The National Rugby League (NRL) is Australia's top-level domestic men's rugby league club competition. It contains clubs from the original Sydney club Rugby League competition, which had been running continuously since 1908. A single team from New Zealand also plays in the league. The NRL formed in the aftermath of the 1990s' Super League war as a joint partnership between the Australian governing body, the Australian Rugby League (ARL) and media giant News Corporation-controlled Super League, after both organisations ran premierships parallel to each other in 1997. This partnership was dissolved in February 2012, with control of the NRL going to the independently formed Australian Rugby League Commission.
The Dally M Medal is awarded each year (annually) to the player voted for as the 'Player of the year' over the National Rugby League (NRL) regular season. The awards are named in honour of Australian former rugby league great Herbert Henry "Dally" Messenger. The award has existed since 1979, but has only been adopted as the official award for the Player of the Year in the NRL since 1998. Prior to that the official Player of the Year, in both the New South Wales and the Brisbane Rugby Leagues, received the Rothmans Medal whilst the Dally M Medal was awarded by the Daily Mirror newspaper.
Cooper Patrick Cronk is a former Australian professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative halfback, he played most of his club career for the Melbourne Storm, though finished his career with the Sydney Roosters, both in the National Rugby League.
Cameron Wayne Smith is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a hooker, spending his entire career with the Melbourne Storm in the NRL.
The 2011 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 17th season in the club's history. They competed in the National Rugby League's 2011 Telstra Premiership. They finished the regular season in 7th place and were knocked out in the first week of the finals by the eventual premiers, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.
Vaai "Jason" Taumalolo is a professional rugby league footballer who captains and plays as a lock and second-row forward for the North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL. He has played for Tonga and New Zealand at international level.
The 2012 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 18th in the club's history. Coached by Neil Henry and co-captained by Johnathan Thurston and Matthew Scott, they competed in the National Rugby League's 2012 Telstra Premiership. They finished the regular season in 5th place and were knocked out in the second week of the finals by the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, for the second year in a row.
NRL 360 is an Australian nightly NRL talk show that deals with the issues in the NRL. It began airing on Fox Sports on 6 March 2013.
Sunday Night with Matty Johns is an Australian sports television series aired on Fox Sports on 4 March 2013. The show previously on Monday nights, but changed to Sunday night in 2018.
The 2013 Dally M Awards were presented on Tuesday 1 October 2013 at Sydney's Star Casino and broadcast on Fox Sports. They were the official annual awards of the 2013 NRL season.
The 2014 Dally M Awards were presented on Monday 29 September 2014 at Sydney's Star Casino. Broadcast on Fox Sports, the awards ceremony was hosted by Matthew Johns. They are the official annual awards of the National Rugby League and are named after Dally Messenger. The Dally M Medal was awarded to Jarryd Hayne and Johnathan Thurston in a tie of votes, making it the first time for the medal to be awarded to joint winners.
The 2015 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 21st in the club's history. Coached by Paul Green and co-captained by Johnathan Thurston and Matthew Scott, they competed in the NRL's 2015 Telstra Premiership. The Cowboys celebrated 20 years as a club in 2015 and played in the first all-Queensland grand final, defeating the Brisbane Broncos 17–16 in golden point to win their first premiership.
The 2015 Dally M Awards were presented on Monday 28 September 2015 at Sydney's Star Casino and was broadcast on Fox Sports. They are the official annual awards of the National Rugby League and are named after Dally Messenger. Halfback Johnathan Thurston won the Dally M Medal with a record margin of 11 votes, overtaking Andrew Johns in becoming the first player to claim the award for the fourth time.
The 2016 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 22nd in the club's history and their first as defending premiers. Coached by Paul Green and co-captained by Johnathan Thurston and Matthew Scott, they competed in the NRL's 2016 Telstra Premiership. In the pre-season the Cowboys competed in the 2016 Auckland Nines tournament, reaching the quarter-finals. The team finished the regular season in 4th, losing in the preliminary final to the eventual premiers, the Cronulla Sharks.
Lara Pitt is an Australian television presenter and sports journalist, mainly known for reporting for Fox Sports on their NRL coverage and Monday Night with Matty Johns.
The 2017 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 23rd in the club's history. Coached by Paul Green and co-captained by Johnathan Thurston and Matthew Scott, they competed in the NRL's 2017 Telstra Premiership. The club became just the second 8th-placed side to make the Grand Final, ultimately losing to the Melbourne Storm.
The 2018 North Queensland Cowboys season was the 24th in the club's history. Coached by Paul Green and co-captained by Johnathan Thurston and Matthew Scott, they competed in the NRL's 2018 Telstra Premiership. The team finished the regular season in 13th position and did not qualify for the finals.
The 2017 Dally M Awards was presented on Wednesday 27 September 2017. They are the official annual awards of the National Rugby League and are named after Dally Messenger.
The 2018 Dally M Awards was presented on Wednesday 26 September 2018. They are the official annual awards of the National Rugby League and are named after Dally Messenger.
Cooper Cronk 
Jason Taumalolo 
