They are the official annual awards of the National Rugby League and are named after Dally Messenger.

The voting process remained unchanged from the previous season; two judges each award six points per regular season match, split between three players with the best player receiving three points.

The maximum votes a player could receive per match is six.

Players given a one-game suspension received a six-point deduction, while players suspended for two or more games remained ineligible to receive any awards.

Note: Player marked with an asterisk (*) were ineligible The Dally M Awards were, as usual, conducted at the close of the regular season and hence did not take games played in the finals series into account.