Millie Boyle and Emma Tonegato become first joint winners of NRLW Dally M Medal

Emma Tonegato has capped a dominant return to rugby league, crowned a joint winner of the NRLW's Dally M Medal with Millie Boyle in a historic ceremony in Brisbane.

Olympic rugby sevens gold medallist Tonegato, who will play for St George Illawarra in Sunday's grand final against the Roosters, and fellow dual-code star Boyle became the first joint winners of the prize, awarded on Thursday night.

In a grandstand finish, both fullback Tonegato and Brisbane Broncos forward Boyle, who only played five of the six regular-season games, polled three votes in the final round to overtake Parramatta Eels forward Simaima Taufa.

Tonegato helped the Jillaroos to a World Cup title as an 18-year-old in 2013, before switching codes and starring in Australia's run to the first Olympic rugby sevens gold medal at Rio 2016, becoming a two-time Olympian in Tokyo last year.

With the growth of the NRLW, Olympic gold medallist Emma Tonegato might have chosen league over rugby sevens if she had her time again.

Tonegato, now 27, knocked back an approach from St George Illawarra to play in the inaugural NRLW season in 2018 to re-sign with Rugby Australia until after last year's Olympic Games in Japan.

She's dominated after linking with them for a maiden season this year, scoring four tries in six games along with three try assists, six line-break assists, five line breaks and 967 running metres — second only to Boyle.

Tonegato also took out the tackle of the year award, spectacularly chasing down and turning Roosters winger Jess Sergis into touch in round five.

«I've loved coming back to the NRL, it really is the game I grew up watching and I've always wanted to play professionally,» she said.

«They've been so welcoming down there at the Dragons. I really