Sarah Togatuki has been named Wests Tigers Player of the Year at the club's inaugural NRLW Award’s Evening.
The powerhouse prop was also chosen by her teammates as Players’ Player in 2023.
Togatuki crowned NRLW Player of the Year
Togatuki was a force to be reckoned with week in, week out in the club’s first season in the NRLW, and gained selection for New South Wales in this year’s two-game Women’s State of Origin series.
Powerful, skilful, spiritual, and with the heart of a lion (or perhaps Tiger), the 25-year-old played 7 games in our inaugural season, averaging 188 run metres from 15 carries per game, making a staggering 448 post contact metres, second only to Christian Pio.
‘Sala’ broke more tackles than any other forward in her team (32), scoring two tries for the season including a four-pointer in our Round 1 victory over the Eels, and another against her former club, the Roosters.
Nineteen-year-old second row Eliza Siilata has been awarded Wests Tigers Rookie of the Year in the club’s inaugural NRLW season.
The local junior is a pathways' success story. After three seasons with Wests Tigers in the Tarsha Gale Cup, Siilata this year made her debut for Wests Tigers in the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership, before locking down her spot as a right-edge forward in the NRLW team.
Rock solid in defence, Siilata completed the season with a 94% tackle efficiency.
Siilata has come a long way since starting out with Macarthur Saints as an 8-year-old, and epitomizes hard work, dedication, persistence, and leadership.
Our first season in the NRLW showed just how important Wests Tigers pathways teams have been in developing players and providing them with the opportunity and vision to one day compete at the very top level.
Twenty-six players made their Wests Tigers NRLW debut in season 2023.
Christian Pio has been awarded Wests Tigers Player of the Year in the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership.
The 23-year-old prop was a key figure in our NRLW team this season after leading our Harvey Norman team earlier in the year.
Pio made more post contact meters than all but six other players in this year’s NRLW, playing in all 9 games and averaging 150 run meters per match.
Our Harvey Norman captain also built a reputation in the NRLW this season as the Queen of Offloads, topping the offload stats with 21, ahead of her middle forward teammate Najvada George
After another huge season for Wests Tigers, Pio has also been rewarded with selection in the Prime Minister’s XIII to play against Papua New Guinea this coming weekend.
Ebony Prior was voted as Players’ Player in the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership, where she had a tremendous season before going on to make her NRLW debut.
The diminutive No. 9 played in all 10 games this season, scoring five tries and providing energy not just around the ruck, but in the dressing room as well.
Team captain Jae Patu has taken home the Player of the Year award for Wests Tigers in the Tarsha Gale Cup.
The 19-year-old lock has made giant strides in her first couple of years in rugby league, earning a NRLW ‘development contract’ before making her NRLW debut in Round 8 this season.
Patu was also rewarded for her efforts with selection for the NSW City Under 19s which defeated Country at Kogarah in May.
Claire Kennedy was voted by her teammate as Wests Tiger Players’ Player in the Tarsha Gale Cup.
Much like her older sister Jessica who made her NRLW debut this season, Claire also took a step up to the next grade, making her Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership debut in the final round of the 2023 season.
Angel Schaafhausen-Mino has been named Player of the Year in the Lisa Fiaola Cup.
The young forward will again qualify for the Lisa Fiaola Cup next season and is tipped to have a very bright future at Wests Tigers, having already been elevated to the Under 18s Roar program.
Lucyannah Luamanu was voted Players’ Player after a hugely impressive season. Like Angel, Lucyannah is another talented young forward who is eligible for the Lisa Fiaola Cup again next year.
Danielle Sherd has taken home the Wests Tigers Woman of the Year award in recognition for her outstanding contribution to the club throughout 2023.
Danielle has excelled in her various roles as Team Manager for Wests Tigers Lisa Fiaola Cup team, Tarsha Gale Cup team, Wests Tigers ROAR program, and Assistant Team Manager for our NRLW team.
Wests Tigers NRLW Awards Night
NRLW Players’ Player - Sarah Togatuki
NRLW Rookie of the Year - Eliza Siilata
NRLW Player of the Year - Sarah Togatuki
NSW Women’s Premiership Players’ Player - Ebony Prior
NSW Women’s Premiership Player of the Year - Christian Pio
Tarsha Gale Cup Players’ Player - Claire Kennedy
Tarsha Gale Cup Player of the Year - Jae Patu
Lisa Fiaola Cup Players’ Player - Lucyannah Luamanu
Lisa Fiaola Cup Player of the Year - Angel Schaafhausen-Mino
Wests Tigers Woman of the Year - Danielle Sherd
Preparations for next season's female pathways teams begin on Wednesday when 67 young players will gather at Hillier Oval, Liverpool for Wests Tigers Lisa Fiaola selection trials.
