NRL 2024: Every club’s Player of the Year award winners
Max Plath took the honours at the Dolphins on a night in which Jesse Bromwich was almost brought to tears as his teammates farewelled him with a haka. See which players were acknowledged at every club’s awards night.
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Keep up to date with the winners from each NRL club’s Player of the Year ceremonies for 2024.
This list will be updated as award winners are announced.
THE DOLPHINS
– Travis Meyn
The Dolphins produced a rousing haka to farewell retiring skipper Jesse Bromwich as Broncos reject Max Plath capped a remarkable season by being crowned the club’s player of the year.
Plath received the Arthur Beetson Medal at the Dolphins’ awards ceremony on Thursday night in Brisbane to wrap up the NRL expansion club’s second season.
While Plath won the big gong, Bromwich was sent off in style as brother Kenny led the club’s Kiwi contingent in a stirring haka to say goodbye to the 338-game NRL legend.
Kiwis Valynce Te Whare, Jamayne Isaako, Kodi Nikorima and Connelly Lemuelu were among the Dolphins players to join the haka, which left Bromwich near tears.
“I’ve tried not to get caught up too much in the emotional side of it,” Bromwich said.
“I feel very grateful to have had the career I have. I was lucky enough to be coached by Craig Bellamy (Melbourne Storm) and then Wayne Bennett.
“The thing I enjoyed the most was the opportunity to play with my brother. He’s played 250 games and I played in the majority of those.”
The son of four-time Broncos premiership winner John Plath, Max was on a train-and-trial contract with Brisbane before he was snapped up by the Dolphins.
While the Broncos dithered, former Dolphins recruitment manager Peter O’Sullivan spotted Plath’s determination, work ethic and character.
And he has been proven right following a tremendous effort for the Dolphins in their second NRL season.
Plath, 22, made his NRL debut for the Dolphins last year but only played two games.
That meant he was still eligible for the Dally M rookie of the year award this season, however a two-match suspension ultimately ruled him out of contention.
Plath punched out 21 matches this year, stepping into the void of injured lock Tom Gilbert before replacing gun hooker Jeremy Marshall-King in the back end of the season.
He was a comprehensive winner of the Beetson Medal.
A tenacious defender who’s the fittest player at Redcliffe, Plath averaged 68 minutes and 40 tackles per match. He never stopped moving when on the field.
He was also crowned the club’s best forward and the Dolphins’ players’ player, highlighting his popularity within the squad.
“I want to thank everyone for giving me an opportunity this year,” Plath said.
“I wanted to put my best foot forward for the team and try my best every week for the boys.
“I felt like I did my best. We fell a bit short but we’ll be better next year.
“It’s an unreal club and I love the Dolphins.”
Broncos recruit Herbie Farnworth won best back in his first season at the Dolphins while veteran prop Mark Nicholls was judged most consistent.
Winger Jack Bostock claimed rookie of the year honours after scoring 14 tries in 23 games.
Dolphins awards
* Best Back: Herbie Farnworth
* Best Forward: Max Plath
* Player’s Player: Max Plath
* Most Consistent Player: Mark Nicholls
* Rookie of the Year: Jack Bostock
* Fan MVP: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
* Academic Achievement: Tom Gilbert
* Club Person of the Year: Natalie Campbell
SOUTH SYDNEY
Jack Wighton has been awarded the George Piggins Medal as the Rabbitohs’ Best and Fairest player for 2024 in his first season with the club.
* NRL Player of the Year: Jack Wighton
* Players’ Player: Jack Wighton
* Clubperson of the Year: Ben Lovett
* Rookie of the Year: Jye Gray
* The Burrow Appreciation Award: Jai Arrow
* Members’ Choice Award: Cameron Murray
* Souths Cares Award (Community): Ben Lovett
CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Coming back from a tough year that saw him make just nine appearances, Viliame Kikau was a force to be reckoned with throughout the 2024 season and was rewarded after being named as the 2024 Dr George Peponis Medallist.
* Player of the Year Award: Viliame Kikau
* NRL Players’ Player: Jacob Kiraz
* Rookie of the Year: Bailey Hayward
* Community Service Award: Toby Sexton
* Members Player of the Year: Stephen Crichton
* Club person of the Year: Stephen Crichton
* Coaches Award: Toby Sexton
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Jaydn Su’A claimed his maiden Dragons Medal as the NRL side’s Player of the Year in his third season with the Red V.
* NRL Player of the Year: Jaydn Su’A
* Immortals Trophy: Tom Eisenhuth
* Emerging Talent: Lyhkan King-Togia
* Red V Members Player of the Year: Zac Lomax
* Mark Coyne Trophy for Career Development: Jesse Marschke
* Community Involvement Award: Jacob Liddle
* Club person of the year: Ben Murdoch-Masila
MANLY WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Tom Trbojevic has claimed the Club’s NRL Roy Bull ‘Best and Fairest’ Award for season 2024. Trbojevic is just the fourth player to have won the award three times, having already claimed it in 2016 and 2021.
* NRL Player of the Year: Tom Trbojevic
* NRL Players’ Player Award: Tom Trbojevic
* Gordon Willoughby Medallion: Daly Cherry-Evans
* Rising Star Award: Lehi Hopoate
* Menzies Medal for the Play of the Year: Jake Trbojevic
* Manly Mentality Award: Tommy Talau
* Club Person of the Year Award: Lachlan Croker
* Club Wellbeing and Education Award: Karl Lawton
* Club Community Award: Jake Trbojevic
GOLD COAST TITANS
Fullback Keano Kini has been crowned the 2024 Paul Broughton medallist in just his second year of NRL football.
* NRL Player of the Year: Keano Kini
* Wellbeing & Education Award: Ben Liyou
* Members’ NRL MVP: Jayden Campbell
* Rookie of the Year: Josiah Pahulu
* Players’ Player: Brian Kelly
CANBERRA RAIDERS
Joe Tapine has won his third consecutive Meninga Medal and was announced as the club captain for 2025.
* Meninga Medal (NRL) – Joe Tapine
* Meninga Medal (NRLW) – Simaima Taufa
* NRL Coaches’ Award – Kaeo Weekes
* NRLW Coaches’ Award – Chanté Temara
* Rookie of the Year – Ethan Strange
* NRLW Rookie of the Year – Relna Wuruki-Hosea
* Club Person of the Year – Josh Papalii
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Centre Dane Gagai has taken home the three major honours including the Danny Buderus Medal for Player of the Year.
* Player of the Year: Dane Gagai
* NRL Players’ Player: Dane Gagai
* Gladiator of the Year: Dane Gagai
* Rookie of the Year: Fletcher Sharpe
* Community Player of the Year: Dylan Lucas
* Knight in Shining Armour: Tyson Frizell
WARRIORS
Mitchell Barnett capped an impressive second year with the Warriors by capturing the Simon Mannering Medal at the club’s 30th annual awards.
* NRL Player of the Year: Mitchell Barnett
* Players’ Player of the Year: Addin Fonua-Blake
* Clubman of the Year: Luke Metcalf
* Rookie of the Year: Jacob Laban
* One New Zealand Warriors Peoples’ Choice: Mitchell Barnett
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Originally published as NRL 2024: Every club’s Player of the Year award winners
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