Fuming NRL to launch investigation into Dally M Awards leak 'stuff-up', Panthers also livid
By George Vlotis and Melanie Dinjaski
The NRL are fuming after the Daily Telegraph accidentally revealed Canberra star Jack Wighton had won the 2020 Dally M Medal before the ceremony had even begun, with an investigation set to be launched.
The Penrith Panthers are also livid at the leaked result and that their top player and coach were required to attend the awards night by leaving their bubble during grand final week.
As early as 6:30pm (AEDT), the Telegraph splashed a story with the headline 'Dally M drama: System needs an urgent overhaul' with an image of Jack Wighton and Nathan Cleary, which was seen on the publication's website.
The final scoring ladder, showing Wighton the clear winner 26 points ahead of the other medal frontrunners, could also be found. Incredibly the masthead jumped the gun in publishing not only the results, but their follow-up stories about the presentation night.
Wighton, apparently, was not aware of the leak due to his phone being confiscated before he saw the news.
An "angry" NRL will now investigate the gaffe which could have huge ramifications for the future of rugby league's night of nights.
"The NRL want an investigation into this, they want to know how this happened," Nine's chief rugby league reporter Danny Weidler revealed on 100% Footy on Monday night.
"What they're also particularly angry about is the story that was leaked, it was critical of the award that Jack Wighton got. So, it was a double-whammy for them.
