The NRL has made a change to the criteria for the Rookie of the Year award as the battle for this year's honour heats up in the final weeks of the season.
Players are eligible for the honour in their first three seasons of professional football. Once they have played five games of first grade, they become ineligible for the award in subsequent seasons.
Harry Grant claimed the award in 2020, his third year in the NRL, after playing one game each in 2018 and 2019.
Under the old rules, only games played in the NRL or English Super League were considered when determining if a player met the eligibility criteria. That has now been expanded to include any sporting code or league as determined by the NRL, including rugby union and rugby sevens.
As a result, players such as Mark Nawaqanitawase will be ineligible to receive the Rookie of the Year award due to his previous career in rugby union.
Jack Bostock is the current title holder, having claimed the honour at last year's Dally M Medal ceremony.
Some of the sport's biggest names have won the award in the past, including Sam Walker in 2021, Payne Haas in 2019, Daly Cherry-Evans in 2011 and Steve Menzies in 1994.
The contenders for this year's award include Eels fullback Isaiah Iongi, Raiders hooker Owen Pattie, Warriors wrecking ball Leka Halasima and Roosters centre Robert Toia.
The Rookie of the Year is voted on a 3-2-1 basis by the Dally M judges at the conclusion of the regular season.
