Jackson Ford’s Dally M Snub Sparks Outrage Among NRL Fans
NRL fans are once again questioning the credibility of the Dally M voting system after Warriors prop Jackson Ford didn’t receive a single vote in the latest round. Despite an outstanding performance, Ford’s lack of recognition has left many baffled and frustrated.
Ford has made a remarkable start to the 2026 season and is widely seen as a strong contender for State of Origin selection with NSW. Heading into Round 9, he was leading the Dally M count with 31 votes, narrowly ahead of Panthers star Nathan Cleary on 28. However, Cleary has now surged into the lead with 33 points after earning five votes against Manly.
Despite another impressive performance in the Warriors’ 36-14 win over Parramatta, Ford didn’t manage to secure even a single vote. He played 71 minutes in the front row, making 50 tackles with only one miss. He also scored a try, ran for 177 metres, and had two offloads and two tackle-breaks. Unfortunately, this wasn’t enough to earn any recognition from the judges.
The judges—Erin Clark, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, and Tanah Boyd—each awarded three votes. Clark had a try assist, three tackle breaks, one offload, and 27 tackles. Tuivasa-Sheck scored a try and ran for 199 metres with five tackle-breaks and two line-breaks. Boyd contributed with a try assist and two line-break assists while kicking four goals from six attempts.
Eels five-eighth Ronald Volkman (2) and Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (1) were the other players to receive votes. Volkman scored a double on the losing team, while Watene-Zelezniak had a try and 177 running metres.
Cleary, on the other hand, received five votes despite a relatively quiet game by his standards. The Panthers halfback had a try-assist, four tackle-breaks, and three offloads in Penrith’s 18-16 win over Manly. Dylan Edwards (3), Blaize Talagi (2), and Haumole Olakau’atu (2) were the other players to be recognised.
Fan Reactions and Calls for Change
The Dally M snub has sparked outrage among NRL fans, with many expressing their frustration on social media. One fan wrote: “Absolute joke how Jackson Ford got 0! He was one of the best players out of every game!” Another commented: “Ford robbed a point at the very least.” A third fan added: “Not saying he should’ve got 6, but I don’t see how Ford comes away with ZERO points from that game.”
This isn’t the first time the Dally M voting system has come under scrutiny. Last month, veteran commentator Andrew Voss called for the system to be “blown up,” stating on SEN: “The system is broken. The system does not work. The system cannot stand up today with any form of integrity.”
Ongoing Debate Over Fairness and Transparency
The controversy surrounding Ford’s Dally M snub highlights the ongoing debate about the fairness and transparency of the voting process. Many believe that the system fails to accurately reflect a player’s impact on the field, especially when it comes to key contributors like Ford.
As the Dally M race continues, the question remains: Is the current system truly representative of the best performances? With calls for reform growing louder, the NRL may soon face pressure to reevaluate how players are recognised and rewarded for their efforts.
