James Tedesco and Tamika Upton made history at the 2025 Dally M Awards by each winning the prestigious medal for a second time. Tedesco, the captain of the Sydney Roosters, secured the Dally M Medal with a commanding lead of 22 points over Nathan Cleary of the Penrith Panthers. He was also honored as both the Fullback of the Year and Captain of the Year.

This victory marks Tedesco's second Dally M win, having previously claimed the award in 2019. He has also finished as a runner-up in 2022 and 2024. "I’ve probably had a lot of critics and doubters the last couple of years, so I guess to be back on this stage and winning this medal is a proud achievement for myself," Tedesco said. He expressed his enjoyment of the season, highlighting the challenges of leading a team with both losses and victories.

Tedesco clinched the medal with two rounds remaining in the season, as Cleary and many of his teammates were rested. Tedesco noted, "It helps not playing Origin. Nath (Cleary) missed lots of games through Origin, and I played every game, which definitely helps me score more points."

On the women's side, Upton made history as the first female player to win the Dally M Medal twice. The Brisbane Broncos fullback finished the season with 35 points, edging out her teammate Julia Robinson by three points. Upton took the lead in the Dally M count during the penultimate round, a match in which Robinson did not participate. In the final round against the North Queensland Cowboys, Upton scored a hat-trick and provided a try assist, earning her the necessary points to secure the medal.

2025 marked Upton's return season with the Broncos after a successful tenure with the Newcastle Knights, where she won two premierships and the Dally M Medal in 2023.

The Dally M Awards also recognized other outstanding players and coaches. Ricky Stuart was named Coach of the Year for the NRL, while John Strange received the same honor for the NRLW. The Rookie of the Year awards went to Robert Toia in the NRL and Shalom Sauaso in the NRLW.

The event celebrated the achievements of players across both leagues, with Tedesco and Upton's wins standing out as significant milestones in their careers.

The complete list of Dally M Award winners includes: - Dally M NRL Medallist: James Tedesco - Dally M NRLW Medallist: Tamika Upton - Dally M NRL Captain of the Year: James Tedesco - Dally M NRLW Captain of the Year: Isabelle Kelly - Dally M NRL Coach of the Year: Ricky Stuart - Dally M NRLW Coach of the Year: John Strange - Dally M NRL Rookie of the Year: Robert Toia - Dally M NRLW Rookie of the Year: Shalom Sauaso - Ken Stephen Medal: Kieran Foran - Veronica White Medal: Rhiannon Byers - Dally M NRL Try of the Year: Mark Nawaqanitawase - Dally M NRLW Try of the Year: Indie Bostock - Dally M NRL Tackle of the Year: Ethan Strange - Dally M NRLW Tackle of the Year: Ivana Lauitiiti - The Peter Frilingos Headline Moment of the Year: The Miracle of Mudgee.