Panthers captain Nathan Cleary has capped off a remarkable season of individual recognition by claiming his first Dally M Medal, adding the game’s highest individual honour to an already decorated 2026 campaign.
Cleary joins club legend Greg Alexander, who claimed the prestigious award in 1985, etching his name alongside one of the greatest players in Panthers history.
The 28-year-old’s maiden Dally M Medal caps off a remarkable individual season and adds another major honour to a career already decorated with four premierships and two Clive Churchill Medals.
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Cleary led the 2026 Dally M count with 38 points when voting went behind closed doors following Round 12, before holding his position through the remainder of the season to secure the game’s highest individual accolade.
It is the latest in a remarkable run of individual recognition for the Panthers captain, who was also named the RLPA Players’ Champion and claimed the Wally Lewis Medal and Brad Fittler Medal throughout the 2026 season.
Cleary was also nominated for Halfback of the Year and Captain of the Year, further recognised for his outstanding campaign both individually and as Panthers captain.
Unable to attend tonight’s ceremony, Cleary accepted the honour remotely after undergoing emergency surgery for a severe compound leg fracture and ankle dislocation, marking an unprecedented moment in Dally M history.
The historic moment sees Cleary become only the second Panthers player to claim the Dally M Medal, adding his name to a distinguished list of club greats and cementing another significant chapter in his remarkable career.
