Kalyn Ponga has become just the third Knights player to be crowned Dally M medallist of the year after beating Warriors dynamo Shaun Johnson by just a single point in the best-in-competition race.
“It’s a pretty amazing feeling standing up in front of so much talent,” Pong said after winning. “I’m pretty lucky. Had an early season holiday, while I was over there I decided I wanted to stop letting people down and start making people proud.”
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Ponga’s 56 points were enough to net him the game’s biggest individual award, but it came right down to the wire—Johnson earned five points in the final round to move up to 55 before Ponga was revealed to have earned the highest possible in the last week.
The 25-year-old had a blistering end to his season, leading the Knights on a ten-game winning streak and taking them into the semifinals before they were eliminated by the Warriors. Ponga averaged 145 metres a game in the 20 games he played, scoring nine tries, kicking 46 goals, and setting up 21 more major scores.
Especially in the back half of the season, Ponga was untouchable. He broke 96 tackles, made 19 line breaks, and pulled the strings across the park to turn the Knights into outside premiership contenders.
The Queensland star was also named the season’s best fullback in the NRL team of the year.
Scott Drinkwater rounded out the Dally M race’s top three with 50 points but was ruled out due to his three-game suspension. Nicho Hynes (48) and Harry Grant (47) came fourth and fifth.
NRL Team of the Year
- Fullback — Kalyn Ponga (Knights)
- Wingers — Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Warriors), Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins)
- Centres — Stephen Crichton (Panthers), Herbie Farnworth (Broncos)
- Five-Eighth — Ezra Mam (Broncos)
- Halfback — Shaun Johnson (Warriors)
- Props — Payne Haas (Broncos), Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors)
- Hooker — Harry Grant (Storm)
- Second Rowers — Liam Martin (Panthers), David Fifita (Titans)
- Lock — Patrick Carrigan (Broncos)
- Captain — Adam Reynolds (Broncos)
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