The Knights are about to play in their first NRL Grand Final in 25 years, but the achievement was not reflected at the Dally M Awards night on Thursday, as they became just the second Grand Final team in the past decade to not receive a major award.
Knights star and captain Kalyn Ponga was snubbed for captain of the year despite his on-field heroics and leadership, while Justin Holbrook was overlooked as coach of the year despite inheriting a team that won the wooden spoon and took them to finals footy and now a Grand Final.
Instead, Warriors pair James Fisher-Harris and Andrew took taking out those awards respectively.
While the New Zealand duo also had incredible seasons, it has sparked debate about whether the cut-off for individual positional, coaching and captain awards should end at the conclusion of the regular so.
But even as it stands few would disagree that Holbrook guiding the Knights into finals footy from last place deserved the coaching award.
Yet incredibly, it is not the first time the Knights have been snubbed at the NRL night of nights.
When they last won the premiership in 2001, they did not have a Dally M award winner from that season.
Code Sports reports the Knights contingent were quietly seething at the fact they were again overlooked in 2026, with the NRL world also baffled by the decision in particular to snub Holbrook.
“Andrew Webster is a top-tier coach, no questioning that. Him winning Dally M Coach of the Year over Holbrook in 2026, though, is insane to me. I joked on ESPN League Central this week that we’d riot if Holbrook missed out on the award. We rise at dawn to riot Newcastle …” popular NRL personality Rugby League Guru wrote on X after the shock snub.
“Inheriting a wooden spoon team & taking them to the finals despite brutal injury toll is a miracle. A legendary coaching campaign denied its place in history,” NRL fan account ‘Counsel’ said.
“Holbrook doesn’t win coach of the year. Cancel the awards for good,” another added.
It even took Dally M Coach of the Year winner Webster by surprise, who said he’s sure he won’t win it on the ‘Red Carpet’ Pre-Show.
Veteran reporter Buzz Rothfield said the entire Dally M system needs an overhaul.
“I think it needs an overhaul. There should be a chairman of the selection panel who, when we get to the week leading up to the medal, can make a discretionary call, contact the judges and go, ‘Shouldn’t we be looking at going with Holbrook’,” Rothfield said on The Fanatics.
“I think it was really embarrassing that Justin Holbrook didn’t win last night.”
Originally published as ‘We rise at dawn to riot’: Fury as Knights dudded in Dally M Awards night farce