Manly 'freak of nature' clinches Dally M gong

3 years ago 295

Manly megastar Tom Trbojevic has capped his scintillating 2021 run by taking retired his maiden Dally M Medal.

After entering the awards nighttime successful Brisbane arsenic the red-hot favourite, Trbojevic hauled successful 35 votes, the second-highest tally of each time, arsenic helium edged Penrith's Nathan Cleary (30) and South Sydney's Cody Walker (29).

In clinching the game's apical idiosyncratic honour, Trbojevic became conscionable the 3rd Manly subordinate successful past to triumph the award, joining Cliff Lyons (1990, 1994) and Matt Orford (2008).

"I'll commencement disconnected by saying what an honour it is to triumph this award," Trbojevic said connected Fox League's coverage.

"I was conscionable speechmaking done the past winners conscionable past and to beryllium recognised amongst that database is beauteous special. I don't deliberation it volition ever descend in."

Rugby league large and Dally M awards maestro of ceremonies Braith Anasta labelled Trbojevic's run "as destructive a play arsenic we've seen".

Former Sharks skipper Paul Gallen is among the Nine experts who see the 24-year-old's 2021 run the top by an idiosyncratic successful history, pursuing a regular play stamped with 25 tries and 27 effort assists.

Astoundingly, Trbojevic carved retired those unthinkable numbers en way to his Dally M Medal triumph contempt playing conscionable 15 regular-season games, with Cleary making 16 appearances and Walker 22.

A hamstring wounded sidelined Trbojevic for the opening 5 rounds of the play – and Manly struggled terribly without him – earlier helium missed respective different games owed to State of Origin and a facial wounded that wiped him from Round 23.

Despite his setbacks, Trbojevic's 2021 run has been compared by a big of rugby league legends to Jarryd Hayne's play of 2009 and Ben Barba's of 2012, some of which were spectacular.

Rugby league icon Peter Sterling labelled Trbojevic "a freak of nature" connected this week's occurrence of Wide World of Sports' Sterlo's Wrap.

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