Melbourne Storm captain Harry Grant has been ruled ineligible to win the Dally M medal.
The decision follows a two-game suspension for a shoulder charge on Bulldogs forward Harry Hayes in Round 25.
While the ban already sidelined him for the final weeks of the regular season, it also shut the door on his individual honours.
Now, former players and commentators are questioning whether the rules are too harsh.
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Why Grant can’t win
Under NRL rules, any suspension of two matches or more makes a player ineligible for the Dally M medal.
A one-game suspension only results in a three-point deduction, but anything longer removes them from contention altogether.
Grant missed Friday night’s loss to the Roosters and won’t return until the finals, but the sanction means he also can’t win hooker of the year in the Team of the Season.
Despite not being in the top 10 when voting went behind closed doors after Round 12, Harry Grant's recent form could place him in the top 5 by seasons end.
Legends question the system
Speaking on Fox League, James Graham described the ineligibility ruling as excessive.
“So the shoulder charge on Harry Hayes has made him ineligible to win the most prestigious individual award. Wow,” Graham said.
Gorden Tallis also felt the current system doesn’t make sense.
“If you don’t play those two weeks, you can’t get points for those two weeks,” Tallis said.
“There’s your punishment. If you’re still good enough to win it and only play 18 or 20 rounds, that means you’ve had a great year.”
Parker joins the chorus
On SEN radio, Broncos great Corey Parker added his voice to the calls for change.
“If you’re still able to poll enough votes after two weeks out of the game, you deserve it,” Parker said.
“I think the fact he’s been given two weeks shouldn’t go against him. It needs to be looked at, because your whole season is determined by a match review committee.”
Hooker of the year race wide open
Grant’s suspension also leaves the hooker of the year award up for grabs.
While some argue Grant has been the best hooker in 2025, many point to Blayke Brailey's superior stats as an indicator that he may have won the award regardless.
Brailey leads the competition in tackles (1,032), dummy half runs (137) and has more try assists (14) than any other hooker.
The Sharks No.9 has been outstanding in 2025 and is a strong contender in his own right.