Dally M debacle prompts call for immediate change
The NRL's Dally M voting system is again being questioned after Luke Keary was shunned despite his stand-out performance in the Sydney Roosters' flogging of Wests Tigers.
Keary had a hand in five of the Roosters' seven tries, directly setting up three as his right-side attack ran rampant in the 40-6 rout at Campbelltown.
WOW: Ivan Cleary among thousands evacuated from devastating NSW floods
'SAD DAY': Rugby league in mourning over legend's death
However, the halfback was not considered among the game's best three players, with Brett Morris claiming three points for his hat-trick of tries and fullback James Tedesco earning two.
Tigers No.1 Daine Laurie was awarded one point, threatening at times in attack in a heavily beaten side.
Dally M points are awarded by one single former player, who in Sunday's instance was Sam Thaiday.
It comes a week after Tedesco polled just one point for his brilliant display against Manly, prompting calls for change.
One proposal that has been floated to NRL officials has come from former Tigers fullback/winger Joel Caine - in which all commentary teams of rights broadcasters for each match would enter their 3-2-1 votes after play.
Those would then be collated, with the player receiving the most votes awarded three points, the second most two and third most one.
Under Caine's system, one former player would have the executive vote in the event of a tie.
"So you eliminate the howler in the first place," Caine, who is now a broadcaster, told AAP.
"Even if one person comes up with a howler, as a group you settle on a 3-2-1...
"Under this system James Tedesco absolutely gets three points in round one.
"It also takes away any perceived integrity issues... how could a fan blow up about the 3-2-1 when it has been collectively voted on by the likes of Gus Gould, Peter Sterling or Greg Alexander."
Dally M system in question
An AAP survey of Nine Network, Fox Sports, SEN and ABC's experts commentary teams from Sunday's game would have resulted in Keary being awarded three Dally M points under Caine's system.
Even allowing for Thaiday's votes to count for his employer, the Nine Network, Keary finished with nine votes, Tedesco eight and Brett Morris four.
Dally M points have long been a point of contention, highlighted by Jack Wighton's shock medal win over Nathan Cleary last year.
That prompted several discussions over proposed systems, including one in which players are awarded a score out of 10 for each match and points aggregated across the season.
"But if a player is ruled out for four weeks with injury then they are gone," Caine said in response to that system.
"You can't catch those 28 points you missed if you got seven out of 10 each week."
Caine is also not a fan of a return to referees awarding points, which is the case for the AFL's Brownlow Medal, arguing their focus is firmly on officiating the game.
Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.
