Daring dresses and classy cut-outs: The Dally M red carpet winners

D-Day is here. No, not Dior Day – although Jonathan Anderson did present his first, truly brilliant collection for the French house today. I speak instead of the Dally M.

Sure, the NRL’s night of nights is decidedly less refined than the Paris runway, but what the event lacks in fine layers of ivory chiffon it makes up for in enthusiasm and washboard abs.

Tonight, The Cutaway in Barangaroo on Sydney Harbour is playing host to the awards, which celebrate the best players in the NRL and NRLW. But before all that, there’s fashion! And there are some genuine style highs this evening.

Here, the best looks from the 2026 Dally M awards.

Dylan Lucas of the Newcastle Knights and Adina Brown.Getty ImagesI must apologise to Adina Brown, whom I missed when she walked the carpet earlier looking sensational in a bright-red gown. Accompanying her partner, Dylan Lucas of the Newcastle Knights, Brown left everyone for dead.

Her stunning dress features a mock-neck collar with draped fabric sweeping over one shoulder to form a loose cape-like sleeve, creating an asymmetrical contrast with her other arm, which is sleeveless.

It could have been a case of too much fabric, but the sharp side cut-out on the left of her waist breaks up the silhouette and highlights the natural waistline. Her soft face-framing curls and pretty make-up look pair perfectly with the fluid dress. No notes!

Tom Dearden and partner Millie Oliver, who is eight months pregnant.Getty ImagesLast week, I gave props to Neila Bontempelli, who attended the Brownlow Medal mere weeks after giving birth. Tonight I must do the same for Millie Oliver, who is joining her partner Tom Dearden of the North Queensland Cowboys at the Dally M in the final weeks of her pregnancy. Women are amazing!

Thanks to style pioneers like Rihanna, the days of maternity fashion being drab and dull are long behind us. Oliver looks totally sophisticated in a billowing strapless top and embellished skirt, both in a lustrous gold-green hue. She’s even wearing a sleek nude heel, so I hope Tom gives her the foot massage she deserves when they get home tonight.

Isabelle Kelly of the Sydney Roosters.Getty ImagesAdvertisementShe won the Dally M award for Captain of the Year in 2025 and already, Roosters star Isabelle Kelly should consider herself a winner once again in this plunging black gown, with side cut-outs and a thigh-high front slit.

The embellished cinch at the waist, adorned with gunmetal crystals, is a nice touch to a dress that not everyone could pull off.

Her high-glam beauty completes the look and confirms her star power. It is challenging to look fabulous on a red carpet – but you wouldn’t know it from looking at Kelly tonight!

Ria Maric and Braydon Trindall of the Cronulla Sharks.Getty ImagesAdvertisementTimes like these make me wish I were able to chat to the attendees in person, so I could ask Ria Maric where she got her dress. The buyer’s agent and partner of Cronulla Sharks player Braydon Trindall looks stunning.

With a sculptural and exaggerated sweetheart neckline, woven crisscross pleating and a drop-waist skirt, her blush gown is a welcome departure from typical feminine silhouettes we often see on red carpets.

Roosters’ Olivia Kernick is draped in chocolate brown.GettyI’m not sure if Roosters player Olivia Kernick colour-matched herself, but this deep bronze strapless gown is working for her tonight at the Dally M.

With a subtle metallic sheen, the floor-length dress features continuous, tight horizontal micro-pleating throughout the fitted bodice and hips, hitting all the right notes.

Kernick chose to style herself and hire a gown this year – the risk paid off.

Cameron Murray of the Rabbitohs and Miranda Cross.GettyTarryn Aiken (left) of the Sydney Roosters.Getty ImagesAdvertisementJada Taylor of the Cronulla Sharks.Getty ImagesKirra Dibb (left) of the Newcastle Knights.Getty ImagesLaikha Clarke of the Gold Coast Titans.Getty ImagesSienna Lofipo (left) of the Gold Coast Titans.Getty ImagesJayme Fressard of the Sydney Roosters.Getty ImagesAdvertisementTahlia O’Brien of the St George Illawarra Dragons.Getty ImagesTiana Penitani Gray of the Cronulla Sharks.Getty ImagesTommy Talau of the Sydney Roosters and Jessica Sergis of the Sydney Roosters.Getty ImagesYasmin Meakes of the Newcastle Knights.Getty ImagesRobert Toia of the Sydney Roosters.Getty ImagesAdvertisementGeorgia Hale of the Gold Coast Titans.Getty ImagesJessika Elliston of the Gold Coast Titans.Getty ImagesMark Nawaqanitawase of the Sydney Roosters.Getty ImagesTaylor Haynes.Getty ImagesJaime Chapman of the Gold Coast Titans.Getty ImagesAdvertisementNaufahu Whyte of the Sydney Roosters.Getty ImagesAdam Elliott of the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Millie Elliott of the Sydney Roosters.Getty ImagesHaumole Olakau’atu of the Manly Sea Eagles.Getty ImagesDamien Cook of the St George Illawarra Dragons and Courtney Blaine.Getty ImagesAlex Johnston of the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Taryn Carson.Getty ImagesAdvertisementJocelyn Kelleher of the Sydney Roosters.Getty ImagesOtesa Pule of the Sydney Roosters.Getty ImagesJackson Ford of the Warriors.Getty ImagesTaneisha Gray of the Sydney Roosters.Getty ImagesKezie Apps of the Wests Tigers.Getty ImagesAdvertisementBrydie Parker (right) of the Sydney Roosters.Getty ImagesKeaon Koloamatangi of the South Sydney Rabbitohs.Getty ImagesCameron Murray of the Rabbitohs and Miranda Cross.Getty ImagesKalyn Ponga of the Newcastle Knights and Mimi Bowell.Getty ImagesCampbell Graham of the South Sydney Rabbitohs.Getty ImagesAdvertisementJai Arrow of the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Berina Colakovic.Getty ImagesOlivia Kernick of the Sydney Roosters.Getty ImagesIsabelle Kelly of the Sydney Roosters.Getty ImagesTom Trbojevic of the Manly Sea Eagles and Kristi Wilkinson.Getty ImagesHerbie Farnworth of the Dolphins and Lily Pickles.Getty ImagesAdvertisementApisai Koroisau of the Wests Tigers.Getty ImagesEmma Verran of the Cronulla Sharks.Getty ImagesBlayke Brailey of the Cronulla Sharks.Getty ImagesFletcher Sharpe of the Newcastle Knights.Getty ImagesDavid Fifita of the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Shaylee Bent of the Wests Tigers.Getty ImagesAdvertisementDean Young, head coach of the St George Illawarra Dragons.Getty ImagesJustin Holbrook, head coach of the Newcastle Knights.Getty ImagesIsaiya Katoa of the Dolphins and Pani Matai.Getty ImagesTayla Preston of the Canterbury Bulldogs.Getty ImagesJamayne Isaako of the Dolphins.Getty ImagesAdvertisementEllie Johnston (right) of the Cronulla Sharks.Getty ImagesMahalia Murphy of the Parramatta Eels.Getty ImagesKieran Foran of the Manly Sea Eagles and Karina May.Getty ImagesJack Bostock of the Dolphins.Getty ImagesSelwyn Cobbo of the Dolphins.Getty ImagesAdvertisementIndie Bostock (right) of the Gold Coast Titans.Getty ImagesTom Dearden of the North Queensland Cowboys and Millie Oliver.Getty ImagesThomas Jenkins of the Penrith Panthers.Getty ImagesCody Ramsey of the Sydney Roosters.Getty ImagesFrom left: Cooper Cronk and Braith Anasta.Getty ImagesAdvertisementLara Pitt.Getty ImagesRaecene McGregor (left) of the Wests Tigers.Getty ImagesJames Fisher-Harris of the Warriors and his daughter Tahira.Getty ImagesIsaah Yeo of the Penrith Panthers and Ashleigh Camenzuli.Getty ImagesCasey McLean of the Penrith Panthers.Getty ImagesAdvertisementCody Ramsey of the Sydney Roosters.Getty ImagesEthan Sanders of the Canberra Raiders and Sienna Miller.Getty ImagesJoseph Tapine of the Canberra Raiders and Kirsten Tapine.Getty ImagesReed Mahoney of the North Queensland Cowboys.Getty ImagesWayde Egan of the Warriors.GettyAdvertisementJulia Robinson.Getty ImagesEloise Sohier and Jake Duke arrive at the 2026 Dally M awards.Getty ImagesMake the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter. Get it in your inbox every Monday.

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