Four Sharks stars are vying for positional awards at Wednesday night's Dally M Medal ceremony at Randwick Racecourse.
Blayke Brailey (NRL Hooker of the Year), Addin Fonua-Blake (NRL Prop of the Year), Tiana Penitani Gray (NRLW Centre of the Year) and Ellie Johnston (NRLW Prop of the Year) have been nominated for the prestigious Teams of the Year.
NRLW second-rower Rhiannon Byers is also in the running for the Veronica White Medal on rugby league's night of nights in recognition of her community work.
Fans can watch the Dally M festivities live on Fox League and Kayo, with red-carpet arrivals from 7.30pm and the formalities commencing at 8pm.
Blayke Brailey – Hooker of the Year nominee
2025 Dally M Awards Nominees: Hooker
Fellow contenders: Apisai Koroisau (Wests Tigers), Tom Starling (Raiders)
Key season stats: 27 games, 3 tries, 14 try assists, 11 line-break assists, 1220 tackles (1st in NRL), 3614 ball receipts (1st in NRL), 94.8% tackle efficiency
While he's long been regarded as one of the most consistent and durable hookers in the competition, Brailey elevated his creative output to truly elite levels in 2025.
Once again, the 27-year-old suited up in every match – taking his incredible streak to 130 consecutive NRL appearances. His dummy-half service and machine-like defence were strong as ever, but it was his dynamic running game that added a new element to Cronulla's attack and earned plaudits from pundits.
Already in career-best form, Brailey relished the responsibility of captaincy late in the season after being handed the reins following an injury to Cam McInnes.
Addin Fonua-Blake – Prop of the Year nominee
Fellow contenders (two winners to be named): Payne Haas (Broncos), Terrell May (Wests Tigers), Josh Papalii (Raiders), Stefano Utoikamanu (Storm)
Key season stats: 27 games, 6 tries, 4345 metres (1st in NRL for props – 160m per game), 1931 post-contact metres (1st in NRL), 74 tackle breaks, 17 offloads
Signings don't come much bigger than Fonua-Blake – figuratively and literally.
The man mountain's on-field impact matched his sizeable presence in his first season at Cronulla, spearheading a deep finals run. Fonua-Blake's aggression, power and late footwork helped lay a platform each week, with the aforementioned Brailey perhaps the main beneficiary of the momentum created by the front-rower.
Fonua-Blake is gunning for a Team of the Year award for a third straight season.
Tiana Penitani Gray – Centre of the Year nominee
Fellow contenders (two winners to be named): Mele Hufanga (Broncos), Isabelle Kelly (Roosters), Julia Robinson (Broncos), Jess Sergis (Roosters)
Key season stats: 12 games, 5 try assists, 5 line-break assists, 1813 run metres (151 per game), 719 post-contact metres (4th in NRLW), 25 tackle breaks
Epitomising what it means to lead from the front, Penitani Gray's ability to galvanise a largely inexperienced side in the face of an injury barrage and take them to the cusp of another grand final was a remarkable achievement.
The silky outside back displayed her customary tenacity every time she stepped onto the field, eating up the metres and providing for her teammates.
While the 29-year-old didn't cross for a try this season, her skill and guile was on display as she regularly contributed to Cronulla's point-scoring escapades. Penitani Gray is aiming for a second straight Centre of the Year gong.
Ellie Johnston – Prop of the Year nominee
Fellow contenders (two winners to be named): Elsie Albert (Eels), Rima Butler (Roosters), Jessika Elliston (Titans), Otesa Pule (Roosters)
Key season stats: 13 games, 3 tries, 328 tackles, 97% tackle efficiency, 1733 metres (133 per game), 708 post-contact metres (2nd in NRLW for props)
After earning her long-awaited NSW State of Origin debut leading into the NRLW season, Johnston embraced her newfound stature as a representative player by expertly guiding a young Sharks forward pack through a taxing campaign.
Johnston proved a handful for opposition defences, barging her way over the line for three tries and ranking second for post-contact metres among props.
Underscoring her impact, the front-rower passed 105 metres in all 13 matches.
