Samuela Fainu has been awarded the Kelly-Barnes Medal and Sarah Togatuki has been named NRLW Player of the Year at the 2024 Wests Tigers Awards Gala.
Fainu had an outstanding first season with the club, cementing himself as the club’s left-edge second-rower, while Togatuki produced typically strong performances in the middle to claim her second consecutive Wests Tigers NRLW Player of the Year award.
In the Kelly-Barnes Medal voting, Samuela pipped rookie Lachlan Galvin by just one point, with skipper Api Koroisau rounding out the top three.
After initially beginning his Wests Tigers career on the interchange bench, Fainu went on to start at second row 18 times from his 23 appearances in 2024.
His dynamic running, ability to bust tackles, and high work rate became features of his game as the season went on, and at just 20 years of age, he looks destined for further honours as his career progresses.
Togatuki was a standout in Wests Tigers’ second season in the NRLW, with her reputation as one of the strongest runners in the competition cemented further in 2024.
‘Sala’ averaged 122 running metres per game this year and made 238 tackles at a 95.2% efficiency rate.
Some strong late-season performances meant she ran down Brooke Talataina in the awards voting to secure her second-straight Wests Tigers NRLW Player of the Year title.
For the respective Wests Tigers Players’ Player awards, NRL captain Api Koroisau and impressive NRLW youngster Brooke Talataina came away with the honours.
Koroisau’s nine try assists for the season went hand-in-hand with his trademark darting runs, fearless defence and craftiness around the ruck.
Talataina’s transition into the forward pack proved extremely fruitful, as her reliability and effort-based play on the edge also led to her selection in the Kiwi Ferns squad for the upcoming Pacific Championships.
Wests Tigers NRL Rookie of the Year went to prodigious youngster, Lachlan Galvin, after his unforgettable debut season.
The Campbelltown junior emerged as one of the best young players in the competition, consistently troubling opposition teams with his tenacity, inch-perfect passing, and tackle-busting ability.
Wests Tigers NRLW Rookie of the Year was awarded to Natasha Penitani who seemed to improve with every appearance in the top grade.
Penitani played all nine games for the club in her first season and her powerful running made the interchange middle forward hard to handle when introduced into the contest.
2024 Wests Tigers Awards Gala winners
Kelly-Barnes Medal — Samuela Fainu
NRLW Player of the Year — Sarah Togatuki
NRL Players’ Player — Api Koroisau
NRLW Players’ Player — Brooke Talataina
NRL Rookie of the Year — Lachlan Galvin
NRLW Rookie of the Year — Natasha Penitani
NSW Cup Player of the Year — Tim Johannssen
NSW Cup Players’ Player — Brent Naden
NSW Women’s Premiership Player of the Year — Claudia Brown
NSW Women’s Premiership Players’ Player — Darcy Eade
Jersey Flegg Player of the Year — Herman Tofaeono
Jersey Flegg Players’ Player — Kobie Wilson
Wayne Pearce Community Award — Botille Vette-Welsh
Wests Tigers Club Person of the Year — Shannon Gallant
Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson congratulated the award-winners and also thanked club Members for their support throughout the 2024 season.
I'd like to congratulate all the award winners on their efforts this season, particularly Samuela and Sarah on taking out the major awards.
Shane Richardson Wests Tigers CEO
"Samuela has proven in his first season at the club that he has outstanding leadership qualities, and we view him as one of the pillars of our forward pack for years to come.
"Sarah's consistency and her own leadership qualities are a major asset to the NRLW side and she has deservedly been rewarded with selection in the Australian team.
"I would also like to thank Wests Tigers Members for their support during what has been a challenging season in terms of on-field results.
"With some key recruits joining the club in 2025, we are very much looking forward to the journey ahead."
