Jazz Tevaga is among a vocal contingent who believe NZ Warriors teammate Shaun Johnson was hard done by in missing out on the NRL's most prestigious individual award.
In Sydney on Wednesday, Johnson was pipped by Knights star Kalyn Ponga for the Dally M Medal at the prize's titular ceremony.
Tevaga took to social media to claim Johnson was "robbed" by not receiving the award, comparing the snub to the egregious, unpunished forward pass that led to a Broncos try during the Warriors' NRL preliminary final defeat in Brisbane last weekend.
"Congrats Kalyn but everyone knows it. SJ was robbed," Tevaga wrote in an Instagram story he's since deleted.
"That is almost as bad as that forward pass."
The Dally M medal winner is decided by two anonymous judges, selected from a panel of former players, who watch each match and separately award votes on a three-two-one basis, meaning a player can receive a maximum of six votes per match.
The Warriors' player of the year went into the final round of voting ahead of Ponga but was pipped at the post by just a single point, eventually finishing second.
Widely viewed as the competition's most consistent player, Johnson was overtaken by Ponga, who came home strong on the back of Newcastle's nine-game win streak to end the regular season.
Meawnhile, Johnson was rested for the final match of the season against the Dolphins, which ultimately may have cost him the chance to become the second Warriors player after Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in 2018 to win the award.
Johnson's career-best form mirrored the transformation of the Warriors this season, whose top-four finish was their highest in 21 years.
Speaking after the ceremony, he dismissed suggestions he'd been unfairly overlooked.
"I thought Kalyn had a great year, he was the centrepiece of the Knights when they went on their run and he really stepped up," Johnson said.
"I am really happy with my year. After where I was 12 months ago this is honestly a very proud moment for my family, my partner, my teammates - they are the ones who know just how hard I have worked to get myself in this position."
He didn't go home empty-handed, however, voted as the NRL's best halfback in the team of the year alongside teammates Addin Fonua-Blake at prop and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak on the wing.
First-year coach Andrew Webster was also acknowledged for his efforts in the Warriors' resurgence, beating out Grand Final coaches Kevin Walters and Ivan Cleary for Coach of the Year.
"Congrats to all our boys for their awards," Tevaga added. "Cracker [season] brothers."
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