Six months after returning to the NRL after a ban of more than a year for a series of alcohol-related offences, Carney received the Dally M Medal from 1980 winner Robert ''Rocky'' Laurie after a dramatic countdown to the best and fairest award at Sydney's State Theatre.

Carney, who spent the 2009 season rebuilding his life and career playing park football in far North Queensland after being sacked by Canberra and banned from the NRL, edged out Wests Tigers skipper Robbie Farah by a single vote in a contest that came down to the last round.

It was the second time Farah had gone within a single vote of winning the Dally M Medal after finishing runner-up to Cowboys halfback Johnathan Thurston in 2007.

Carney also won the Provan-Summons Medal after being voted the fans' player of the year, as well as five-eighth of the year.

Roosters teammate Braith Anasta, who shifted to lock to accommodate Carney at five-eighth, was named Dally M captain of the year and Brian Smith won coach of the year.

Carney gave credit to Roosters coach Smith for his award.

''He told me when I came in [started at the club] if I was not heading in his direction to head out of the door,'' he said.

''I sat up and listened and I owe a lot of this award to him. Also my mum and my sisters who have been there for me all along and I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them.''

Farah walked away with the hooker of the year award after he stormed into contention for the main gong through the final rounds.

Trailing Carney by three votes going into the last round, Farah collected two votes for his efforts in the 21-18 loss to the Titans to fall agonisingly short of a tied outcome.

Farah was the only positional winner to have previously won an award, having been named hooker of the year in 2007.

Newcastle winger Akuila Uate and Brisbane second-rower Sam Thaiday were the only award winners whose teams are not involved in the finals series, starting this weekend.