Chanel Harris-Tavita backed up his 2016 TNT NYC Rookie of the Year accolade by being named the Vodafone NYC Player of the Year at the Vodafone Junior Warriors’ 2017 awards dinner at Mount Smart Stadium last night.
The 18-year-old Pakuranga College product headed off centre Melino Fineanganofo, prop Kenese Kenese and last year’s winner Chris Sio for the award and the Sonny Fai Medal.
Standoff-halfback Harris-Tavita, who made his NYC debut on his 17th birthday last year, appeared in 21 games, scoring six tries and producing 10 try assists in what was a challenging season for the team.
A Mount Wellington Warriors and Howick Hornets junior, he also made the Junior Kiwis this year.
With a significant number of 17-year-old players again making their debuts this season, the field for the TNT NYC Rookie of the Year award was keenly contested with fullback-wing Israel Ogden, prop Tayhler Paora, back rower Tyler Slade and utility Paul Turner the finalists. Slade was the winner, making 13 appearances and averaging 60 metres and 26 tackles a game.
Co-captain Kenese Kenese was named the Canterbury of New Zealand NYC Clubman of the Year while utility Eiden Ackland was rewarded with the NYC Education Ambassador Award, recognising his efforts in doing a double degree in law and arts.
Five academy players were acknowledged for representing the club’s values – Caleb Pese (grounded), Taniela Otukolo (courageous), Sione Moala (selfless), Quinnlan Tupou (passionate) and Temple Kalepo (uncompromising).
The dinner marked the 10th and last season of the NYC, the competition winding up with the Vodafone Junior Warriors standing out as the most successful having won the premiership three times (2010, 2011 and 2014), the minor premiership in 2011 and being the only club to make the finals in each of the first eight seasons. Penrith has the chance to equal the Vodafone Junior Warriors’ three titles this season.
With NYC graduates Isaiah Papali’i, James Bell and Erin Clark making their NRL debuts this year it means almost 60 Vodafone Junior Warriors have gone on to play at first-grade level, the most of any club in the competition.
Next year the Vodafone Junior Warriors will be playing in the new New South Wales under-20 competition.
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS | ROLL OF HONOUR
Vodafone NYC Player of the Year & Sonny Fai Medal winner
2008 Kevin Locke
2009 Elijah Taylor
2010 Nafe Seluini
2011 John Palavi
2012 Peta Hiku
2013 Michael Sio
2014 Sam Lisone
2015 Bunty Afoa
2016 Chris Sio
2017 Chanel Harris-Tavita
TNT NYC Rookie of the Year
2008 Elijah Taylor
2009 Ben Henry
2010 Carlos Tuimavave
2011 Siliva Havili
2012 David Bhana
2013 Tuimoala Lolohea
2014 Brad Abbey
2015 Ata Hingano
2016 Chanel Harris-Tavita
2017 Tyler Slade
NYC Clubman of the Year
2008 Kurt Tehira
2009 Kurt Kara
2010 Charlie Gubb
2011 Donald Tony
2012 Toka Likiliki
2013 Viliami Kaveinga
2014 Kurt Robinson
2015 Toafofoa Sipley
2016 Sheldon Pitama
2017 Kenese Kenese
