Wests Tigers held their inaugural Senior Pathways Representative Awards evening at Wests Ashfield on Wednesday night.
The evening celebrated the Club’s senior development sides, with Vaka Aho, Tia-Jordyn Vasilovski and Jeriko Filipi-Talisau taking out the respective Player of the Year awards.
Hard-working prop Vaka Aho was awarded the major men’s honour for 2026 after playing 21 matches for the Western Suburbs Magpies in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup.
Aho was rewarded for his fine performances by making his NRL debut for Wests Tigers against Penrith at CommBank Stadium in the final round of the season.
Tia-Jordyn Vasilovski received the first Botille Vette-Welsh NSW Women's Premiership Player of the Year Award.
Named after one of the pioneers of the women's game and the first Wests Tigers NRLW full-back, Botille Vette-Welsh, the award recognises the best and fairest player in the NSWWP side.
Vasilovski was a deserving recipient, having scored 17 tries across Wests Tigers’ 11 games.
In his first year with the Club, Jeriko Filipi-Talisau earned himself the Jersey Flegg Cup Player of the Year Award.
The New Zealander made a mark this year and was the competition's best defensive player.
He also played a major role in captaining the side during their run to their first finals appearance since 2022.
Exciting young half Javon Andrews was a popular winner of the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Players’ Player Award.
In his 20 games, Andrews recorded 26 try assists, 29 line-break assists, and scored seven tries.
The NSW Women’s Premiership Players’ Player Award went to 17-year-old rising star Dawn Tui.
Tui had an exceptional season with her team-mates recognising her strong work rate and her ability to read the game.
Hard-working forward Archie Duncombe earned the respect of his fellow team-mates with outstanding performances in effort areas to take home the Jersey Flegg Cup Players’ Player Award.
A leader in the team, Duncombe was recognised for his consistency, commitment and contribution throughout the season.
2026 Wests Tigers Senior Pathways Awards
NSW Cup Player of the Year Award: Vaka Aho
Botille Vette-Welsh NSWWP Player of the Year Award: Tia-Jordyn Vasilovski
Jersey Flegg Cup Player of the Year Award: Jeriko Filipi-Talisau
NSW Cup Players’ Player Award: Javon Andrews
NSWWP Players’ Player Award: Dawn Tui
Jersey Flegg Cup Players’ Player Award: Archie Duncombe
The Wests Tigers are also proud of the senior pathways representative players who made their first-grade debuts in 2026, including junior pathways graduates Jared Haywood, Solomone Saukuru and Vaka Aho, whose development through the Club’s junior grades played an important role in their journey to the NRL.
2026 first-grade debutants who represented the Club’s senior pathways sides
NRL
WT #305 Tino Tavana
WT #309 Ethan Roberts
WT #310 Josese Lanyon
WT #311 Jared Haywood
WT #312 Javon Andrews
WT #313 Solomone Saukuru
WT #314 Vaka Aho
NRLW
WT #58 Leah Ollerton
WT #59 Kayla Henderson
