Captain Tohu Harris, fellow middle forward Addin Fonua-Blake, winger Marcelo Montoya and hooker Wayde Egan are the Vodafone Warriors' four players selected as contenders for The Players' Champion award run by the Rugby League Players' Association.
Harris has just been named the winner of the 2022 Vodafone Warriors' Players' Player of the Year award and he was also a finalist for the club's major accolade the Simon Mannering Medal.
Egan joined Harris as a Mannering Medal finalist - the award was won by Euan Aitken - while Fonua-Blake and Montoya again had impressive campaigns in a challenging final season based in Australia.
The Players' Champion runs separately to the NRL's Dally M Awards.
Four players from each club are chosen as contenders for The Players' Champion.
The winners of The Players’ Champion award for both the NRL and NRLW will be announced during Channel 9’s grand final coverage on October 2.
Past recipients Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers), James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters), and Kalyn Ponga (Knights) feature on the star-studded shortlist.
About The Players’ Champion voting:
- The contenders’ list is made up of four players from each club nominated to be eligible for The Players’ Champion award.
- RLPA delegates at each club put forward the three best players from their own team.
- An RLPA working group nominates a fourth player to round out the nomination process.
- In total, 64 players (four from each team) are eligible to receive votes in the end of season poll.
- Voting is open to all contracted NRL players, with each player selecting opposition players using a 3/2/1 format.
- Players are not penalised for any suspensions and/or fines received during the course of the season.
- Players cannot vote for their teammates.
- The player with the most number of votes is awarded The Players’ Champion.
- The five finalists for The Players’ Champion (NRL) will be announced on October 21.
- The Players’ Champion awards will also include a rookie of the year, the Dream Team and the Dennis Tutty Award for both NRL and NRLW players.
The 64 Contenders for The Players’ Champion (NRL):
Roosters
James Tedesco
Joseph Manu
Joseph Sua’ali’i
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
Rabbitohs
Alex Johnston
Keaon Koloamatangi
Junior Tatola
Latrell Mitchell
Manly
Kieran Foran
Haumole Olakau’atu
Jake Trbojevic
Daly Cherry-Evans
Panthers
Dylan Edwards
Isaah Yeo
Apisai Koroisau
Nathan Cleary
Dragons
Ben Hunt
Moses Suli
Jack De Belin
Jack Bird
Raiders
Joe Tapine
Adam Elliott
Hudson Young
Jack Wighton
Titans
Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Erin Clark
Moeaki Fotuaika
Beau Fermor
Broncos
Patrick Carrigan
Payne Haas
Adam Reynolds
Corey Oates
Tigers
Joseph Ofahengaue
Kelma Tuilagi
Jackson Hastings
Dane Laurie
Storm
Cameron Munster
Harry Grant
Justin Olam
Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Vodafone Warriors
Tohu Harris
Marcelo Montoya
Wayde Egan
Addin Fonua-Blake
Cowboys
Valentine Holmes
Reece Robson
Scott Drinkwater
Jeremiah Nanai
Knights
David Klemmer
Dane Gagai
Dominic Young
Kalyn Ponga
Bulldogs
Max King
Jeremy Marshall-King
Matt Burton
Josh Addo-Carr
Parramatta
Shaun Lane
Dylan Brown
Mitch Moses
Clinton Gutherson
Sharks
Nicho Hynes
Siosifa Talakai
Ronaldo Mulitalo
Toby Rudolf
