NRL responds after Nicho Hynes and Joey Manu caught up in Dally M voting storm
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow's opening-round Dally M point headlined a number of puzzling round one votes.
The NRL has defended the decision to keep Dally M judges anonymous following some questionable votes in the opening round. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow received one Dally M point on Sunday, despite a horror game in the Dolphins' 43-18 loss to North Queensland.
The Dolphins fullback fell for a dummy for the Cowboys' first try and had a moment of madness at the back where he inexplicably kicked a loose ball back to the Cowboys for them to score another. And that wasn't the only Dally M decision that left NRL fans scratching their heads.
Roosters star Joey Manu did not receive a single vote despite lighting up Las Vegas in the Roosters' win. While Nicho Hynes picked up a maximum six points despite having a pretty quiet game.
Last year, the Dally M changed to a two-judge voting system to try to eliminate a rogue vote. The NRL also decided to make the judges anonymous in a complete overhaul of the Dally M system for integrity purposes, with two judges appointed to each game. Under the system, each judge awards a 3-2-1, with the points combined and a maximum of six points on offer for a single player.
Graham Annesley defends Dally M points system
NRL fans were left angry at the judges after round one after some peculiar choices were made. But NRL head of football Graham Annesley said he is happy with the system and that the judges are highly qualified to vote as they are all "high-profile former players".
"They've got a job to select players who are their peers because they've done exactly what these players have done," he said. "Across the course of the season, the players will be judged by many of these judges, and it's not like we've got these judges doing the same teams every week. It's about the credibility and the integrity of the process, so it shouldn't matter who is doing the selections as long as they're people who are qualified to do it.
"It's a season-long competition, and people will agree or disagree (with the votes). It happens publicly for the first half of the year and then it goes behind closed doors. That's been the process for recent seasons, and it's the process again. It's a matter of opinion."
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However, Annesley's confidence in the system was not shared by NRL fans who were left scratching their heads at multiple choices. The fact Manu's performance was deemed not good enough to score a single point in the Dally M voting was one that raised the most eyebrows. While the call to give Tabuai-Fidow a point left many of the opinion that the system is broken.
Stuff like this is why I’m start in to fear the Dally M’s are beyond saving. Big fan of Tabuai-Fidow but he was the worst player on the field today. pic.twitter.com/DVuYRpKFWk
— Nick Campton (@campo37) March 10, 2024
Here we go again !
Two stand outs for me are….
Adam Reynolds had a very ordinary match yet someone thought he was the 3rd best player.
Joey Manu gets zero.
And how does any player get points after their team is flogged 43-18 ?
Anything else ? pic.twitter.com/Jz3wd30crU— The Oracle (@BigOtrivia) March 10, 2024
The Dally M system is completely broken. It is time to scrap the award.
It has become an embarrassment to the sport.— Dazza_20 (@Dazza_20) March 10, 2024
Just had a look at the Dally M votes awarded from Rd 1... what is doing? Something needs to be done about this voting system or better yet, something needs to be done about the people voting. Do they even watch the games? Might need to buy a blue tick so I can rant on here #NRL
— Adam Hayward (@adamkhayward) March 11, 2024
Nicho Hynes scores six points in Sharks win
The Sharks' defence stepped up in round one against the Warriors as they scored a gritty 16-12 victory on Saturday. Hynes had a relatively quiet game for his standards, with no attacking stats but still came up with the three points from both judges.
While Hynes led from the front for the Sharks, fans argued rival halfback Shaun Johnson outshone the Cronulla star in a losing side. Veteran forwards Addin Fonua-Blake and Tohu Harris were arguably the best on ground, combining for 324 running metres. But Fonua-Blake ended with three Dally M votes and Harris got none.
How does Nico Hynes get 6 when he wasn’t the best player on his team???
— Michael Pairama (@squishmp) March 11, 2024
Nicho Hynes official stats for round 1
0 tries
0 try assists
0 line breaks
0 line break assists
59 run metres
21 tackles
1 error
Which tackle do you think won him the 6 votes? https://t.co/SoogtxgCd9— Luca ND (@LucaND47) March 10, 2024
Nicho Hynes gets points for just turning up these days…sheesh…
— Doz (@EAGLER0CK) March 10, 2024
with AAP
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