Cooper Cronk and Jason Taumalolo tie to win 2016 Dally M medal

Matt Encarnacion
Sep 28, 2016, updated Sep 28, 2016

Storm star Cooper Cronk and Cowboys' Jason Taumalolo pose with their medals. Photo: Getty

Melbourne halfback Cooper Cronk and North Queensland forward Jason Taumalolo have been crowned joint Dally M medallists for the 2016 NRL season.

The pair headed into the final round of counting level on 26 points, but neither managed to poll, meaning the league’s top honour was shared for the second time in three years.

“We had a little special moment when it came to the last round. We were asking each other,’ Did you play well? What did you do?’ Cronk said.

“We couldn’t work out whether we gained points or not so we just had a little shake of the hands and said, ‘Well I hope we get to share it with you’.”

Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston followed on 22 points.

Cowboys star Thurston and former Parramatta icon Jarryd Hayne shared the stage in 2014.

Cronk’s prize night continues a historic week that includes joining the exclusive 300-game club, as well as helping the Storm qualify for Sunday’s grand final against Cronulla.

In a thrilling countdown at The Star in Sydney, Cronk also becomes just the eighth player to win the medal on multiple occasions, adding to his 2013 gong.

Taumalolo became the first forward to wear the medal since Storm skipper Cameron Smith achieved the feat in 2006.

He said he was happy to share the award with Cronk, but was modest when talking about his outstanding season.

“I don’t think I changed compared to last year, just run harder,” he said.

“That’s my gameplan heading into every game and I don’t think that’ll change for years.”

Cronk, 32, joins a rare group of players to wear the medallion on more than one occasion, joining Peter Sterling, Mick Potter, Cliff Lyons, Andrew Johns, Miller, Thurston and Hayne.

Thurston won the award a record fourth time last season.

Melbourne dominated the positional awards, with Cronk (halfback), Smith (hooker) and Jesse Bromwich (prop) taking out three of the nine positional gongs.

Ricky Stuart took out coach of the year for his role in waking up the sleeping giant in Canberra, leading them to within one game of a decider.

Your joint 2016 #DallyM Award Winners!

Cooper Cronk and Jason Taumalolo! #NRL #HistoryHappens pic.twitter.com/M2FYvBfpT2

— NRL (@NRL) September 28, 2016

Gold Coast 21-year-old Ash Taylor held off a late push from Penrith teenager Nathan Cleary for rookie of the year, while the Raiders’ Jarrod Croker won captain of the year.

Kezie Apps took out the Dally M female of the year.