Captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has tonight become the first player in the Vodafone Warriors’ 25-season history to be named the club’s Vodafone NRL Player of the Year three years running.
The 26-year-old fullback followed his successes in 2017 and 2018 with another superb campaign this season to claim the Simon Mannering Medal at the club’s annual awards at SKYCITY.
He also again cleaned up the Vodafone People’s Choice Award voted on by the public as well as winning the players' player of the year.
After being awarded the inaugural Simon Mannering Medal last year, Tuivasa-Sheck went on to become the first Vodafone Warriors player to win the Dally M Medal as the NRL’s player of the year and is again in contention for that honour this year.
In many statistical categories Tuivasa-Sheck topped his exceptional deeds in 2018.
In both seasons he made 23 appearances. After averaging 17.7 runs and 178.4 metres a game last year, his numbers increased to 21.2 runs and 206.1 metres a game this year. His tackle breaks count was up from 112 last year to 136 in 2019, off loads from 31 to 37, try assists from eight to 10 and line breaks from 13 to 14. And he scored seven tries this year compared to three last year.
He topped all players in the NRL for most runs (488) and metres (4742) while he was second for most tackle breaks, third for most kick return metres, 11th for most line breaks and 13th for most off loads.
After having his first season with the club cut short by injury in 2016, Tuivasa-Sheck has missed only four of a possible 73 games.
It says everything about his standards across 76 appearances that he has averaged 19 runs and 187.3 metres a game as well as a total of 378 tackle breaks, 45 line breaks, 29 try assists and 89 off loads.
The other finalists for the Vodafone Player of the Year were Leeson Ah Mau, Blake Green, Peta Hiku and Ken Maumalo while the other contenders for the Vodafone People’s Choice were Ah Mau, Maumalo and Jazz Tevaga.
Taking out the Vodafone NRL Rookie of the Year was Chanel Harris-Tavita from other nominees Patrick Herbert, Adam Keighran and Adam Pompey.
Pompey collected the Canterbury Cup Player of the Year ahead of Keighran, Ligi Sao and Setu Tu while Blake Ayshford was named the Canterbury Cup Team Man of the Year ahead of Jackson Frei and Hayze Perham.
Vodafone Warriors football operations manager Dan Floyd was named the Club Person of the Year while Dave and Lorraine McKee, who fly to every home game from Christchurch, were recognised as the Sir Peter Leitch Members of the Year.
VODAFONE WARRIORS AWARDS | 2019
Sir Peter Leitch Members of the Year: Dave and Lorraine McKee
Vodafone People’s Choice Award: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Players' Player of the Year: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Canterbury Cup Team Man of the Year: Blake Ayshford
Vodafone NRL Rookie of the Year: Chanel Harris-Tavita
Club Person of the Year: Dan Floyd
Canterbury of NZ Clubman of the Year: Jazz Tevaga
Canterbury Cup Player of the Year: Adam Pompey
Vodafone NRL Player of the Year : Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Simon Mannering Medal)
VODAFONE WARRIORS PLAYER OF THE YEAR | 1995-2019
1995 Tea Ropati
1996 Stephen Kearney
1997 Stacey Jones
1998 Joe Vagana
1999 Jason Death
2000 Robert Mears
2001 Jerry Seuseu
2002 Ali Lauitiiti
2003 Francis Meli
2004 Wairangi Koopu
2005 Ruben Wiki
2006 Steve Price
2007 Steve Price
2008 Simon Mannering
2009 Micheal Luck
2010 Manu Vatuvei
2011 Simon Mannering
2012 Ben Matulino
2013 Simon Mannering
2014 Simon Mannering
2015 Ben Matulino
2016 Simon Mannering
2017 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
2018 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
2019 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
VODAFONE WARRIORS | ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Departing/departed players | Blake Ayshford (#204), Sam Cook (#225), Issac Luke (#206), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (#218), Ligi Sao (#210).
Vodafone Warriors debuts | Adam Keighran (#231), Lachlan Burr (#232), Chanel Harris-Tavita (#233), Patrick Herbert (#234), Hayze Perham (#235), Kodi Nikorima (#236), Adam Pompey (#237), Josh Curran (#238), Taane Milne (#239).
Achievements:
300 NRL appearances | Adam Blair.
200 NRL games | Leeson Ah Mau.
150 NRL games | Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Blake Green.
100 NRL games | Agnatius Paasi, Kodi Nikorima.
50 NRL games for Vodafone Warriors | Blake Ayshford, Bunty Afoa, Jazz Tevaga.
50 NRL tries | Issac Luke.
