Nathan Cleary may have imagined plenty of ways he would one day receive rugby league’s highest individual honour.
Sitting on the couch at home with his badly injured leg propped up probably wasn’t one of them.
But after a brutal few days for the Penrith Panthers superstar, Cleary finally had something to smile about on Wednesday night, claiming the first Dally M Medal of his remarkable career while recovering from surgery.
The 28-year-old was unable to attend the glittering Dally M Awards ceremony at The Cutaway in Barangaroo after suffering a severe compound fracture and ankle dislocation during Penrith’s preliminary final loss to Newcastle.
Instead, Cleary watched proceedings from home, delivering his acceptance speech by video with his injured leg elevated as he continues what is expected to be a lengthy recovery.
And if there was ever a well-timed pick-me-up, this was surely it.
Cleary finished the count on 67 votes, a commanding 14 points clear of Cronulla Sharks halfback Braydon Trindall on 53, with Panthers teammate Dylan Edwards third on 52.
Remarkably, despite four premierships, two Clive Churchill Medals and years spent among the NRL’s biggest stars, the Dally M Medal had previously eluded him.
That drought is now officially over.
Cleary also became just the second Panthers player to win the award, following club legend Greg Alexander, who claimed the honour in 1985.
Speaking from home, Cleary said he was grateful for the extraordinary support he had received since his injury.
“I want to start by saying how grateful I am for everyone’s support the past few days,” he said.
“I can’t thank everyone enough for the messages they’ve sent through.”
In typically Cleary fashion, however, he was quick to turn the attention away from himself, thanking his Panthers teammates for their role in his success and saying no individual award was possible without them.
He also paid a touching tribute to partner Mary Fowler, who is currently in England playing for Manchester City, thanking her for making him feel supported despite the challenges of their long-distance relationship.
Cleary’s maiden Dally M capped an extraordinary individual 2026 season in which he was also named the RLPA Players’ Champion and collected both the Wally Lewis Medal and Brad Fittler Medal.
His latest honour arrived under circumstances nobody would have chosen, with Cleary now facing another operation and months of rehabilitation following his devastating injury.
But after a week that began with heartbreak, there was finally reason for a very big smile on the Cleary family couch.
And somewhere in the house, they may need to find room for one more trophy.
