One New Zealand Warriors players Mitchell Barnett, Addin Fonua-Blake, Te Maire Martin and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck join 64 players from the other 16 NRL clubs as contenders named today for the 2024 Players’ Champion (NRL) award.
After being pipped by one point for the Dally M Medal last year, Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson won the prestigious Players’ Champion accolade judged by his peers.
The contenders for the award – four from each club – are selected by the RLPA’s player leaders from every club.
The 68 contenders are now eligible to be voted for by NRL players with the winner to be announced on NRL grand final day on October 6.
The four One New Zealand Warriors named:
Barnett, who made his Origin debut for New South Wales this year, was a force throughout the One New Zealand Warriors’ season. Missing just one of the club’s 24 matches due to Origin duty, he played his 150th career match, scored four tries, averaged a career-best 149 metres a game (along with 15 runs and 32 tackles) while he finished with 1408 post-contact metres, 46 tackle breaks and 28 off loads.
Fonua-Blake, who made the RLPA’s Dream Team last year, was consistently impressive in his final season with the club. He also appeared in 23 of the 24 games and was the team’s top try-scoring forward with eight. His game averages included a career-best 175 metres a game (topping last year’s 171) from 14 runs with 27 tackles. He leads all players in the competition for most post-contact metres (1698) while he had 84 tackle breaks and 24 off loafs.
Martin made 16 appearances, scoring five tries. He finished with a career-best 16 try assists and 14 line break assists. He averaged 82 metres, 19 tackles and 161 kicking metres a game.
Tuivasa-Sheck, who was used at centre, wing and fullback, played 18 times and brought up his 200-game career milestone. Scoring five tries, he averaged 182 metres and had seven line breaks.
About The Players’ Champion voting:
The contenders’ list is composed of four players from each club who are nominated to be eligible for The Players’ Champion individual award.
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 players are then eligible to receive Players’ Champion votes from their NRL peers in the end-of-season poll.
Voting is open to all contracted NRL 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 most votes across all teams is awarded The Players’ Champion.
