The Players' Champion Awards

In 2004, the Rugby League Players’ Association (RLPA) introduced awards to recognise the achievements of its membership – both on and off the field. Taking the official title of The Players’ Champion in 2016, awards are presented annually in a range of categories.

The prestigious The Players’ Champion honour is the mantle awarded to the most outstanding player each year as voted by the players.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Players’ Champion

The Players’ Champion from the NRL

2023 Shaun Johnson
2022 James Tedesco
2021 Tom Trbojevic
2020 Nathan Cleary
2019 James Tedesco
2018 Kalyn Ponga
2017 James Tedesco
2016 Jason Taumalolo
2015 Johnathan Thurston
2014 Johnathan Thurston
2013 Johnathan Thurston
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
2004 Danny Buderus

The Players’ Champion from the NRLW

2023 Teagan Berry
2022 Raecene McGregor
2021 Emma Tonegato
2020 Hannah Southwell
2019 Jessica Sergis

Previously Elite Women’s Player of the Year (below)

2018 Simaima Taufa
2017 Simaima Taufa (Australia) & Sarina Fiso (New Zealand)
2016 Samantha Bremner (Australia) & Georgia Hale (New Zealand)

The Players’ Dream Team

The Players’ Dream Team from the NRL

2023 Reece Walsh, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Herbie Farnworth, Stephen Crichton, Brian To’o, Cameron Munster, Shaun Johnson, Payne Haas, Harry Grant, Addin Fonua-Blake, Haumole Olakau’atu, Liam Martin, Patrick Carrigan

2022 James Tedesco, Joseph Sua’ali’i, Joseph Manu, Justin Olam, Daniel Tupou, Cameron Munster, Ben Hunt, James Fisher-Harris, Api Koroisau, Joseph Tapine, Jeremiah Nanai, Isaiah Papali’i, Cameron Murray

2021 Tom Trbojevic, Brian To’o, Justin Olam, Joseph Manu, Reuben Garrick, Cody Walker, Nathan Cleary, Payne Haas, Brandon Smith, James Fisher-Harris, Isaiah Papali’i, Angus Crichton, Isaah Yeo

2020 James Tedesco, David Nofoaluma, Kotoni Staggs, Brian Kelly, Brett Morris, Luke Keary, Nathan Cleary, Josh Papalii, Cameron Smith, Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Viliame Kikau, Tohu Harris, Cameron McInnes

2019 James Tedesco, Maika Sivo, Latrell Mitchell, Will Hopoate, Daniel Tupou, Cameron Munster, Daly Cherry-Evans, Payne Haas, Cameron Smith, Josh Papalii, John Bateman, Kenny Bromwich, Jake Trbojevic

2018 Kalyn Ponga, Valentine Holmes, Latrell Mitchell, Esan Marsters, Jamayne Isaako, Cameron Munster, Johnathan Thurston, Andrew Fifita, Damien Cook, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Viliame Kikau, Tariq Sims, Jake Trbojevic

2017 James Tedesco, Jordan Rapana, Konrad Hurrell, Dane Gagai, David Nofoaluma, Gareth Widdop, Nathan Cleary, Aaron Woods, Cameron Smith, David Klemmer, Jason Taumalolo, Wade Graham, Sam Burgess

The Players’ Dream Team from the NRLW

2023 Teagan Berry, Jakiya Whitfeld, Mele Hufanga, Shanice Parker, Annessa Biddle, Tarryn Aiken, Ali Brigginshaw, Shannon Mato, Emma Manzelmann, Sarah Togatuki, Yasmin Clydsdale, Otesa Pule, Simaima Taufa

2022 Sam Bremner, Julia Robinson, Isabelle Kelly, Jaime Chapman, Leianne Tufuga, Tarryn Aiken, Raecene McGregor, Millie Boyle, Destiny Brill, Caitlan Johnston, Olivia Kernick, Amber Hall, Keilee Joseph

2021 Emma Tonegato, Karina Brown, Jaime Chapman, Shenae Ciesiolka, Teagan Berry, Taliah Fuimaono, Rachael Pearson, Elsie Albert, Lauren Brown, Millie Boyle, Amber Hall, Shaniah Power, Destiny Brill

Dennis Tutty Award

The Dennis Tutty Award is awarded annually to a current Rugby League Player who has demonstrated outstanding:

Leadership on and off the field;
Commitment to their fellow Players and to the advancement and protection of their rights; and
Service and dedication to the game of Rugby League

In 2021, a player from each of the NRL and NRLW competitions were honoured with the Dennis Tutty Award.

2023 Chelsea Lenarduzzi
2023 Wade Graham
2022 Hannah Southwell
2022 Wade Graham
2021 Ali Brigginshaw
2021 Christian Welch
2020 Blake Green
2019 David Gower
2018 Jason Nightingale
2017 James Maloney
2016 Dene Halatau
2015 Tom Symonds
2014 Nate Myles
2013 Clint Newton
2012 Robbie Farah
2011 Andrew Ryan
2010 Petero Civoniceva
2009 Michael Gordon
2008 Jason King

Rookie of the Year

Players’ Rookie of the Year from the NRL

2023 Jahream Bula
2022 Jeremiah Nanai
2021 Reece Walsh
2020 Harry Grant
2019 Payne Haas
2018 Victor Radley
2017 Nick Cotric
2016 Cody Walker
2015 Cameron Munster
2014 Luke Brooks
2013 George Burgess
2012 Josh Mansour & Adam Reynolds
2011 Daly Cherry-Evans
2010 Trent Hodkinson
2009 Josh Dugan
2008 David Williams
2007 Michael Jennings
2006 Darius Boyd
2005 Ben Smith
2004 Sonny-Bill Williams

Players’ Rookie of the Year from the NRLW

2023 Annessa Biddle
2022 Gayle Broughton
2021 Destiny Brill

Player of the Month

Players’ Player of the Month from the NRL

2023 Cody Walker (May), Scott Drinkwater (June), Shaun Johnson (July), Kalyn Ponga (August)

Players’ Player of the Month from the NRLW

2023 Zahara Temara (July), Tarryn Aiken (August)

The 300 Club

2022 Jesse Bromwich, Ben Hunt, Jarrod Croker, Daly Cherry-Evans
2022 Aiden Tolman, Andrew McCullough, James Tamou
2021 Mitchell Pearce
2020 Mitch Aubusson, Josh Morris
2019 Benji Marshall, Robbie Farah, Darius Boyd, Gavin Cooper, Adam Blair
2018 Johnathan Thurston, Billy Slater, Simon Mannering, John Sutton, Sam Thaiday
2017 Cooper Cronk, Paul Gallen, Chris Heighington, Ryan Hoffman, Luke Lewis
2016 –
2015 Cameron Smith, Corey Parker, Anthony Watmough
2014 Brent Kite, Anthony Minichiello, John Morris
2013 Scott Prince

Male Academic Player of the Year

2023 Luke Keary
2022 Rhys Kennedy
2021 Tom Trbojevic
2020 Anthony Don
2019 Russell Packer
2018 Dale Copley
2017 Tim Mannah
2016 Josh Jackson
2015 David Gower & Siliva Havili (Education) & Sam Moa (Trade)
2014 John Morris (Education) & Peni Terepo (Trade)
2013 Bryan Norrie & Sam Perrett
2012 Ben Creagh
2011 John Palavi & Corey Payne
2010 Robbie Farah
2010 Chris Faust
2009 Jerome Ropati
2008 Alan Tongue
2007 Luke Priddis
2006 Matt Geyer & Rod Jensen
2005 Steven Price
2004 Matthew Gidley

Female Academic Player of the Year

2023 Shenae Ciesiolka
2022 Emma Tonegato
2021 Tarryn Aiken
2020 Kirra Dibb
2019 Vanessa Foliaki
2018 Kody House

The Players’ Champion Awards