Sydney Roosters five-eighth Todd Carney has won the NRL's top individual prize only two years after being banished from the competition for a series of off-field issues.
The 25-year-old Carney has been an integral part of the Roosters rise up from last in the NRL standings in 2009 to premiership contenders this year.
He beat West Tigers skipper Robbie Farah by three points in the Dally M voting.
Carney was fired by Canberra in 2008 and suspended from the 2009 NRL season for off-field disciplinary problems. He spent a year playing district rugby league in far north Queensland state before being hired by the Roosters.
Roosters coach Brian Smith was voted as the NRL's coach of the year. NRL finals start this week.
AP