Nathan Cleary 2026 Dally M Medal: NRL Card Guide
Nathan Cleary won the 2026 Dally M Medal with 67 votes, 14 clear of Braydon Trindall (Cronulla), making him the first Penrith player to claim the award since Greg Alexander in 1985. His 2026 Select NRL League Heroes set includes ten cards, headlined by two live Predictor redemptions that convert into signed limited editions.
What went down at the 2026 Dally M ceremony?
Cleary accepted via pre-recorded video from home, having been released from hospital earlier that day. The injury that preceded it was brutal: a compound fracture and dislocation of his left ankle during Penrith's preliminary final, on top of a pre-existing broken right foot.
Phoenix Crossland (hooker) made the hip-drop tackle that caused the damage and received a 4-game ban from the NRL judiciary on 29 September. The ceremony was held at The Cutaway, Barangaroo, on 30 September 2026, with Dylan Edwards (Penrith) finishing third on 52 votes.
Which Cleary cards are in the 2026 Select League Heroes set?
Ten cards confirmed across the set, from base to hobby-only numbered hits. If you've already pulled one, snap a photo of your card in CardLoft to log it to your collection.
- Base card (unnumbered)
- Luminous (unnumbered)
- Colours Diecut (unnumbered)
- BANG B67 (unnumbered)
- Bang Gold BG56 (unnumbered)
- Game Breakers GB89 (unnumbered)
- League Heads LH89 (unnumbered)
- Etched E100 /185
- Dally M Predictor Gold /270 (retail)
- Dally M Predictor Platinum DPP34 /80 (hobby-only, 1:42 packs)
How do the Predictor redemptions actually work?
Two separate redemptions are now live. The Dally M Predictor Gold (/270, retail) converts to a Limited Edition 2026 Dally M Medallist Signature Gold Card, also numbered to 270. The Dally M Predictor Platinum DPP34 (/80, hobby-only) converts to a Signature Platinum Card at the same print run. The Platinum is the rarer of the two, by a considerable margin.
Submit at redemptions.selectcards.com.au, then mail your physical card within 30 days. The redemption deadline is printed on the back of your card.
Why does this Dally M win matter for the Cleary card catalogue?
This is Cleary's first Dally M, despite four premierships (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024), two Clive Churchill Medals (2021, 2023), the 2026 Wally Lewis Medal and Halfback of the Year. The 41-year gap since a Penrith player last won adds genuine historical weight to the card.
For context on baseline collector interest heading into tonight: his Golden Treasure GT12 /80 (a different card from the Predictor series) sold for AU$942.45 on eBay on 11 Apr 2026 and AU$890.64 on eBay on 13 Apr 2026. No sold comps exist yet for the Predictor cards, as the ceremony was tonight. If you're sitting on a Predictor and want to move it, trade it privately with people you actually know in CardLoft, no auction house cut required.
Frequently asked questions
Is this Cleary's first Dally M Medal?
Yes. Despite four premierships and two Clive Churchill Medals, the 2026 Dally M is his first.
What is the Dally M Predictor Platinum DPP34?
A hobby-exclusive card numbered to 80, pulled at roughly 1:42 packs, that redeems for a Limited Edition 2026 Dally M Medallist Signature Platinum Card also numbered to 80.
Where do I submit a Predictor redemption?
Submit online at redemptions.selectcards.com.au, then mail your physical card within 30 days. The deadline is printed on the back of your card.
How much have Cleary's Predictor cards sold for?
No sold comps exist yet. The ceremony was 30 September 2026 and the market is still forming.
Why is the 41-year gap significant?
No Penrith player had won the Dally M since Greg Alexander in 1985, making Cleary the first Panther to claim the award in four decades.
