The family of the great Dally Messenger has accused the NRL of disrespecting the rugby league pioneer by rejecting repeated requests to present the Dally M player of the year award.

Dally Messenger III – Messenger's grandson – says he has written to NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg for the past two years asking to be involved in rugby league's night of nights, only to be turned down each time.

Dally Messenger III, left, presents the Dally M award to Johnathan Thurston in 2015. Credit:AAP

Rugby league was born when Messenger defected from rugby union to a "rebel league" in the late winter of 1907. If not for his involvement, it's unlikely the 13-man game would ever have taken off.

"I don't like putting myself forward but I do it for the family's sake and they're a little pissed off that they keep us out of the presentations," Messenger III, 79, told Fairfax Media. "Why haven't we been invited [to present an award]? It's a mystery and it's wrong.