Wests Tigers fullback Jahream Bula has claimed the Kelly-Barnes Medal after being voted the club’s 2023 NRL Player of the Year.
Following a scintillating debut season, the mercurial No.1 was also voted to be Wests Tigers’ Players’ Player and Rookie of the Year.
The Kelly-Barnes Medal vote-count went right down to the final match of the season with Bula and Api Koroisau level on 22 votes heading into the Round 27 game against Manly Sea Eagles.
Bula claimed three points - and Koroisau two - in the 3-2-1 voting last Friday, to pip his captain by just one point across the 2023 season.
The 21-year-old fullback scored 5 tries in 18 NRL appearances this season and prevented countless four-pointers as the last line of defence, including try-savers in his team’s victory over the Panthers in Bathurst and the Dragons in Magic Round.
Bula played the full 80 minutes in every NRL appearance after not missing a minute in the three NSW Cup games he played for Western Suburbs Magpies.
He averaged a club-high 159.1 running metres per game with a season high of 245 metres against Canberra Raiders in Round 14.
Triston Reilly was named Player of the Year for Western Suburbs in the NSW Cup, after scoring 14 tries in 19 appearances for the Magpies this season.
The 24-year-old centre was rewarded for his efforts, making his NRL debut in Wests Tigers Round 25 victory over the Dolphins.
Second row Jack Boyling was voted as the NSW Cup team’s Players’ Player after playing consistently well in 22 appearances for the Magpies in 2023.
In the Jersey Flegg Cup, Sione Vaihu was named the Player of the Year while centre partner Josh Feledy picked up the Players’ Player Award.
Wests Tigers premiership winning prop and now Senior Partnerships Executive, John Skandalis, was named Club Person of the Year for his outstanding commitment and contribution to Wests Tigers.
Former English import Gareth Ellis has been inducted as a Wests Tigers Life Member, taking the number of WT Life Members to 27. Ellis played 75 games across four seasons for Wests Tigers and was Player of the Year three seasons in a row.
Wests Tigers 2023 Kelly-Barnes Awards
Kelly-Barnes Medal — Jahream Bula
NRL Players’ Player — Jahream Bula
NRL Rookie of the Year — Jahream Bula
NSW Cup Player of the Year — Triston Reilly
NSW Cup Players’ Player — Jack Boyling
Jersey Flegg Player of the Year — Sione Vaihu
Jersey Flegg Players’ Player — Josh Feledy
Wayne Pearce Community Award — Brent Naden
Wests Tigers Club Person of the Year — John Skandalis
Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe has extended his congratulations to all award winners, and to all who contributed to the club in 2023.
“I would like to congratulate all award winners, and particularly Jahream, for collecting the Kelly-Barnes Medal, the Players’ Player, and Rookie of the Year.
To do all this in his first season in the top grade is simply remarkable.
Justin Pascoe
“Jahream is an absolute pleasure to have at the club. He holds strong values and works hard for everything he has achieved and this is only just the beginning for this young man.
“He was one of seven players to make their NRL debut with Wests Tigers in 2023, with only two other clubs fielding more first-timers.
“We continue to make solid progress in pathways and development, and we look forward to unearthing more young success stories in 2024 and progressing them into our top 30 in future years.
“Our entry into the NRLW was something very special and the result of much hard work. To all who have helped make this a reality, I say thank you.
“Our NRLW team is a huge asset to this club. The players and staff should be very proud of what has been achieved in such a short amount of time.
“Like all NRL clubs we have players who will be moving on and unfortunately that is the business of professional sport.
“I want to thank each of you for what you have done in your time with us. We wish you and your families the very best going forward.
“Special mention must go to Luke Brooks, who has given his all for this club over 11 seasons.
"To Luke, and his family, thank you for being such a huge part of this club for more than a decade and I wish you all the success with your future both within rugby league, and beyond.
"I also want to extend my thanks to all our staff, volunteers and interns who work so hard to make this club operate day in day out.”
