Jahrome Hughes left ‘speechless’ as Storm star clinches 2024 Dally M medal despite shock vote deduction… as Roosters’ Olivia Kernick crowned NRLW winner

Published: 12:45 BST, 2 October 2024 | Updated: 13:08 BST, 2 October 2024

Jahrome Hughes has been crowned the NRL Dally M winner for 2024, clinching the best and fairest award by the barest of margins, pipping James Tedesco to the award by a single point.

Olivia Kernick was crowned the NRLW Dally M winner, beating the Eels’ Abbi Church and Simaima Taufa of the Raiders to the award.

Hughes, who will be hoping to guide Storm to Grand Final glory on Sunday afternoon, said he was ‘speechless’ after clinching the award.

Tensions could not have been any higher inside the Royal Randwick on Wednesday as the votes for the men’s Dally M awards went right down to the wire with Tedesco and Hughes vying for the win.

Tedesco took a five point lead into the final round of votes, gaining the edge on Hughes 61 votes to 56, after his standout performance against the Rabbitohs – scoring two tries and setting up two more – during his side’s 28 – 36 victory in Round 27.

But Hughes, who has scored 12 tries this season and assisted a whopping 26, would go on to sensationally usurp the Roosters fullback with a score of six points for his performance in Storm’s win over the Broncos in Round 27.