Academic Player of the Year
Male Academic Player of the Year
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2023 Luke Keary
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2022 Rhys Kennedy
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2021 Tom Trbojevic
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2020 Anthony Don
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2019 Russell Packer
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2018 Dale Copley
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2017 Tim Mannah
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2016 Josh Jackson
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2015 David Gower & Siliva Havili (Education) & Sam Moa (Trade)
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2013 Bryan Norrie & Sam Perrett
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2012 Ben Creagh
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2011 John Palavi & Corey Payne
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2010 Chris Faust
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2009 Jerome Ropati
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2008 Alan Tongue
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2007 Luke Priddis
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2006 Matt Geyer & Rod Jensen
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2005 Steven Price
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2004 Matthew Gidley
Female Academic Player of the Year
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2023 Shenae Ciesiolka
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2022 Emma Tonegato
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2021 Tarryn Aiken
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2020 Kirra Dibb
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2019 Vanessa Foliaki
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2018 Kody House
FAQs – The Players’ Awards awards
The Players’ Awards are the Rugby League Players’ Associations awards and are voted for by NRL and NRLW players.
The Players’ Awards consist of:
(a) The Players’ Champion (NRL & NRLW)
(b) The Players’ Rookie of the Year (NRL & NRLW)
(c) The Players’ Dream Team (NRL & NRLW)
(d) The Dennis Tutty Award (NRL & NRLW)
An online survey is distributed to all contracted NRL and NRLW players.
For the individual The Players’ Champion award, players are asked to nominate in a 3/2/1 point system (3 being allocated to the player they believe has performed the best) their choice for the best performers in that season from the Contenders List (opposition players only).
Players also enter one vote for the Players’ Rookie of the Year, and a one (1) vote for each of the nine (9) positions to make up The Players’ Dream Team (13 players will make the final list).
This revised voting process was implemented in 2022.
To streamline the voting process, four players from each club are nominated as Contenders to be eligible for The Players’ Champion. This process takes place prior to the voting period, with RLPA Delegates and Player Leaders at each Club asked to put forward the three best players from their own team. An RLPA Working Group nominates a fourth player to round out the nomination process. In total, 64 players (four from each team) are eligible to receive votes in the end of season poll.
The Players’ Dream Team (NRL and NRLW) are awarded each season to the 13 best players voted by position, and players are eligible for selection in a position they primarily played for the relevant season.
This means a player cannot be eligible for selection in more than one position.
Each player will be able to nominate a maximum of one (1) player per position, out of the list of eligible players. Players can only vote for opposition players.
This revised voting process was revised and implemented for the 2021 NRLW season and 2022 NRL season.
The RLPA Board of Directors determine the winner of the Dennis Tutty award each year based on the following criteria.
The Dennis Tutty Award will be awarded annually to a current Rugby League Player who has demonstrated outstanding:
- Leadership on and off the field;
- Commitment to his fellow Players and to the advancement and protection of their rights; and
- Service and dedication to the game of Rugby League
RLPA staff are eligible to nominate a player for the Dennis Tutty Award and may do so by written application to the RLPA Board addressing the criteria above, with the final determination made by the RLPA Board.
