Live: NRL and NRLW stars arriving for Dally M Awards

Nathan Cleary might not be here tonight, but plenty of his teammates from the Penrith Panthers are.

• Isaah Yeo is a captain and lock of the year candidate
• Casey McLean will be right up there in the centre of the year voting
• Dylan Edwards is a candidate for fullback and player of the year
• And Tom Jenkins is the game’s top try-scorer and a winger of the year shot

Thomas Jenkins has already secured one award tonight as the league’s top try scorer, and he’s spoken to the ABC’s Myles Houlbrook-Walk.

He says he’s still stinging from Sunday’s dramatic loss to Penrith.

“It’s obviously such an unfortunate it’s one of those things where the outcome’s the outcome, we’re just going to deal with it and move on,” Jenkins says.

And he has a positive update on Nathan Cleary after his broken leg.

“Yeah, he’s going really well. He’s inexperienced. He’s absolutely devastated, but we’re all rallying behind him,” Jenkins says.

Hi Sophie,

Unfortunately (and I think this is an area where the NRL consistently drops the ball on Dally M night) the Fox/Kayo broadcast starts at 7:30 AEST, with a tightly edited half-hour before the ceremony broadcast at 8pm.

I don’t know why they don’t cover this live or advertise that it is happening in really any way shape or form, but we’ll be doing our best to bring you everything as it happens.

James Fisher-Harris has arrived with his eldest daughter Tahira.

It’s just very sweet seeing the toughest game’s biggest enforcers just being dads.

ABC Sport’s own Myles Houlbrook-Walk is at the ceremony tonight and the glitz and glamour has begun.

The first players are arriving tonight.

This year the NRL hasn’t revealed which players are nominated for best in each position so that means a series of surprises are in store.

As for the NRL Dally M Medal winner, all roads are leading to one man: Nathan Cleary.

He won’t be here tonight recently out of surgery and on the mend from a nasty lower leg injury.

The Knights reaching the grand final prompted a slew of pleas (many from Andrew Johns himself) for fellow Newcastle icons Silverchair to re-form and perform on the day.

But alas, no.

The band has not played together for 15 years and frontman Daniel Johns (no relation to Andrew or Matty) said he, Chris Joannou and Ben Gillies won’t be getting back together for this one.

Johns posted on his Instagram stories:

“For the first time in ages, the three of us agree wholeheartedly about something: GO KNIGHTS!!!

“It’s all about the Knights this weekend. We love how footy brings this community together, and it’s pretty special watching the whole Steel City get behind the boys.

“Everyone who’s asked if we’re playing before the game. We’re way too rusty, so sorry, no can do. We won’t be taking the stage, but we’ll be supporting as loudly as everyone else and there in spirit.

“Wishing the Newy players all the luck in the world this Sunday.

“UP THE KNIGHTS!!! From The Chair.”