Rimbu and Reinke take major honours at QRL Awards

Queensland Rugby League has celebrated the achievements of its players, coaches, referees and volunteers across community rugby league, statewide competitions and elite representative programs.

More than 350 guests who attended today’s QRL Awards at Brisbane City Hall heard from some of the stars who will take the field in Sunday’s Hostplus Cup grand final between the Redcliffe Dolphins and Norths Devils at Kayo Stadium.

Both the Dolphins and Devils featured prominently in the awards, with three players across both clubs named in the Hostplus Cup Team of the Year.

Dolphins livewire Trai Fuller was named as the competition’s premier fullback, while Devils’ duo Manase Kaho (wing) and Tukimihia Simpkins (prop) were also recognised following the Nundah club’s march to a third grand final in four years.

After a thrilling preliminary final victory over the Northern Pride, the good news kept flowing for the Dolphins with Latrell Siegwalt (Rookie of the Year) and Jarrett Boland (Murray Hurst Education Award) recognised for their on and off-field achievements.

Although shattered at missing the grand final, both the Northern Pride and PNG Hunters were able to celebrate outstanding seasons.

The Pride’s Eric Smith was named Coach of the Year after leading the Cairns-based club to this year’s minor premiership, while the Hunters' inner circle stood as one to applaud Judah Rimbu after the star hooker was announced as the Petero Civoniceva Medallist.

Rimbu polled 21 points across the season (adjudicated by the referees under a 3-2-1 points system) to edge out Cody Hunter (Sunshine Coast Falcons), Thomas Duffy (Northern Pride), Rory Ferguson (Souths Logan Magpies) and Jake Clifford (Pride).

Clifford and Duffy were also named in the Hostplus Cup Team of the Year alongside teammate Dane Aukafolau.

After a highly-competitive BMD Premiership season that culminated with a Mackay Cutters grand final victory over Norths Devils in May, the competition’s leading players and coaches were also acknowledged at today’s awards.

Cutters trio Krystal Blackwell, Tahlulah Tillett and Bree Chester were named in the BMD Premiership Team of the Year alongside Devils teammates Georgia Hannaway and Jada Ferguson.

The Western Clydesdales also had a strong presence in this team with Georgia Sim, Leianne Tufuga and Tara Reinke rewarded for their outstanding efforts throughout the season.

Reinke had double the reason to celebrate when she was named as the Steph Hancock Medallist.

The hard-working lock forward polled points across five matches to claim the prestigious award as the best and fairest player in the BMD Premiership.

After taking the Devils from a fifth-placed finish last year to the 2024 grand final, Meg Ward was named as the BMD Premiership Coach of the Year.

Both the women’s and men’s coaches awards were named in honour of Darryl Van de Velde, a highly-respected former player, coach and administrator who passed away earlier this year.

Today’s awards also celebrated the contribution of volunteers across the state, as well as the men and women who provided exceptional service to the Queensland Maroons.

Tom Dearden was the named the Maroons’ best player and the recipient of the Ron McAuliffe Medal, while the team’s long-serving head trainer Matt Barradeen was presented with the FOGS Peter Jackson Memorial Award.

Following a tenacious series victory over the New South Wales Sky Blues, Queensland forward Shannon Mato added the Annie Banks Medal to her Nellie Doherty Medal as player of the series.

The Renae Kunst Medal – awarded to a player or staff member who most embodies the Maroons spirit – was presented to Zahara Temara for a second-straight year.