The NRL could face a logistical hurdle with Dally M Medal contender Cameron Smith unable to attend Wednesday night’s awards ceremony through illness.
Smith, the second favourite for the top gong, has suffered a viral infection in the days after Saturday’s preliminary final loss to the Sydney Roosters.
He has been told by club doctors not to travel to Sydney with six Melbourne teammates for the awards, and also didn’t attend a team review on Wednesday while quarantined.
The Melbourne veteran has been nominated for two awards, including hooker of the year and the league’s best captain.
He was three points back in the race for the overall player of the year award when voting went behind closed doors after round 12.
At that time he was level with favourite James Tedesco.
Smith did not miss a game from that point and the Storm won 11 of their last 13.
If he was to win the award, he would become the first player not to be in attendance to claim the trophy this century.
The only other time a player has come close was when Andrew Johns watched on from Warrington in 2005 when Johnathan Thurston claim it ahead of him.