Jahrome Hughes almost robbed of Dally M medal as NRL fans lash out over 'ridiculous' detail
The Melbourne Storm halfback beat James Tedesco by just one point.
One of the most farcical suspensions of the NRL season almost cost Jahrome Hughes on Wednesday night as the Melbourne Storm halfback pipped James Tedesco to win the Dally M medal. Hughes was widely predicted to win the prestigious medal in a landslide after a phenomenal season that led the Storm to the minor premiership and into the grand final.
But Hughes only ended up winning by one point, with the count coming right down to the wire in pulsating scenes. Hughes needed to poll six votes in the final round of the regular season to beat Tedesco and win the Dally M, and thankfully the right man won when he did.
But in reality, the count wasn't nearly as close as the one-point margin suggests. Hughes should have won by seven points but copped a six-point deduction because of a ridiculous suspension he received in Round 2 for a collision with referee Chris Butler.
The majority of the NRL world thought the incident was unavoidable and didn't think Hughes could have acted differently, but the match review committee slapped him with a one-game ban. It meant he was still eligible to win the Dally M because anything below a two-game suspension keeps players in the running.
However he copped a six-point deduction as a result, making the final tally a lot closer than it should have been. Discussing Hughes' suspension at the time, Andrew Johns said: "He's not even looking at the referee. He is a bit hard done by there. We need to protect the referees, without a doubt. Especially at junior level ... but for me that was an accident."
NRL fans lash out over 'ridiculous' Jahrome Hughes farce
However the NRL's head of football Graham Annesley later said: "In our game, for as long as it’s been played, it’s never been acceptable to push a referee. There will often be incidents where referees and players will have some kind of physical contact because they bump into each other due to circumstances.
"But it’s not acceptable to physically push a referee out of the way, regardless of the circumstances. We have to ensure that the match officials are protected. No one is suggesting for a second that there was anything malicious in what took place, but whether it’s to make a tackle, whether it’s to save a try or whatever it is, you can’t take a decision to move the referee out of the way."
On Wednesday night, NRL fans labelled it "ridiculous" that Hughes could potentially lose the Dally M because of the ban, which many thought should have simply been a $1000 fine. And there was similar anger than Lachie Galvin of the Wests Tigers was deemed ineligible to win the Rookie of the Year because he's copped a two-game ban early in the year.
Hughes became the first Kiwi halfback in 32 years to claim the NRL's top award, and was then met by an impromptu haka led by Storm teammates Will Warbrick and Eliesa Katoa, and Canberra forward Joseph Tapine. "I don't really play the game for individual accolades, I play it for team accolades," Hughes said.
"That was the way I was looking at it coming into it. But now I have been lucky enough to win it, I see how special it is. When you see the players who have won it, it's pretty crazy."
Jahrome Hughes losing 6 votes in the Dally M for accidentally making contact with a referee could be the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard of #DallyM
— Shrapnel😇 (@Shrappy71) October 2, 2024
Even Yvonne Sampson laughing at how stupid that suspension was for Jahrome Hughes. He’s gotta win it
— Joshua Hill (@Kiinghill) October 2, 2024
If Hughes really loses this because of that stupid decision to suspend him for the ref incident, NRL IS FARKEED #DallyM
— kiki. (@silvermoonkiks) October 2, 2024
Hahahaha. Find it interesting he's ineligible but Hughes just gets 6 pts deducted for his suspension! Would have been nice to see the Tigers win something!
— oneonethreeinvesting (@113investing) October 2, 2024
Should of been Hughes on 68, need to change the rules so you can’t take points away from stupid suspensions
— tysonbulldogs (@tysonbulldogs06) October 2, 2024
Is that a joke?
— meg121 (@megmacdonald121) October 2, 2024
The right winner thankfully but the whole process is a bit of a joke, desperately needs overhauling
— Ry🪐 (@RYANF1380) October 2, 2024
What a king. Shouldn’t have even been that close though but that suspension 🤪
— Matt (@xoDemize) October 2, 2024
Olivia Kernick wins women's Dally M medal
Olivia Kernick won the women's Dally M medal for leading the Sydney Roosters into the women's grand final. Broncos boss Scott Prince was named NRLW coach of the year, while Cronulla leader Tiana Penitani was named best captain.
On the men's side, Craig Bellamy got NRL coach of the year, while Stephen Crichton was judged best captain. Dolphins winger Jack Bostock got the men's rookie of the year gong, while Kasey Reh of the Dragons got the women's equivalent.
NRL team of the year:
James Tedesco, Zac Lomax, Stephen Crichton (capt), Herbie Farnworth, Brian To'o, Tom Dearden, Jahrome Hughes, Joseph Tapine, Harry Grant, Addin Fonua-Blake, Angus Crichton, Elisa Katoa, Isaah Yeo
NRLW team of the year:
Abbi Church, Julia Robinson, Isabelle Kelly, Tiana Penitani (capt), Stacey Wacka, Zahara Tamara, Lauren Brown, Shannon Mato, Keeley Davis, Millie Elliott, Olivia Kernick, Yasmin Clydsdale, Simaima Taufa
with AAP
