Ten Finalists confirmed for the 2026 Players’ Champion

The Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) is pleased to announce the ten Finalists for the two individual 2026 Players’ Champion awards, presented by Select Cards.

The ten Finalists are the five players from the NRL and NRLW competitions who received the highest number of votes from their peers from the Contenders lists.

The Players’ Champion winners will be announced on Channel 9’s 100% Footy this Monday night, September 28.

NRL

Erin Clark
Nathan Cleary
Herbie Farnworth
Haumole Olakau’atu
James Tedesco

NRLW

Teagan Levi
Sienna Lofipo
Raecene McGregor
Jessica Sergis
Tamika Upton

James Tedesco, who equalled Johnathan Thurston’s record of four Players’ Champion awards last year, is in line to win his fifth. Nathan Cleary is the only other Players’ Champion winner among the Finalists from the NRL, having won the award in 2020.

Raecene McGregor (2022), Jessica Sergis (2019), or Tamika Upton (2025) could become the first-ever two-time winner of the Players’ Champion from the NRLW.

McGregor (Recruit of the Year) and Teagan Levi (Rookie of the Year) have already picked up individual RLPA player-voted awards in 2026.

About The Players’ Champion voting:

The Contenders list comprises four players from each club who are nominated to be eligible for The Players’ Champion individual award.
In the NRL competition, RLPA Delegates put forward three Contenders from their own teams before an RLPA Working Group panel (made up of current and former NRL players) nominates a fourth and final player from each team.
In total, 68 NRL players and 48 NRLW players are then eligible to receive Players’ Champion votes from their peers in the end-of-season poll.
Voting is open to all contracted NRL and NRLW players, with each player voting for opposition Contenders using a 3/2/1 format. Players cannot vote for their teammates.
Players are not penalised for any suspensions and/or fines received during the course of the season.
The player with the highest number of votes across all teams is awarded The Players’ Champion.

Players’ Champion winners from the NRL:

2025 James Tedesco (4)
2024 Jahrome Hughes
2023 Shaun Johnson
2022 James Tedesco (3)
2021 Tom Trbojevic
2020 Nathan Cleary
2019 James Tedesco (2)
2018 Kalyn Ponga
2017 James Tedesco (1)
2016 Jason Taumalolo
2015 Johnathan Thurston (4)
2014 Johnathan Thurston (3)
2013 Johnathan Thurston (2)
2012 Ben Barba
2011 Akuila Uate
2010 Darius Boyd
2009 Jarryd Hayne
2008 Braith Anasta & Petero Civoniceva
2007 Matt Bowen
2006 Ben Kennedy
2005 Johnathan Thurston (1)
2004 Danny Buderus

Players’ Champion winners from the NRLW:

2025 Tamika Upton
2024 Isabelle Kelly
2023 Teagan Berry
2022 Raecene McGregor
2021 Emma Verran
2020 Hannah Southwell
2019 Jessica Sergis
2018 Simaima Taufa

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