10 locked in for 2024 Players’ Champion Finalists

The Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) is excited to announce the 10 players who are the 2024 Players’ Champion Finalists, as voted by NRL and NRLW players.

The ten Finalists are the players who received the top five greatest number of votes from their peers from their respective NRL and NRLW competitions.

2024 Players’ Champion Finalists from the NRL

Angus Crichton
Stephen Crichton
Addin Fonua-Blake
Jahrome Hughes
James Tedesco

2024 Players’ Champion Finalists from the NRLW

Abbi Church
Isabelle Kelly
Olivia Kernick
Julia Robinson
Tamika Upton

James Tedesco has a chance to make history with the three-time Players’ Champion winner (2017, 2019, 2022) in contention to equal Johnathan Thurston’s record of four Players’ Champion awards.

Tedesco is the only Finalist to be a previous winner of the award, while Addin Fonua-Blake was a 2023 Players’ Champion Finalist.

The five Players Champion Finalists from the NRLW are all in contention to win their first ever Players’ Champion award.

Jahrome Hughes, Isabelle Kelly, and Olivia Kernick are all named to play in this weekend’s Grand Finals.

The individual winners of the 2024 Players’ Champion from both competitions will be announced on Channel Nine’s Sunday Footy Show during the host broadcaster’s Grand Final coverage from Accor Stadium this Sunday October 6.

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 number of votes across all teams is awarded The Players’ Champion.

Players’ Champion Winners:

• 2023 Shaun Johnson & Teagen Berry
• 2022 James Tedesco (3) & Raecene McGregor
• 2021 Tom Trbojevic & Emma Tonegato
• 2020 Nathan Cleary & Hannah Southwell
• 2019 James Tedesco (2) & Jessica Sergis
• 2018 Kalyn Ponga & Simaima Taufa
• 2017 James Tedesco (1)
• 2016 Jason Taumalolo
• 2015 Johnathan Thurston (4)
• 2014 Johnathan Thurston (3)
• 2013 Johnathan Thurston (2)
• 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 (1)
• 2004 Danny Buderus