NRL 2022: Every club's Player of the Year and award winners

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It’s awards season and, as we roll through the finals and towards the Dally M and RLPA Players’ Champion awards, individual clubs are handing out their annual gongs.

Below is the rolling list of recipients of each club’s major awards as they are announced for 2022.

BRISBANE BRONCOS – PAUL MORGAN MEDAL

2022 WINNER: Payne Haas 

Who's Paul Morgan?: Paul 'Porky' Morgan, who died in 2001, represented Queensland as a player and was a former team-mate of Wayne Bennett at Toowoomba. He also played for Redcliffe but is best remembered as the co-founder of the Broncos.

Cyril Connell Award - Rookie of the Year: Ezra Mam

Gary Balkin Award - Players' Player: Corey Oates

Kevin Walters Award - Most Consistent: Patrick Carrigan

Allan Langer Award - Best Back: Adam Reynolds

Shane Webcke Award - Best Forward: Payne Haas

Club Person of the Year: Adam Reynolds

2021 medal winner: Payne Haas

CANBERRA RAIDERS – MAL MENINGA MEDAL

2022 WINNER: Joseph Tapine

Who’s Mal Meninga?: You may have heard of him: current Kangaroos coach and head of performance at the Titans. Dabbled a little bit in the Origin arena as Queensland’s coach. Pretty handy player as well – so much so that he was named an Immortal in 2018. Really – still not ringing a bell? 

NRL Coaches Award: Hudson Young

Peter Mulholland NRL Rookie of the Year: Brad Schneider   

NSW Cup Player of the Year: Peter Hola

NSW Cup Coaches Award: Ata Mariota

Jersey Flegg Player of the Year: Steven Numambo

Jersey Flegg Coaches’ award: Loghan Lewis

Gordon McLucas Memorial Junior Representative Player of the Year: Michael Asomua

2021 medal winner: Jordan Rapana

CANTERBURY BULLDOGS – DR GEORGE PEPONIS AWARD

2022 WINNER: Jeremy Marshall-King

Who is Dr George Peponis?: George Peponis is a Greek-born Bulldogs legend and former captain, having played 132 career games and won the NSWRFL premiership with the club in 1980. On top of this, he captained New South Wales between 1976 and 1980, and represented Australia on eight occasions. Post-football, Peponis was elected as Chairman of the Bulldogs in 2002 following the club's 2002 salary cap scandal, but has since stepped down from the club's board to take up the position of New South Wales chairman.

Coaches Award: Max King

Steve Mortimer Rookie of the Year: Jacob Kiraz

Members' Player of the Year: Matt Burton

Peter Warren Community Service Medal: Raymond Faitala-Mariner

Terry Lamb NSW Cup Player of the Year: Jackson Topine

Hazem El Masri Jersey Flegg Player of the Year: Bailey Hayward

2021 medal winner: Josh Jackson

CRONULLA SHARKS – PORTER-GALLEN MEDAL

2022 WINNER: Nicho Hynes

Who's Monty Porter?:  Monty Porter was the inaugural captain of the Cronulla Sharks' NSWRL side. He played 22 games for the club in 1967 before retiring from the game. Prior to his career with Cronulla, Porter played as a forward for Western Suburbs and St. George

Tommy Bishop Player's Player: Briton Nikora

Members Player of the Year: Nicho Hynes

Steve Rogers Rookie of the Year: Lachlan Miller

2021 medal winner:  Will Kennedy

GOLD COAST TITANS – PAUL BROUGHTON MEDAL

2022 WINNER: Tino Fa'asuamaleaui

Who's Paul Broughton?:  Paul Broughton is a former chairman of the Gold Coast Titans who was integral in their foundation and inclusion in the NRL. He is also a former rugby league player and coach, perhaps best remembered for coaching Balmain during the 1970s.

Rookie of the Year: Jojo Fifita 

Members MVP: AJ Brimson 

Coaches’ Award: AJ Brimson 

“The Preston”: Brian Kelly 

2021 medal winner: Tino Fa'asuamaleaui

MANLY SEA EAGLES – ROY BULL AWARD

2022 WINNER: Lachlan Croker

Who’s Roy Bull?: Bull was one of the foundation members of the Sea Eagles, having played 13 years for the club since its inception in 1947. He played 182 games for Manly up until his retirement and was the club's first international when he toured New Zealand in 1949 as part of his 22 test appearances.

NRL Players’ Player Award: Kieran Foran

NRL Leading Try Scorer Award: Reuben Garrick

Gordon Willoughby Medallion (Members player): Daly Cherry-Evans

NRL Leading Point Scorer Award: Reuben Garrick

Ken Arthurson Rising Star Award: Tolu Koula

Steve Menzies Medal for the Play of the Year: Lachlan Croker

Doug Daley Club Person of the Year Award: Shelley O’Malley

NRL Club Community Award: Sean Keppie

2021 Medal winner: Tom Trbojevic

MELBOURNE STORM - CAMERON SMITH PLAYER OF THE YEAR

2022 WINNER: Cameron Munster

Who's Cameron Smith? Go get some fresh air. Seriously?

Redzed Members’ Player of the Year: Cameron Munster

Billy Slater Rookie of the Year: Tyran Wishart

Most Improved Player: Marion Seve

Best Forward of the Year: Harry Grant

Best Back of the Year: Nick Meaney/Ryan Papenhuyzen (tie)

Try of the Year: Ryan Papenhuyzen (round 7)

Cooper Cronk Feeder Player of the Year Award: Sua Fa’alogo

Greg Brentnall Young Achievers Award: Jared Nauma

Under-21s Darren Bell Medal: Cole Geyer

Michael Moore Award Clubperson of the Year: Daniel Di Pasqua

Chairman’s Award: Aaron Rizzatt

2021 Medal Winner: Jahrome Hughes

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS – DANNY BUDERUS MEDAL

2022 WINNER: Tyson Frizell

Who's Danny Buderus?:  Danny Buderus is widely regarded as one of the greatest Knights players of all time. A New South Wales and Australian representative player, Buderus played hooker in the Knights' 2001 Grand Final win. He's also one of only two Knights players to win the Dally Medal, taking home the top honour in 2004. These days, Buderus is the Knights' General Manager of Football

Players' Player of the Year: David Klemmer

Rookie of the Year: Leo Thompson

Old Boys Gladiator of the Year: Dominic Young

Community Player of the Year: Jayden Brailey

Knight in Shining Armour: Dominic Young

NSW Cup Players' Player - Luke Huth

NSW Cup Player of the Year - Luke Huth

2021 medal winner: Jacob Saifiti

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS – SIMON MANNERING MEDAL

2022 WINNER: Euan Aitken

Who's Simon Mannering?:  Simon Mannering is the most-capped Warrior of all time, chalking up 301 appearances for the club between 2005 and 2018. Mannering captain the team in their 2011 NRL Grand Final loss and appeared for the New Zealand international team on 45 occasions - the fourth most of any player.

NRL Players’ Player of the Year: Tohu Harris

Vodafone NRL Rookie of the Year: Viliami Vailea

People's Choice: Reece Walsh

Canterbury of NZ Clubman of the Year: Bunty Afoa/Ben Murdoch-Masila

2021 medal winner: Tohu Harris

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS – PAUL BOWMAN MEDAL

2022 WINNER: Jason Taumalolo

Who's Paul Bowman?:  One of the club's foundation players, Paul Bowman played his entire NRL career with the Cowboys. He chalked up 203 first grade appearances for the club and played in their 2005 grand final-losing side. In 2018, Bowman was appointed the Head of Sports Science at the Cowboys. 

Club Person of the Year: Tom Gilbert

Rookie of the Year: Jeremiah Nanai

Players Player of the Year: Tom Dearden

2021 medal winner: Coen Hess

PARRAMATTA EELS – KEN THORNETT MEDAL

2022 WINNER: Shaun Lane

Who’s Ken Thornett?: Thornett was a dual code superstar, making his name for the Eels during the 1960s. The 'King of Parramatta' played 136 first-grade games for the club, helping transform the Eels from a struggling team into a competitive side. He was named one of the greatest 100 players in the first 100 years of rugby league and he was recognised with the Western grandstand being named in his honour in the newly built Bankwest Stadium.

Players' Player Award: Shaun Lane

Jack Gibson NRL Coaches Award: Mitchell Moses

Blue and Gold Army Award: Dylan Brown

Rookie of the Year: Ky Rodwell

Ray Price Community Award: Dylan Brown 

2021 medal winner: Isaiah Papali'i

PENRITH PANTHERS – MERV CARTWRIGHT MEDAL

2022 WINNER: Dylan Edwards

Who's Merv Cartwright?: The Cartwright name almost needs no introduction when it comes to Penrith. Merv was a key figure in getting the Panthers first entered into the NSWRL competition in 1997, and was eventually named the club's first secretary. Merv Cartwright is the father of David, Michael, Cliff and John, who all wore the Panthers jersey, whilst his grandson's Jed (present) and Bryce (2014-2017) have more recently played for the Panthers.

Members Player of the Year: Dylan Edwards

John Farragher Award for Courage and Determination: James Fisher-Harris

Ben Alexander Rookie of the Year: Taylan May

NSW Cup Player of the Year: J’maine Hopgood

2021 medal winner: Nathan Cleary

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS – GEORGE PIGGINS MEDAL

2022 WINNER: Tevita Tatola

Who's George Piggins?:  Piggins played 118 games for Souths in the 1960s and 70s and went on to coach the club during the late 1980s. However, he is perhaps best remembered for his role in helping the Rabbitohs to return to the NRL following the Super League War.

Jack Rayner Players' Player: Campbell Graham

Roy Asotasi Members' Choice: Cameron Murray

John Sattler Rookie of the Year: Lachlan Ilias

Bob McCarthy Clubman of the Year: Jacob Host

The Burrow Appreciation Award: Alex Johnston

Souths Cares Community Champion: Cody Walker

2021 medal winner: Cody Walker

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS - PLAYER OF THE YEAR

2022 WINNER: Ben Hunt

Red V Members' Player of the Year: Ben Hunt

Immortals' Trophy: Blake Lawrie

Geoff Selby Memorial Trophy for Best Emerging Talent: Mat Feagai

NSW Cup Player of the Year: Jaiyden Hunt

NSW Cup Coach's Award: Jackson Ford

Jersey Flegg Player of the Year: Zach Herring

2021 medal winner: Ben Hunt

SYDNEY ROOSTERS – JACK GIBSON MEDAL

2022 WINNER: James Tedesco

Who's Jack Gibson?:  Few names in rugby league are as recognisable as Jack Gibson. Gibson is generally thought to be one of the greatest coaches in Australian rugby league history, guiding the Roosters to two premiership wins and Parramatta to three. In 2008, he was named the coach of the Australian Rugby League's Team Of The Century.

James Mathews Clubman of the Year: Joey Manu

Harry Phipps Rising Star Award: Joseph Suaalii

Roosters Our Community Award: Angus Crichton

Members Player of the Year: James Tedesco

2021 medal winner: James Tedesco

WESTS TIGERS – KELLY-BARNES MEDAL

2022 WINNER: Joe Ofahengaue

Who are Noel Kelly and Keith Barnes?: Barnes, AKA Golden Boots, was a Test fullback who starred for Balmain for 194 games before going on to coach the Tigers 46 times. In 2007 he was inducted in the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame. In 2009 he had a stand at Leichhardt Oval named after him.Noel Kelly is also a member of the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame, but comes from the Western Suburbs Magpies.Kelly played 111 times for the Magpies from 1961-69 and coached 85 times from 1966-69 before later moving on to North Sydney. He was chosen at hooker in both the Australian Rugby League and Queensland Team of the Century.

NRL Players' Player: Daine Laurie

Rookie of the Year: Fonua Pole

Wayne Pearce Community Award: Luke Garner

NSW Cup Player of the Year: Tom Freebairn

NSW Cup Players’ Player: Junior Pauga

Jersey Flegg Player of the Year: James Valevatu

Jersey Flegg Players’ Player: Tray Lolesio      

2021 award winner: Luke Brooks and Daine Laurie

Author(s)
Liam O'Loughlin Photo

Liam is a content producer for The Sporting News Australia.