An emotional Johnathan Thurston broke down in tears after winning a record fourth Dally M National Rugby League Player of the Year medal.
North Queensland's Johnathan Thurston Photo: PHOTOSPORT
After leading the Cowboys to this year's NRL grand final against Brisbane, Thurston was an unbackable favourite to take out the gong, and those predictions proved true.
Thurston gained 32 votes after 26 rounds, well ahead of the three-way tie for second between Benji Marshall, Aaron Woods and Michael Ennis, who earned 21 votes each.
Broncos halfback Ben Hunt rounded out the top five with 18 votes.
Australian and Queensland representative Thurston wasn't in Sydney to receive the award, instead he was with his Cowboys team-mates at a function at Townsville's Jupiter's Casino.
"I'm a little bit nervous," Thurston said via video link.
"I can't say what this means to me (to win this) in front of family and friends."
The 32-year-old club captain later struggled to hold back the tears when crediting his family, including wife Samantha Lynch, for their role in his success.
"They see firsthand what you go through, the rollercoaster, what you put your body through mentally and physically," he said.
"Without them, I wouldn't be standing here."
Thurston soon turned his focus to Sunday's match-up with the Broncos.
"They have been the form side of the season and they have a coach that knows how to win big games and players that know how to win big games," he said.
Thurston has previously taken home the award in 2005 and 2007 and was equal winner last year with Jarryd Hayne.
His fourth gong takes him past Immortal Andrew Johns as the greatest winner of the award. Johns won the award in 1998, 1999 and 2002.
Thurston led the Dally M count on 19 points when voting went behind closed doors after round 16 and regularly picked up points from there to run out a deserved winner of the award.
Cameron Smith and James Maloney were equal sixth on 17 votes.
Blake Austin, Corey Norman, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and James Tedesco, who all finished the 2015 season on 16 votes rounded out the top 10.
On a remarkable night for the playmaker, Thurston was also given the Captain of the Year award (joint with Cowboys co-captain Matt Scott), the Halfback of the Year award, as well as the Provan Summons People's Choice Medal.
The Cowboys' opponents in Sunday's historic all-Queensland grand final, Brisbane Broncos, also had a successful night.
Wayne Bennett earned the Coach of the Year award as he attempts to win an eighth premiership, while Corey Parker won the Best Representative Player award during the glittering awards night at venue partner The Star.
Gold Coast's Luke Douglas was awarded the Ken Stephen Medal at a glittering event at The Star in Sydney.
Jenni-Sue Hoepper took out the inaugural Female Player of the Year award.
The full list of winners is:
Dally M Player of the Year: Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys)
Captain of the Year: Johnathan Thurston/Matt Scott (North Queensland Cowboys)
Coach of the Year: Wayne Bennett (Brisbane Broncos)
Peter Moore Award for Rookie of the Year: Jack Bird (Cronulla Sharks)
Best Representative Player: Corey Parker (Brisbane Broncos)
Fullback of the Year: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Sydney Roosters)
Winger of the Year: Semi Radradra (Parramatta Eels)
Centre of the Year: James Roberts (Gold Coast Titans)
Five-eighth of the Year: Blake Austin (Canberra Raiders)
Halfback of the Year: Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys)
Lock of the Year: Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys)
Second-rower of the Year: Josh Jackson (Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs)
Prop of the Year: Aaron Woods (Wests Tigers)
Hooker of the Year: Michael Ennis (Cronulla Sharks)
Top Points Scorer: Jarrod Croker (Canberra Raiders)
Top Try Scorer: Semi Radradra (Parramatta Eels)
Provan Summons People's Choice Medal: Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys)
Holden Cup Player of the Year: Ashley Taylor (Brisane Broncos)
Female Player of the Year: Jenni-Sue Hoepper
Peter Frilingos Headline Moment: Nathan Friend (Warriors)
Ken Stephen Medal: Luke Douglas (Gold Coast Titans)
