Kalyn Ponga has been crowned Dally M Medal winner after his late-season surge for the Knights was enough to mow down early favourite Shaun Johnson.
Ponga became just the third Newcastle player since along with Andrew Johns and Danny Buderus to take home league’s ultimate prize.There was a double dose of joy for the Hunter club with Tamika Upton walking home with the NRLW Dally M.
“When I got asked before the night what it would mean to me [to win], I hadn’t put much thought into it. As the night goes on, and they string you along [with the results], your heart gets racing, and I was like, ‘maybe I am a genuine chance of winning it’. The Warriors’ Andrew Webster was crowned coach of the year, the Broncos’ Adam Reynolds captain of the year, and Panthers flyer Sunia Turuva rookie of the year.Haumole Olakau’atu picked up tackle of the year for his hit on Melbourne’s Justin Olam, but eyebrows were raised when Joe Tapine’s hit on an injured Reece Walsh in round 26, which was questioned at the time, was also among the finalists.
Klein has not given up hope of being in the middle for future deciders and said: “I’ve always said I’ll stop refereeing when I stop enjoying it. I love refereeing. I’ll be back bigger and better, and what this creates is competition for the entire squad to perform well.” “Then you have Payne, Carrigan and Flegler who just keep offloading. Tackling Payne is not a fun job. I feel like the Broncos were a bit harder [top contain] because they kept throwing the ball around. You’d turn your back and think the tackle is done, and the next thing you know is Reece Walsh is under the sticks.”Api Koroisau said there was no tinge of sadness this week knowing the Wests Tigers collected the wooden spoon and his old Penrith mates were chasing a third straight title.
The Tigers could do with a brilliant playmaker like Jarome Luai, who is off contract at the end of next year, and free to negotiate with rivals from November 1.
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