction to a 19-year-old male.

“We got what we deserved and Penrith got what they deserved,” he said.

Will Adam Reynolds' last game in his beloved cardinal and myrtle jersey produce a second grand final ring for himself? Can Bennett in his farewell to the Rabbitohs win an eighth premiership at a third different club? 

Both men are heading to Queensland next year but in different directions so this is their swansong with South Sydney. Bennett hasn't forgotten how the Broncos showed him the "exit door" three years ago - and now he gets the chance to win a premiership right in front of their noses at Brisbane's home ground.

Luke made his NRL debut with South Sydney in 2007 and racked up 286 games across stints at the Rabbitohs, Warriors, Dragons and Broncos, as well as 43 Tests for New Zealand.

The 34-year-old hooker played nine games for Wynnum Manly in the Intrust Super Cup in 2021 after going close to securing more NRL time with the Broncos earlier in the season.

That’s not a usual topic of conversation in an interview with a rugby league player.

Then again Olam isn’t your conventional rugby league player.

If anything, Justin Olam shouldn’t even be a rugby league player.

Little, if anything at all, about Olam’s journey to this point has been conventional.

Milford, 27, was arrested at 2am on Monday morning with three counts of assault occasioning bodily harm and one count of wilful damage after an argument with his wife, Miri, and spent a night in a police station lock-up.

The Courier Mail reports that three onlookers intervened after seeing Milford and his wife involved in an argument.

“For the first time in history, the Dally M Awards will be held over two special events which will culminate in an awards ceremony in Brisbane on Monday 27 September,” the NRL released in a statement.

Broadcast partner Fox Sports will host a made for television event on Monday 20 September which will crown a number of award winners before the Dally M Medal will be announced at a gala ceremony at Howard Smith Wharves in Brisbane a week later.