The Dally M Medal is awarded each year (annually) to the player voted for as the 'Player of the year' over the entire National Rugby League (NRL) regular season. The award has existed since 1980, 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.