Hooker Jaydee Auloa has followed up his 2024 SG Ball Cup (under-19) player of the year award by claiming the same crown for the One New Zealand Warriors’ Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) team this season.
The 20-year-old St Paul’s College product was singled out ahead of centre Caelys Putoko, loose forward Paea Sikuvea and prop Rodney Tuipulotu Vea at the Warriors’ 31st annual awards at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland on Monday night.
Last year Auloa picked up the main SG Ball accolade after captaining the under-19 team in a season in which he also went up to play for both the Jersey Flegg and New South Wales Cup sides; he made eight SG Ball appearances, 10 in Jersey Flegg and eight in NSW Cup.
This season he was on the interchange for the Warriors’ round one Flegg encounter with Manly Warringah, going on score six tries in 13 outings while has also been in the New South Wales Cup team.
Putoko finished the season with four tries in 20 games, Sikuvea three tries in 16 and Tuipulotu Vea one try in 16.
Putoko and Sikuvea were also finalists for the Jersey Flegg Emerging Player of the Year title along with winger Harry Tauafiafi-Iutoi and halfback Jack Thompson. Putoko took out the award.
Sikuvea underlined his qualities by also being a nominee for the Jersey Flegg Team Man of the Year award with Presley Seumanu, Alvin Chong Nee and Jeriko Filipi-Talisau. This time he was a winner.
