NRL 2024: Pat Carrigan wins Paul Morgan medal for Brisbane Broncos Player of the Season, ends Payne Haas’ five-year streak
Broncos ironman Pat Carrigan has dethroned Payne Haas by taking out Brisbane’s top individual award, ending his teammate’s five-year streak of taking out the honour. See the full awards and pictures from the Broncos presentation.
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Broncos ironman Pat Carrigan has finally dethroned superstar teammate Payne Haas by cleaning up at Brisbane’s awards night, including winning the prestigious Paul Morgan Medal.
Carrigan was the shining light of Brisbane’s disappointing 2024 season and his ultra-consistency was rewarded by taking out player-of-the-year honours at the annual Broncos ball on Thursday night.
More than 800 guests attended the gala awards night at Brisbane’s The Star casino and Carrigan walked away as the golden boy to break Haas’ stranglehold on the ‘Porky’ Morgan Medal.
Haas had won five consecutive player-of-the-year awards since 2019 – sharing the honour with Carrigan in 2020 – to equal the club record set by halfback icon Allan Langer.
But Carrigan has ended Haas’ remarkable streak, claiming his second Paul Morgan Medal, and first as a stand-alone winner, to underline why he is being groomed as Brisbane’s next captain.
The 26-year-old was a clear victor with 86 votes from Broncos coaches and players, finishing well ahead of Selwyn Cobbo (50), Kotoni Staggs (48), Haas (32), Reece Walsh (26), Corey Jensen (23) and Kobe Hetherington (22).
Aside from claiming the top gong, the Queensland and Origin lock also won the Shane Webcke Award for best forward, as well as the Gary Balkin Award for Brisbane’s players’ player.
Carrigan was a ray of hope in Brisbane’s freefall to 12th place this season. The vice-captain chalked up 22 appearances, charging for 3744 metres at a mark of 170m per game, while averaging 38 tackles at a remarkable 94 per cent efficiency.
The hard-working No.13, who celebrated his 100th NRL game in round 21 against the Bulldogs, also recorded 32 tackle busts and 29 offloads to show why he is one of the most consistent forwards in the code.
His industry was recognised by Australia coach Mal Meninga, who on Monday selected Carrigan in his Kangaroos squad for the upcoming Pacific Championships.
In other awards, tireless prop Corey Jensen was named most consistent, Kotoni Staggs took out the best back award and Jesse Arthars won the play-of-the-year gong for his superb try against the Storm in round 5.
Promising hooker Blake Mozer was honoured as rookie of the year after showing his class around the rucks in eight matches.
For Brisbane’s NRLW team, Broncos flyer Julia Robinson was claimed the player-of-the-year award after an outstanding season.
The power-running winger collected 49 points to blitz the judging ahead of Keilee Joseph (26), Hayley Maddick (19), Mele Hufanga (17), Romy Teitzel (15) and Chelsea Lenarduzzi (11).
Robinson proved a non-stop highlights package across the 2024 season, scoring nine tries from 10 games and averaging a staggering 223 running metres per game with 67 tackle breaks, 14 line breaks and two try assists.
The Jillaroo finisher was also named best back, most consistent and players’ player on a stellar night for the 26-year-old, who was named in the NRLW Dally M Team Of The Year last week.
Originally published as NRL 2024: Pat Carrigan wins Paul Morgan medal for Brisbane Broncos Player of the Season, ends Payne Haas’ five-year streak
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