Simaima Taufa, Caitlin Moran snare top women’s awards at Brad Fittler Medal gala

THE crowd love her, her team admire her and now NSW and Jillaroos lock Simaima Taufa has been rewarded for her feats on the footy field with the Harvey Norman NSW State Player of the Year award.

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THE crowd love her, her team admire her and now NSW and Jillaroos lock Simaima Taufa has been rewarded for her feats on the footy field with the Harvey Norman NSW State Player of the Year award.

Taufa snared the prestigious award, voted on by her peers, at the Brad Fittler Medal gala dinner in Sydney on Monday night.

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Taufa was part of the victorious Blues side which defended its crown at the annual interstate women’s rugby league challenge at Wollongong in July.

NSW's Simaima Taufa during the Interstate Challenge won by NSW.

The Blues beat the Maroons 22-6 victory in the annual showdown — NSW’s second consecutive win after ending Queensland’s 17-years domination of the match in 2016.

Another major award for women on the night went to Caitlin Moran.

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Moran was named Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership Player of the Year after leading her North Newcastle side into the top four of the NSW women's’ premiership.

Caitlin Moran in her Jillaroos colours. Pic Jono Searle.

The talented centre also played a major role in the Blues’ interstate challenge victory and was named, alongside the likes of Maddie Studdon, Ruan Sims, Samantha Bremner, Kezie Apps and try-scoring sensation Jessica Sergis in the Jillaroos Merit squad post game.

Interstate Challenge players were on Monday night also given a silver bracelet with a charm on it commemorating the Blues win.