Lucy Aigea, Isaac Seden-Kurnoth among standout performers from NRL NT 2024 season
The NRL NT has produced another big season, with plenty of exciting talent on show from game breakers to play makers. We’ve ranked the top 25 men and women here.
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It’s been another big season in the NRL NT with players from every club making their mark on what has been an incredibly tight season.
The Palmerston women claimed the minor premiership, mirroring the efforts of the Nightcliff Dragons in the men’s competition.
But it was the Darwin Brothers who earned themselves direct passage into the grand final in both competitions, and will be tough sides to beat.
We’ve created a list of some of the standout players from the season that was, and while a few names will have been unlucky to miss out it truly has been a tight season at the top.
WOMEN
10. Teka Voysey (Litchfield Bears)
Voysey made the switch from Northern Sharks to Litchfield this season, and has played a key role in their drive towards the top.
Year on year the Bears women have improved and the added pace and direct attacking skills that Voysey offers has helped lift them yet another level.
9. Tamara Madzika (Northern Sharks)
Madzika has long been one of the top running talents in the NRL NT women’s competition with her raw pace able to splinter defences.
Is a great carrier with the ability to read the play ahead and choose her lines well in order to race towards a score.
8. Cassielia Wapau (Darwin Brothers)
Wapau has long been one of the standouts of the Darwin Brothers women’s outfit, but she’s had to take a bigger step up this year with intermittent absences of other key players.
The forward was her sides top try scorer with 11 to her name based off her powerful running and ability to crash through opposition defences.
7. Tokerau Munro (Northern Sharks)
Munro has been a big leader in the Sharks squad in 2024, and usually a catalyst in what goes right for the side.
She’s one of the players who is looked to when Sharks need some inspiration, whether in a defensive effort or setting up a score for her strike players.
Highly rated by those around her and one of the top names in contention for this year’s best and fairest.
6. Meg Clohesy (Litchfield Bears)
Clohesy has emerged as one of the real leaders at the Litchfield Bears in recent years, and makes a concentrated effort to bring those traits to the field each week.
Works well in tandem with her playing-coach Shari Togo, who is one of the standouts in her own right, and offers 100 per cent in effort for her Bears.
One of the standouts in attack with seven tries to her name, while also being one to deliver tackle after tackle when she’s in position.
5. Latoniya Norris (Darwin Brothers)
Norris has been one of the stars of NT Rugby League in recent years, and that hasn’t changed with her only down a few places due to playing less matches this season.
The 2020 Gaynor Maggs winner is a true game breaker able to counter attack from fullback like no one else can and usually makes plenty of metres through her blistering pace.
She has had a sensational year outside of club footy, with selection into the PNG Orchids for the Prime Ministers’ Cup and joining club mate Ellie Niki at the North Queensland Cowboys preseason
4. Victoria Alley (Palmerston Raiders)
A real leader in this Palmerston squad that has ambitions of claiming their second ever women’s premiership, after securing the 2024 minor premiership.
Her kicking game is a perfect complement to her side’s power forwards ensuring when they’re on the front foot, they stay there.
Her ability off the tee is equally as crucial and is often the difference between a win and a loss in the tight games.
3. Kagui Gimini (Palmerston Raiders)
Palmerston’s star back has only built on her strong form from 2023, and has arguably pulled off an even better season in 2024.
Her Raiders sit top of the table at the close of the regular season, and it’s in no small part down to Gimini’s contributions along the way with 17 tries to her name.
An ever-present in team of the year mentions throughout her time at Palmerston her pace with ball in hand is particularly hard to match.
2. Ellie Niki (Darwin Brothers)
The reigning Gaynor Maggs medal winner has once again been one of the big difference makers for the Darwin Brothers outfit.
The forward stepped up into the vice-captain role and is as much a leader with her voice as she is with her actions and ability to take on any defence.
Niki got her chance to show off her talent on a bigger stage this year with selection into the Cowboys NRLW preseason squad, alongside Latoniya Norris.
1. Lucy Aigea (Palmerston Raiders)
The forward has been an absolute weapon for the Palmerston Raiders once again busting through defensive lines, no matter who she squares up against.
With 14 tries to her name from the regular season she trailed only her teammate Gimini, which isn’t bad for a player known for setting the foundation for strike moves.
A minor premiership finish would have pleased her Raiders, and they will all be looking for her when push comes to shove in the weeks ahead.
Honourable mentions: Bianca Scrymgour (Brothers), Juliette Leiataua (Palmerston), Rekeisha Humes (Sharks), Emma Forsyth (Litchfield)
MEN
15. Matthew Woolmington (Litchfield Bears)
Woolmington was one of the big leaders of the 2024 Litchfield group both on the field and off the ground.
The half took is game to another level this season with his effort and organisation through his kicking game keeping everyone else in order.
14. Shaun Wauchope (Nightcliff Dragons)
The Nightcliff bulldozer has always been a danger player, but with a better, more consistent group around him this year’s he’s been able to excel.
Wauchope is always a handful for any opposition defence, often requiring more than one defender to bring him to a halt, and when they don’t it’s try time.
13. Jonas Niki (Darwin Brothers)
Niki has enjoyed one of his best seasons in the blue and white, taking his game to another level after taking on the captaincy for 2024.
The forward is an able contributor across the pitch whether it’s doing the grunt work in the carry or playing a key part in Brothers’ razzle dazzle style of attack.
12. Simaika Salaa (Northern Sharks)
When players like Salaa returned to the fold this season so too did the Sharks begin to race up the ladder after their slow start to the season.
And he’s brought the exact form the Sharks need heading into finals with his direct running and ball handling skills perfectly complimenting his side’s power game.
Is a frequent try scorer, with the extra time winner to his name from the knock out semi, and works very well in tandem with his fellow backs such as Bailey Zaro.
11. Blake Blomley (Palmerston Raiders)
Blomley has transformed into a fleet-footed middle forward across the past couple of seasons, and it’s been to the benefit of the Raiders.
They may not be playing finals this season, but a lot of their best moments throughout 2024 have come from this man.
He’s a strong carrier who has the pace off the mark to test opposition defences and often break through them.
10. Darcy Holmes (Darwin Brothers)
Brothers’ man in the trenches who does all the little things right to ensure their x-factor players get to show off on attack.
Holmes is a tackling machine and always offers himself as an option to run into contact and set a platform for his backs. A real hard grafter.
9. David Jacobson (Litchfield Bears)
Jacobson has yet again been one of the key cogs in this young Litchfield group with his ability to play anywhere in the backs.
He scored 13 tries this season and when he wasn’t the scorer himself was often the catalyst in scoring chances for those around him such as Julius Appo and Jake Flanagan.
His elusive running has so often been a feature for his outfit, while his ability to set up a score is rated highly by anyone who has seen him play.
8. David Tabuai (Nightcliff Dragons)
As the joint skipper for the 2024 season, Tabuai has put together one of his most consistent seasons for the Dragons in recent years.
He has always been an attacking threat, but this year he has had the players around him to make wins possible.
His leadership has helped inspire Nightcliff out from the dip they found themselves in for a couple of years and into genuine title contenders.
7. Adam Hall (Northern Sharks)
A battering ram in the truest sense of the term, who has somehow brought another level to his running game in 2024.
Hall is known for his aggression both on the tackle and in the carry, but this year has also added the captaincy to his set of responsibilities.
Forces the opposition to commit more defenders than they might like every time he touches the ball.
6. Trey Crowley (Nightcliff Dragons)
A workhorse for the red, green and white outfit who never gives an inch whether on the tackle or looking for an opportunity down field.
Has one of the moments of the season when he scored a thrilling sideline conversion after the buzzer to draw with Sharks, the difference between Dragons getting the minor premiership and not.
5. Jacob McCarthy (Northern Sharks)
There’s probably few greater sights for Sharks supporters than when they see McCarthy running on to the ball from 10m out, knowing a try will most likley be theirs.
The big man has pulled off those charging runs all season, and it’s a testament to his strength and power that he’s often a focus point of opposition defences.
When Sharks have suffered for personnel he’s been there providing the go forward that those around him feed off.
4. Caleb Niki (Darwin Brothers)
He may not be scoring tries at the rate he was in 2023, but that’s more because he’s taken on a different role than losing his edge.
Niki has moved from full back into the second row in 2024 incidentally the role he sometimes occupied in Brothers’ 2020 premiership winning season.
The reigning Frank Johnson winner is known for his flair, safe set of hands and danger in attack, and this season has become just as good at setting his team up for tries as he is at finishing them off.
3. Trent Wedding (Litchfield Bears)
Litchfield’s captain has enjoyed another strong season leading from the front once again, albeit in a slightly different position this season.
Despite his size he puts his both on the line each and every week and is rated by many at the Bears as one of the toughest players in the league.
Is always looking to put his side on the front foot and ensures they fight for every metre.
2. Robbie Butcher (Nightcliff Dragons)
The two-time Frank Johnson medalist did his chances of claiming a third no harm this season after playing a crucial role in the Dragons return to the top.
The play-maker gives his side direction and knows just how to get the most out of his players, and when he senses a move is on is the one to pull the trigger.
It’s probably no small coincidence that Nightcliff’s only real lapse in form this season coincided with Butcher being out of action.
1. Isaac Seden-Kurnoth (Darwin Brothers)
The young gun is well and truly a veteran of this Brothers outfit now, and wears the title with authority in one of his best individual seasons to date.
Seden-Kurnoth has topped the try scoring with 15 from 15 games as a half known for creating opportunities through his elusive running.
His stretch of high scoring games in the middle of the season saw his side skyrocket to the top of the table
As with any of these players it’s not just his attack that stands out but his effort in defence to keep his side on top too.
Honourable mentions: Jake Flanagan (Litchfield), Brenton Motlop (Nightcliff), Bailey Zaro (Sharks), Kieren Crowe (South Darwin),
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Originally published as Lucy Aigea, Isaac Seden-Kurnoth among standout performers from NRL NT 2024 season
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