Amidst all the usual glitz and glamour, the 2003 Dally M Awards were also a celebration of a stunningly close season- and the growing international feel of the code. With sides from Fiji (Suva), Papua New Guinea (Port Moresby), and South Africa (Capetown) making this year's finals, and the traditional clubs like Manly, Hawkesbury, and Perth going so well, the finals should be crackerjack.

PREMIER LEAGUE
Fullback of the Year: Darren Lockyer (Perth)
The Perth captain and Australian fullback narrowly edged out North Sydney's Matthew Burke, who finished level on points.

Winger of the Year: Timana Tahu (Wellington)
Last year's player of the year may not have emulated his stunning season, but he was still dominant on the wing for the Cougars for the second consecutive year.

Centre of the Year: John Sitizien (Wellington)
The big German centre has been a revelation for the Cougars, and now hopes to lead his German 'Blood Warriors' to a World Cup victory.

Five Eighth of the Year: Stanley Tepend (Manly)
The biggest shock of the evening was the naming of this little known Papua New Guinea, who has been stunning inside Jones.

Halfback of the Year: Andrew Johns (Gold Coast)
No surprises here, as the Gold Coast captain and Premier League's top try scorer took out the polling by a massive fifteen votes.

Prop of the Year: Nathan Cayless (Parramatta)
After not even being named in early nominations, the Vikings' captain capped a poor season for the club with a much deserved award.

Hooker of the Year: Keiran Cunningham (Perth)
The English hooker edged out a late charge from North Melbourne prodigy, Dominik Bush, to take out this highly contested award.

Second Row of the Year: Gorden Tallis (Central)
The 'raging bull' capped off his final season at the Phoenix by out-polling Fairfield and Central Coast junior, Dean Walker.

Lock of the Year: Graham Luana (Carnarvon)
For the second consecutive year the PNG prodigy has dominated all comers in his position to take out this, the most heavily contested award.

Captain of the Year: Robbie O'Davis (Central Coast)
The task of bringing a dominant Division Two side into a new division and leading them to the mantle as one of the contenders is no mean feat, and O'Davis took it in his stride.

Coach of the Year: Chris Walker-Bush (Gold Coast)
After taking out his third minor premiership in four years, Walker-Bush has finally been rewarded with the mantle as 'Coach of the Year'.

Rookie Coach of the Year: Anthony Magro (Central Coast)
Like O'Davis, Magro took on the role of creating a dominant Premier League side, and achieved it with aplomb.

Rookie of the Year: John Sitizien (Wellington)
The exciting German talent took out yet another award, with no real surprises here.

Player of the Year: Andrew Johns (Gold Coast) and Graham Luana (Carnarvon)
The first time a player of the year has been awarded in the Dally M's history, with the Gold Coast captain and Carnarvon superstar both named as 'the best'.

1: Darren Lockyer (Perth)
2: Timana Tahu (Wellington)
3: John Sitizien (Wellington)
4: Clinton Toopi (Wellington)
5: Billy Slater (Gold Coast)
6: Stanley Tepend (Manly)
7: Andrew Johns (Gold Coast)
8: Nathan Cayless (Parramatta)
9: Keiran Cunningham (Perth)
10: Josh Perry (Gold Coast)
11: Gorden Tallis (Central)
12: Dean Walker (Central Coast)
13: Graham Luana (Carnarvon)

DIVISION TWO
Fullback of the Year: Kris Radlinski (Townsville)
Although his side couldn't emulate the feats of his former club, Radlinski seems to have found a new home up north.

Winger of the Year: Paul Whatuira (Canberra)
Despite his side missing the finals as well, Whatuira was by far the most dominant wing/three-quarter in Division Two this year.

Centre of the Year: Ben Harris (Sydney)
After joining the club midway through the season, Harris made the centre position his own, and will undoubtedly do the same next season at Central.

Five Eighth of the Year: Andrew Mehrtens (Capetown)
Despite immense late pressure from Brisbane's Preston Campbell, Mehrtens held onto the position.

Halfback of the Year: Derek Gateshead (Capetown)
The other half of Capetown's seemingly infallible halves pairing, Gateshead has completed an outstanding debut year with this award.

Prop of the Year: Quentin Pongia (Cairns)
The veteran prop lead Cairns from the front all season, and will look to do the same at St George next year.

Hooker of the Year: Joost van der Westuizen (Capetown)
Off to join North Sydney next year, veteran Joost made hooking his speciality in Capetown's potent attacking line.

Second Row of the Year: Justin Smith (Cairns)
Like Pongia, Smith came into this year with very few wraps on him, but made good with the chance he was given.

Lock of the Year: Scott Magro (Fairfield)
The amazing Maltese talent has been the reason Fairfield have been so tough all season.

Captain of the Year: Andrew Mehrtens (Capetown)
It can't be easy being a Kiwi in South Africa trying to make them learn to play a foreign code- and we couldn't go past Mehrtens as captain of the year.

Coach of the Year: Roger Bossert (Sydney)
He's been given the wrap before, but Bossert's second half resurrection of the Oilers couldn't be topped.

Rookie Coach of the Year: Brian Randell (Hawkesbury)
Might not have worked any miracles across the Tasman, but Randell has the Mavericks on track for a return to Premier League.

Rookie of the Year: Scott Magro (Fairfield)
He kicks goals, he scores tries, and he can make a mean kebab.

Player of the Year: Andrew Mehrtens (Capetown)
Was dominant all season, with only Scott Magro and Preston Campbell even beginning to emulate his feats this year.

1: Kris Radlinski (Townsville)
2: Paul Whatuira (Canberra)
3: Ben Harris (Sydney)
4: Martin Gleeson (Penrith)
5: Luke Covell (Sydney)
6: Andrew Mehrtens (Capetown)
7: Derek Gateshead (Capetown)
8: Quentin Pongia (Cairns)
9: Joost van der Westuizen (Capetown)
10: Solomon Haumona (Hawkesbury)
11: Justin Smith (Cairns)
12: Michael Smith (Port Moresby)
13: Scott Magro (Fairfield)

UNIVERSAL AWARDS
Rep Player of the Year: Preston Campbell (Brisbane)
Won the game for NSW in the deciding Origin, and was devestating out of five eighth for the Aussies in their tri-series win.

Looks like I can lose the choker tag. I'm so proud of what my players have achieved this season. We have copped more flak than any other club this season. Most of it was totally unjustified.
But , I have only proved SOME of my critics wrong. I will close their mouths after this seasons final series.