Another successful senior season was celebrated last week with our annual senior prizegiving.

It was great to have players and management from all our senior teams on hand to recognise achievements, improvements and efforts across the 2025 season.

Once again the Under 85kg Panthers featured heavily in the awards, with coach Brad Martin acknowledged as senior coach of the year, the five NZ reps receiving the Presidents Trophy, while Francis Morrison added the Merv Groves Trophy for scoring the most tries and the Trevor King Trophy for Outstanding Performance by a Senior Player.

The Premier Development team scored the most tries of any senior team, and also received the Dufty Bell Trophy for Best Club Spirit, while their manager Steve Duncan was Senior Manager of the Year.

Fresh from being announced as the 2026 Premier Head coach, Dwayne Polataivao received the Harold Hack Trophy for most promising club coach and while Joe Baleicakau was awarded the Tom Morete Trophy for the club member possessing the most mana.

The remaining major off field awards went to Roman Rouge (For outstanding contribution to a team), Aran Simm (Club Member of the Year) and Jacko Ma’aelopa (Club Captain’s Award).

On the field, Under 21s kicker Preston Field was the senior player who kicked the most points, Randall Baker and Harlyn Saunoa received the Presidents award and  Gary Basson received the Charles Piutau Trophy for Senior Player of the Year.

Team awards went to:
Premier
Brian Carroll Trophy for Player of the Year: Sean Carter
Bruce Wallace Memorial Trophy for Most Improved: Marc Holzer
Frank Anderson Trophy     for Sportsmanship on and off the field: Ezekiel Wye 

Premier 2
Tom McCartney Trophy for Player of the Year: Tei Ta'ofi
Peter Corlett Trophy for Most Improved: Luke Parr
Brett Hunt Trophy for Sportsmanship on and off the field: Taka Hoshiyama

Under 21s 
Bill Warneford Trophy for Player of the Year: Ben Hoddle
Greg Stewart Cup for Most Improved: Jakin McCabe 
Mana Denis Trophy for Sportsmanship on and off the field: Uatisone Junior Talitiga Faaiva 

Under 85kgs Black Panthers    
Jim Ruka Cup for Player of the Year: Finley Dixon 
Mike Castaing Cup for Most Improved: Lachlan Sheriff
Steven Kitchener Cup for Sportsmanship on and off the field: Luke Higgins 

Belles    
Womens Player of the Year: Georgia Smyth
Womens Most Improved: Sarah Mackie
Womens Sportsmanship on and off the field: Shari Hoepa

Jadez        
Player of the Year: Eva Kolose
Most Improved: Madison Fennessy & Jarrah Tipene
Sportsmanship on and off the field: Ellie Tisdall

Presidents
Player of the Year: Scotty Young
Most Improved Forward: Ben Gibbens
Most Improved Back: Charles Gibson
Rookie of the Year: Pati Talalelei
 

Article added: Monday 25 August 2025