Annual Awards
NZRL Awards
Criteria
Grassroots Club of the Year:
Must have made a difference to their local community, and shown a commitment to the values of New Zealand Rugby League.
Pirtek Volunteer of the Year:
Must have shown a commitment to their club, the game, and the values of NZRL.
Match Official of the Year:
Must have performed consistently at the highest level domestically, and/or nationally/internationally.
Domestic Coach of the Year:
Must have performed consistently at the highest level domestically, and/or nationally.
Domestic Player of the Year:
Must have played in or been selected to play in an NZRL National Competition at either 16s, 18s or senior Premier grade. Has had a significant impact on their team, both on and off the field, and been a consistent performer.
Junior Player of the Year:
Be aged 19 years and have played in either an NRL or NZRL National Competition. Has shown commitment to New Zealand Rugby League and been involved in community work. Has had a significant impact on their team, both on and off the field, and been a consistent performer.
Kiwis Rookie of the Year:
Has made their debut for the New Zealand Kiwis. Has shown commitment to the Kiwis and New Zealand Rugby League and been involved in community work. Has had a significant impact on their team, both on and off the field, and been a consistent performer.
Kiwi Ferns Rookie of the Year:
Has made their debut for the New Zealand Kiwi Ferns. Has shown commitment to the Kiwi Ferns and New Zealand Rugby League and been involved in community work. Has had a significant impact on their team, both on and off the field, and been a consistent performer.
Kiwis Player of the Year:
Has played first grade for their club and, unless prevented by injury, for the Kiwis, demonstrated leadership/leadership potential with their club, both on & off the field. Has shown commitment to the Kiwis and New Zealand Rugby League and been involved in community work. Has had a significant impact on their team, both on and off the field and been a consistent performer.
Kiwi Ferns Player of the Year:
Has played first grade for their club and, unless prevented by injury, for the Kiwi Ferns, demonstrated leadership/leadership potential with their club, both on & off the field. Has shown commitment to the Kiwis and New Zealand Rugby League and been involved in community work. Has had a significant impact on their team, both on and off the field and been a consistent performer.
Past Results
New Zealand Kiwis Player of the Year – James Fisher-Harris (New Zealand Warriors)
New Zealand Kiwi Ferns Player of the Year – Annessa Biddle (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
New Zealand Wheelchair Player of the Year – Kauri Murray
New Zealand Kiwis Rookie of the Year – Keano Kini (Gold Coast Titans)
New Zealand Kiwi Ferns Rookie of the Year – Alexis Tauaneai (St. George Illawarra Dragons)
Grassroots Club of the Year – Petone Panthers Rugby League Club (Wellington)
Domestic Female Player of the Year – Kaiyah Atai (Akarana)
Domestic Male Player of the Year – Fine Vakautakakala (Auckland)
Domestic Coach of the Year – Charlotte Scanlan (Akarana)
Female Junior Player of the Year – Marewakiterangi Samson (Counties Manukau)
Male Junior Player of the Year – Bishop Neal (Canterbury)
Match Official of the Year – Jack Feavers (Canterbury)
Pirtek Volunteer of the Year – Cameron Tukapua (Canterbury)
New Zealand Kiwis Player of the Year – James Fisher-Harris (Penrith Panthers)
New Zealand Kiwi Ferns Player of the Year – Georgia Hale (Gold Coast Titans)
New Zealand Kiwis Rookie of the Year – Matthew Timoko (Canberra Raiders)
New Zealand Kiwi Ferns Rookie of the Year – Annessa Biddle (Cronulla Sharks)
New Zealand Kiwis A Player of the Year – Rocco Berry (New Zealand Warriors)
Grassroots Club of the Year – Dannevirke Tigers (Mid Central)
Men’s Domestic Player of the Year – Sione Feao (Auckland)
Women’s Domestic Player of the Year – Onjeurlina Leiataua Hunt (Auckland)
Junior Boys (U19) Player of the Year – Jacob Laban (Wellington)
Junior Girls (U19) Player of the Year – Monica Samita (Akarana)
Coach of the Year – Phil Gordon (Akarana)
Trainer of the Year – Zachary Moulder (Counties Manukau)
Manager of the Year – Rachael Leafe (Wellington)
Match Official of the Year – Paki Parkinson (Bay of Plenty)
Pirtek Volunteer of the Year – Nick Hennessy (Wellington)
Kiwis Player of the Year – Joseph Manu
Kiwi Ferns Player of the Year – Raecene McGregor
Kiwis Physical Disability Player of the Year – Roko Nailolo
Kiwis Rookie of the Year – Dylan Brown
Kiwi Ferns Rookie of the Year – Brianna Clark
Kiwis Young Player of the Year – Ronaldo Mulitalo
Grassroots Club of the Year – Porirua Vikings
Men’s Domestic Player of the Year – Tevin Arona
Women’s Domestic Player of the Year – Abigail Roache
18s Boys Player of the Year – Rodney Tuipolotu-Vea
18s Girls Player of the Year – Alexis Tauaneai
16s Boys Player of the Year – Augustino Filipo
16s Girls Player of the Year – Braxton Sorensen-McGee
Coach of the Year – Archie Jacobs
Trainer of the Year – Lee Mou
Manager of the Year – Sabrina Manu
Match Official of the Year – Paki Parkinson
Pirtek Volunteer of the Year – Gina Allan
*Awards slightly altered due to Covid-19*
Club of the Year: Otara Rugby League Club (Counties Manukau)
Men’s Competition Player of the Year: Tony Matautia (Upper Central)
Women’s Competition Player of the Year: Charntay Poko (Canterbury)
16’s Youth Competition Player of the Year: Kylem Vunipola (Mid-Central)
18’s Youth Competition Player of the Year: Tome Poona (Upper Central)
20’s Player of the Year: Zyon Maiu’u (Auckland)
20’s Coach of the Year: Daniel McEwan (Central Districts)
Youth Competition Coach of the Year: Shaun Egan (Mid Central)
National Competition Coach of the Year: Jeremy Siulepa (Upper Central)
Match Official of the Year: Paki Parkinson
Pirtek Volunteer of the Year: Raymond Greaves (Physical Disability Rugby League)
Kiwis People’s Choice Player of the Year: James Fisher-Harris (Penrith Panthers)
Kiwis Young Player of the Year: Isaiah Papali’i (Parramatta Eels)
Kiwis Player of the Year: Jahrome Hughes (Melbourne Storm)
2020 NZRL Awards:
Pirtek Volunteer of the Year: Shayne Wassel
Grassroots Club of the Year: Mangere East
Domestic Coach of the Year: Phil Gordon
Match Official of the Year: Paki Parkinson
U16s Player of the Year: Tre Fotu
U18s Player of the Year: Sam McIntyre
Domestic Men’s Player of the Year: Francis Leger
Domestic Women’s Player of the Year: Harata Butler
Kiwi Fern Rookie of the Year: Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly
Kiwis Young Player of the Year: Dylan Brown
Kiwi Ferns Player of the Year: Krystal Rota
Kiwis Player of the Year: James Fisher-Harris
2019 NZRL Awards:
Pirtek Volunteer of the Year (Female): Bryarn Nuku (Omahu Huias)
Pirtek Volunteer of the Year (Male): Anaru Paul (Hamilton City Tigers)
Grassroots Club of the Year: Taniwharau (Waikato)
Domestic Coach of the Year: Andrew Auimatagi (Canterbury)
Match Official of the Year: Chris McMillan (Auckland)
2018 NZRL Awards:
Kiwis Player of the Year – Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Sydney Roosters)
Kiwi Ferns Player of the Year – Honey Hireme (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Kiwis Rookie of the Year – Ken Maumalo (NZ Warriors)
Kiwi Ferns Rookie of the Year – Onjeurlina Leiataua (NZ Warriors)
Junior Player of the Year – Isaiah Papali’I (NZ Warriors)
NZRL Premier Player of the Year – Francis Leger (Akarana, Auckland)
Domestic Coach of the Year – Keith Hanley (Akarana, Auckland)
Match Official of the Year – Paki Parkinson (Upper Central, Bay of Plenty)
NZ 16s Player of the Year – Sione Moala (Counties Manukau, Auckland)
NZ 18s Player of the Year – Tyler Slade (NZ Warriors)
Grassroots Club of the Year – South Pacific Raiders (Southern, Otago)
Pirtek Male Volunteer of the Year – Lawrence Erihe (Mid Central, Manawatu)
Pirtek Female Volunteer of the Year – Karen Gibbons (Akarana, Auckland)
2017 NZRL Awards:
Kiwis Player of the Year – Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (NZ Warriors)
Kiwis Rookie of the Year – Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Melbourne Storm)
Domestic Player of the Year – Aaron Jolley (Upper Central/Waikato)
Domestic Coach of the Year – Morgan Kutia (Waikato)
Junior Player of the Year – Isaiah Papali’i (NZ Warriors)
18s Player of the Year – Tyler Slade (NZ Warriors)
16s Player of the Year – Christian Tuipulotu (Akarana)
Women’s Player of the Year – Apii Nicholls-Pualau (Counties Manukau)
Match Official of the Year – Chris McMillan (Counties Manukau)
Male Volunteer of the Year – Jack Newson (Southern/Hornby)
Female Volunteer of the Year – Chantez Connor (Northland/Portland)
Grassroots Club of the Year – Taniwharau (Upper Central/Huntly)
2016 NZRL Awards:
Kiwis Player of the Year – Jesse Bromwich (Melbourne Storm)
Kiwis Rookie of the Year – Jordan Rapana (Canberra Raiders)
Domestic Player of the Year – Daniel Palavi (Counties Manukau)
Domestic Coach of the Year – Andrew Auimatagi (Southern)
Junior Player of the Year – James Fisher-Harris (Penrith Panthers)
18s Player of the Year – Chanel Harris-Tavita (NZ Warriors)
16s Player of the Year – Jordan Riki (Southern)
Women’s Player of the Year – Sarina Fiso (Counties Manukau)
Match Official of the Year – Chris McMillan (Counties Manukau)
Male Volunteer of the Year – Shane Price (Counties Manukau)
Female Volunteer of the Year – Nickie Tane (Upper Central)
Grassroots Club of the Year – He Tauaa (Southern)
2014 NZRL Awards:
Kiwis Player of the Year – Simon Mannering (NZ Warriors)
Kiwis Rookie of the Year – Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys)
Domestic Player of the Year – Ken Tofilau (Southern)
Junior Player of the Year – Sam Lisone (NZ Warriors)
18s Player of the Year – Reuben Porter (Akarana)
16s Player of the Year – Rory Ferguson (Southern)
Women’s Player of the Year – Atawhai Tupaea (Counties Manukau)
Match Official of the Year – Anthony Eliot
Male Volunteer of the Year – Jasen McCarthy (Akarana)
Female Volunteer of the Year – Maree Hawkins (Upper Central)
Grassroots Club of the Year – Hornby Panthers (Southern)
2012 NZRL Awards:
Grassroots Club of the Year: Manukau Rugby League Club (Counties Manukau)
Volunteer Recognition Award (Female): Stella Teariki (Wellington) & Rawinia Mana (Counties Manukau)
Volunteer Recognition Award (Male): John Boyd (Akarana)
Match Official of the Year: Shane Rehm
Women’s Player of the Year: Honey Hireme (Counties Manukau)
Domestic Player of the Year:
16s: Bunty Afoa (Akarana)
18s: Kouma Samson (Akarana)
Premiers: Suaia Matagi (Akarana)
Junior Player of the Year: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Sydney Roosters)
Kiwi Rookie of the Year: Ben Henry (Warriors)
Kiwi Player of the Year: Jeremy Smith (Cronulla Sharks)
Also presented on the night:
RLIF International Rookie of the Year: Shaun Johnson (NZ)
2011 NZRL Awards:
Grassroots Club of the Year: Porirua Vikings (Wellington)
Volunteer Recognition Award (Female): Kylee Matenga (Wellington)
Volunteer Recognition Award (Male): Chris Hansen (Christchurch)
Match Official of the Year: Henry Perenara
Women’s Player of the Year: Akenehe Pereira (Wellington)
Domestic Player of the Year: Matt Everitt (Wellington)
Junior Player of the Year: Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys)
Kiwi Rookie of the Year: Shaun Johnson (Vodafone Warriors)
Kiwi Player of the Year: Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers)
2010 NZRL Awards:
Grassroots Club of the Year: Halswell (Christchurch)
Volunteer Recognition Award (Female): Jenny Nahu (Rotorua)
Volunteer Recognition Award (Male): Frank Gibson (West Coast)
Referee of the Year: Shane Rehm
Women’s Player of the Year: Sarina Fiso (Auckland)
Domestic Player of the Year: Saulala Houma (Auckland)
Centenary Committee Award: Duncan Mclean recognition
Junior Player of the Year: Matt Duffie (Melbourne)
International Rookie of the Year: Lewis Brown (Vodafone Warriors)
International Player of the Year: Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Sydney Roosters)
Special Recognition Award: Nathan Cayless (Parramatta)
2009 NZRL Awards:
Referee of the Year: Leon Williamson
Kiwi Ferns Player of the Year: Tarsha Tapu
Domestic Player of the Year: Johnny Aranga
Young Player of the Year: Jesse Parete
International Rookie of the Year: Junior Sa’u
International Player of the Year: Adam Blair
Coach of the Year: Brian McClennan