Cleary hot favourite for Dally M as NRL weighs how to honour injured star

Cleary underwent surgery late on Sunday after suffering a double compound fracture in his left leg from a hip-drop tackle by Newcastle's Phoenix Crossland. He is recovering at Royal North Shore Hospital.

The game's best player is the hot favourite to take out rugby league's top individual honour on Wednesday night, but the NRL and the Panthers said they would be guided by the player over what level of involvement he is prepared to have should he prevail.

Sources with knowledge of the situation not authorised to speak publicly confirmed that other options being discussed included Panthers coach Ivan Cleary accepting the award on his son's behalf, or asking Nathan to pre-record an acceptance speech.

Cleary has never won the Dally M, having been pipped by Jack Wighton in 2020 when most fans expected him to win. That night was hijacked by The Daily Telegraph's decision to publish the Wighton story hours before it was made official, which led to the NRL clamping down on publishing embargoes. This year was the first time the NRL did not make public the finalists for the different awards, including captain, coach and rookie of the year.

The Rugby League Players Association on Monday announced Cleary as their Players' Champion, the award he won in 2020. His partner, Matildas forward Mary Fowler, congratulated him on Instagram, posting: "As proud as one can be. So well deserved darling."

Cleary was in front by three votes when polling went behind closed doors after round 12. Canterbury's Jackson Ford was second but suffered a ruptured pectoral and missed the second half of the season.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The Dally M is rugby league's most prestigious individual award, and a Cleary win would be his first, capping a season that ended prematurely with a serious injury.
The situation raises questions about how the NRL presents awards when the leading contender cannot attend, and whether the presentation loses its ceremony.
Cleary's injury, and the hip-drop tackle that caused it, continues a league-wide debate about player safety and dangerous tackles.

Background

Cleary is widely regarded as the best player in the game, a halfback who has led Penrith to sustained success. The Dally M Medal has, however, eluded him. His 2020 runner-up finish came in a year mired in controversy when the result was leaked to the media before the official announcement. The NRL has since tightened its rules around embargoes and, this year, declined to release finalists in advance. The award count is conducted behind closed doors, with votes tallied through the season.

Key Perspectives

NRL and Penrith Panthers: Want to celebrate Cleary's achievement while respecting his medical condition. They are prepared to adapt the format, whether via a live hospital link, a pre-recorded speech, or having Ivan Cleary accept the award. Cleary and his family: The player will decide his own level of involvement based on his recovery, with his partner Mary Fowler publicly backing him after his Players' Champion recognition. Critics and observers: The 2020 leak undermined faith in the award's integrity. The NRL's decision to keep finalists secret this year is a response to that failure, but it also reduces the build-up and suspense for fans.

What to Watch

The Wednesday morning decision on whether Cleary will appear live, and in what form.
Whether the NRL reveals how the award was presented if Cleary cannot participate in person.
The league's ongoing response to hip-drop tackles, given this injury happened in the same season the debate has intensified.