NRL Social: Finals footy, dress-ups and awards nights
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Well, here we are. After 25 weeks of regular season football, the finals are now upon us. This week it's been a celebration as some team wrap up the season. For others however, this weekend is where it all begins.
Suit and tie
This week we saw a handful of clubs hold their annual awards giving players the opportunity to swap the footy shorts for suits and the chance to interact with fans and sponsors.
Gold Coast Titan Ryan James received the Paul Broughton medal, taking out the award for the second time, after first receiving the medal back in 2016.
Kalyn Ponga was named player of the year for Newcastle.
Mitchell Pearce and his fellow Newcastle Knights teammates later had a blast in the photo booth.
And during the New Zealand Warriors presentation night, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck became the inaugural winner of the Simon Mannering Medal. A nice nod to honour the retiring club legend.
White Men Can't Jump
Jorge Taufua teamed up with Manly Sea Eagles teammate Lewis Brown in an ode to replicate White Men Can't Jump. Nailed it.
Shaun Lane also did a pretty good impersonation of Tom Hanks in "Forrest Gump".
Up the Beasties
While the rugby union world may have lost Angus Crichton to rugby league and the South Sydney Rabbitohs, his loyalty still runs deep with his junior club, Eastern Suburbs rugby.
Crichton cheered on the 2nd grade "Beasties" as they won their Grand Final with his good mate and current Australia Wallabies outside back, Jack Maddocks.
Birthday Boy
While some prefer to put their feet up after the season ends, Manly's Trent Hodkinson instead spent the day with his wife Chantelle above Sydney on a seaplane!
It was a 30th birthday present, a memory he surely won't be forgetting soon.
Teddy's time
He's waited a long time to play finals football, and now James Tedesco's move to the tri-colours has paid off. He's got the honours of the Roosters Minor Premiership and this year's 2018 State of Origin Shield, could Teddy be lifting another trophy come Grand Final Sunday?
Karaoke with Jammer
Dragons forward James Graham probably had no idea his wife was going to post this, but we sure are happy she did! Be sure to tag us next time, Taryn!
Gutho's rollercoaster ride
Despite his best efforts to turn the Parramatta's season around, Clint Gutherson can still take away the positives. He returned from a second ACL injury unscathed and was named Eels co-captain.
"Nightmare of a season, now time to rest up and spend some time away from footy and refresh for next year," Gutherson wrote.
Farewell mate
The end of the regular season also calls for some goodbyes, with Esan Marsters sad to farewell his good mate Kevin Naiqama. Naiqama is off to St Helens on a three-year deal.
A bunny for life
Sam Burgess placed his faith and future in South Sydney's hands, announcing a contract extension for a further four years this week.
"The pride, the honour and the humility I felt 9 years ago about being part of the greatest club in the NRL is still there today. I am grateful to the club, the fans, my teammates and my family, what a day," he later said.
And Nathan Peats couldn't help but doing what he does best!
