Nathan Cleary accepted the Dally M Medal remotely after emergency surgery for a severe compound leg fracture and ankle dislocation, an unprecedented moment in the award's history.
The Penrith captain, 28, finished the 2026 count with 38 points, having led when voting went behind closed doors after Round 12.
He maintained that advantage through the rest of the season to claim his first Dally M Medal.
Cleary also received the RLPA Players' Champion award, the Wally Lewis Medal and the Brad Fittler Medal during 2026.
He was nominated for Halfback of the Year and Captain of the Year, adding to a career that includes four premierships and two Clive Churchill Medals.
Cleary is only the second Panthers player to win the Dally M, joining club great Greg Alexander, who took the honour in 1985.