“I don’t know who votes and what it’s based on. I don’t know how he has not won it the past four years in a row. Whenever you win the grand final and the coach doesn’t win it, it doesn’t make sense to me.”
Voting for the coach of the year takes place at the end of the regular season, with finals results having no bearing on the result. The Raiders and Bulldogs went out in straight sets in the play-offs, despite both teams finishing within the top four. The Panthers are attempting to become the first team in the NRL era to win the grand final from outside the top four.
Ivan Cleary has again been snubbed for the Dally M coach of the year award.Credit: Oscar Colman
It may not be a complete bust for the Cleary family. Nathan Cleary has been shortlisted for both halfback and captain of the year. Teammates Casey McLean (centre), Liam Martin (back-row) and Isaah Yeo (lock) have been nominated for positional awards.
It could be a big night for James Tedesco. A hot favourite for the main player-of-the-year award, the Roosters skipper has also been nominated for fullback and captain of the year.
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Another talking point will be the winner of the Provan Summons Medal. The award is handed to the player deemed to have displayed “the true spirit of the game” through their actions and conduct.
Lachlan Galvin and Jarome Luai have been nominated, despite the pair seemingly falling out over Galvin’s decision to leave Wests Tigers for Canterbury. Parramatta’s Zac Lomax and Canberra’s Jamal Fogarty are the other contenders in the category.
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