Dally M Medal: Corey Parker questions voting system as Payne Haas and Addin Fonua-Blake overlooked

The inevitable debate around the fallacy of the current Dally M Medal voting system has reared its head once again after Kalyn Ponga pipped Shaun Johnson to the prestigious award on rugby league’s night of nights.

However, Corey Parker has attacked the polling from a different angle as he claimed there was a lack of recognition for forwards in a system which is unfairly skewed towards recognising attacking players for their contributions to teams. 

Dally M Medal voting system questioned as Payne Haas and Addin Fonua-Blake overlooked

"It’s not just for the glory guys," the jovial Parker told SENQ.

MORE: Shaun Johnson's dream Dally M run ends in heartbreak but he isn't finished yet

"I'll tell you something about forwards, those blokes that carry on about their awards and all that sort of garbage - the Ponga's, Johnson's and [Nathan] Cleary's - they can't do what they do without forwards." 

Payne Haas sat on top of the leaderboard this season when voting went behind closed doors after Round 12.

The prop had accumulated 30 votes in the new system, but he was easily reeled in by the likes of Johnson and Ponga during the business end of the season.

The 23-year-old did finish inside the top 10 though on 42 votes which saw him tied with Penrith pair Cleary and Dylan Edwards.

Addin Fonua-Blake polled two more votes than that trio to sit seventh on the leaderboard. Although both Haas and the New Zealand Warriors enforcer were cut adrift by more than 10 points from the eventual winner in Ponga.

"Without those forwards who always roll their sleeves up, the (backs) just don’t get what they get," the former Brisbane forward said.

Parker also highlighted how despite Penrith's stranglehold over the competition for close to four years they were still yet to have a player receive the Dally M Medal during that reign which catered to star players on less well-rounded sides. 

"The Panthers and Broncos have been the two best sides all season...but no one has won the Dally M out of those teams because they've got so many good players who are sharing the votes right across the park," Parker said.

"Newcastle went on a 10-game winning streak and there is only one player getting the votes - [Ponga]."

Dally M Medal leaderboard 2023

Who was the last forward to win the Dally M Medal? 

Jason Taumalolo was the last forward to claim the Dally M Medal eight years ago, when he won it along with Cooper Cronk.

The North Queensland lock stands as the only forward to have claimed the prestigious accolade in the NRL era.

In the past five seasons, fullbacks have won it three times with Jack Wighton’s surprise win in 2020 and Nicho Hynes’ victory last year keeping the medal in the spine of creativity.

"I think the forwards should get more credit for what they do," Parker declared.