- Braith Anasta’s ‘joke’ irritated many football fans
- Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson taunted
- Knights fullback Kalyn Ponga won the Dally M medal
Rugby league identity Braith Anasta got under the skin of many footy fans after his ‘joke’ on stage at the Dally M Medal Awards night in Sydney on Wednesday.
As New Zealand Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson went from strength to strength to win the top gong, Anasta taunted the veteran playmaker on stage.
The NRL360 co-host told the crowd ‘Shaun Johnson – no votes’ – while many felt the 33-year-old should have scored strongly in round 25.
It came after Johnson led the Warriors to a 29-22 win over the Sea Eagles in Auckland, in a performance that included three line break assists, two try assists and a match seal field goal.
The Kiwi halfback responded kindly, waving at the former Bulldogs, Roosters and Tigers star and saying: ‘Thanks mate.’
Ex-NRL star Braith Anasta got under the skin of many football fans with his ‘joke’ on stage at the Dally M Medal Awards night in Sydney on Wednesday
As New Zealand Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson went from strength to strength to win the top gong, Anasta taunted the veteran playmaker on stage
Respective Knights fullbacks Kalyn Ponga and Tamika Upton took home the Dally M Medals as the best and fairest players in the NRL and NRLW
Anasta then defended himself on Instagram on Thursday, stating that he was just “reading a script” before adding that he’s “not an idiot, and this wasn’t the time or place to tell a bad joke .’
Footy fans weren’t eager for supporters to roast Anasta online.
‘Braith knew the result and taunted him. Both men’s respective characters are featured here,” one fan posted on social media.
‘I thought Braith was trying to be funny but it went down like a lead balloon. I also thought it was in poor taste,” said another.
“Pr**k move but expect nothing less from him,” a third fumed, while a fourth branded Anasta a “king size tosser”.
Newcastle Knights fullback Kalyn Ponga (56 votes) beat Johnson by a single vote to win the Dally M Medal, with 2022 winner Nicho Hynes finishing third.
It followed a remarkable late-season run from Ponga, who successfully overcame a career-threatening battle with concussion to clinch the coveted individual prize.
Ponga also played a key role as the Knights went on a nine-match winning run to ensure semi-final play.
In other awards, Andrew Webster was crowned Coach of the Year after guiding the Warriors to the top four in his first season in charge, and Panthers flyer Sunia Turuva was named Rookie of the Year.
Tamika Upton was the Women’s Dally M medalist after an impressive NRLW campaign with the Knights at fullback.