Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues captain James Tedesco has become the first player in NSWRL history to win all three major State of Origin awards tonight after claiming his third Brad Fittler Medal as well as the True Blue Award and The Daily Telegraph People’s Choice Award.
Tedesco was presented with his medal by Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler at The Star Event Centre in front of more than 500 guests, while Isabelle Kelly was named the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s State of Origin Player of the Year and received her medal from NSW Sky Blues coach Kylie Hilder.
Tedesco, who took over the captaincy full-time for NSW in 2021, led from the front for the Blues this season after running for an average of 281 metres per game, making 25 tackle busts and two line breaks in the 2-1 Ampol State of Origin series loss to Queensland.
The Brad Fittler Medal is chosen by the players, the True Blue award is selected by the coaching staff and awarded to the player who displays the qualities on which the team ethos is built, and The Daily Telegraph People’s Choice is voted on by fans with Tedesco securing more than 50 per cent of votes.
Tedesco has already won back-to-back Brad Fittler Medals in 2018-19 but this is the first time he has won the True Blue Award with previous winners including Latrell Mitchell, Tom Trbojevic, and Brett and Josh Morris.
“It’s always an honour to pull on the sky blue jumper and it’s a humbling experience to have won the Brad Fittler Medal following a vote from my teammates,” Tedesco said.
“It also means a lot to me to collect the True Blue Award and The Daily Telegraph People’s Choice Award as I always try to lead by example and give my best any time I take the field.
“I love playing for NSW and I’m confident with so many good players around me that we will always enjoy our fair share of success.”
Kelly became the first Sky Blues player to claim back-to-back medals for NSW Women’s State of Origin Player of the Year after a starring role in the win over Queensland which included 190 running metres, 13 tackle breaks and scoring the match-winning try.
The medal is awarded by the coaching staff and Kelly became only the second player to win three medals (2018, 2021-22) alongside Simaima Taufa (2015,17,19).
“I love playing for the Sky Blues and it was great to see all the girls come together this season and wrestle the Shield away from Queensland,” Kelly said.
“Women’s Rugby League is growing stronger and stronger every season, it’s wonderful to be part of it and I look forward to even further growth into the future.”
The awards night also included the inaugural Sky Blues Award, which is chosen by the players, and went to Caitlan Johnston after her barnstorming performance against Queensland.
The Under 19s Women’s State of Origin Player of the Match Award went to Andie Robinson after she scored a hat-trick to maintain NSW’s unbeaten record against Queensland.
Oryn Keeley claimed the Under 19s Men’s State of Origin Player of the Match award after the men’s pathways match returned this season having been shelved since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Player of the Year went to Newtown Jets centre Kayal Iro - the son of New Zealand international Kevin Iro and nephew of fellow Kiwis Test player Tony Iro - following an impressive season where he topped the competition for post-contact metres, scored 12 tries, made 14 line breaks and 97 tackle busts.
The Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership Player of the Year went to North Sydney Bears lock/five-eighth Kirra Dibb, who played a crucial role in helping steer the club to the Minor Premiership this season.
The Brad Fittler Medal night recognises and celebrates the achievements of players across all NSWRL teams and competitions, from Origin to seniors, juniors and women, as well as the contributions of referees, club officials and volunteers.
Other players to have won the Brad Fittler Medal include True Blues Steve Menzies (2006), Danny Buderus (2008), Paul Gallen (2011), Robbie Farah (2012), David Klemmer (2017), Tedesco (2018-19), Nathan Cleary (2020) and Tom Trbojevic (2021).
BRAD FITTLER MEDAL FULL LIST OF AWARDS AND WINNERS
Gordon Lowrie Memorial Community Volunteer of the Year Award: Wendy Povey (Morpeth Bulls, Maitland and Newcastle Region)
Ray Stellar Club Person of the Year: Wayne Neville (Penrith Brothers)
Junior Representative Referee of the Year: Ethan Klein
Grade Referee of the Year: Cameron Paddy
Ron Lanesbury Medal (SLE Andrew Johns Cup): Zane Harrison (Northern Rivers Titans)
Tom Nelson Medal (SLE Laurie Daley Cup): Nick Murphy (Western Rams)
Country Women’s Player of the Year: Jessica Gentle (Central Coast Roosters)
Country Men’s Player of the Year: Jake Brisbane (Illawarra South Coast Dragons)
Sydney Shield Player of the Year: Frank Toomalatai (Penrith Brothers)
Ron Massey Cup Player of the Year: Brad Keighran (Hills Bulls)
Jersey Flegg Cup Player of the Year:Jack Cole (Penrith Panthers)
NSW Women’s Premiership Player of the Year: Kirra Dibb (North Sydney Bears)
The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Player of the Year: Kayal Iro (Newtown Jets)
Under 19s Women’s State of Origin Player of the Match: Andie Robinson (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Sky Blues Award: Caitlan Johnston (Newcastle Knights)
NSW Women’s State of Origin Player of the Year: Isabelle Kelly (Sydney Roosters)
Under 19s Men’s State of Origin Player of the Match: Oryn Keeley (Newcastle Knights)
The Daily Telegraph People’s Choice Award: James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters)
True Blue Award: James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters)
Brad Fittler Medal: James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters)
