Inspirational co-captain James Fisher-Harris was celebrated as the One New Zealand Warriors' premier player of the season when he was honoured as the club’s 2026 Simon Mannering Medal winner at a gala awards night at the New Zealand International Convention Centre in Auckland on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old became a first-time winner of the prestigious honour following on from fellow front rower Mitchell Barnett in 2024 capping a year in which he has underlined his status as one of the game’s premier forwards.
While he was awarded the supreme NRL accolade, back rower Kaiyah Atai was recognised with the women’s equivalent as the Harvey Norman NRLW player of the year.
The peer-voted players’ player of the year awards went to outstanding young NRL second rower Jacob Laban and the impressive Stacey Waaka in her first NRLW season with the Warriors.
As he prepares to leave the One New Zealand Warriors, the legendary Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was named the NRL team’s clubman of the year recognising his selfless, team-first attitude despite having his farewell campaign cruelly shortened by a season-ending ACL knee injury.
Departing prop Harata Butler was similarly acknowledged as the NRLW squad’s heart and soul player as she was named the Harvey Norman NRLW clubwoman of the year.
Singled out as the One New Zealand NRL rookie of the year was young back rower Eddie Ieremia-Toeava with 22-year-old second rower Christabelle Onesemo-Tuilaepa named the Harvey Norman NRLW rookie of the year.
The One New Zealand People’s Choice winners were popular NRL loose forward Erin Clark and the charismatic NRLW outside back Waaka.
The evening was rich on emotion and gratitude with the group of departing NRL and NRLW players given a wonderful send-off.
One New Zealand Warriors Awards | 2026
Jersey Flegg Cup Emerging Player of the Year | Tyson Hansen
Jersey Flegg Cup Team Man of the Year | Maui Winitana-Patelesio
One New Zealand Jersey Flegg Cup Player of the Year | Joseph Ratcliffe
New South Wales Team Man of the Year | Jaydee Auloa
New South Wales Cup Players’ Player of the Year | Makaia Tafua
One New Zealand New South Wales Cup Player of the Year | Kayliss Fatialofa
Harvey Norman-One New Zealand NRLW Clubwoman of the Year | Harata Butler
One New Zealand NRLW People’s Choice | Stacey Waaka
NRLW Rookie of the Year | Christabelle Onesemo-Tuilaepa
NRLW Players’ Player of the Year | Stacey Waaka
Harvey Norman NRLW Player of the Year | Kaiyah Atai
One New Zealand NRL People’s Choice | Erin Clark
One New Zealand NRL Rookie of the Year | Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
NRL Clubman of the Year | Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
NRL Players’ Player of the Year | Jacob Laban
Simon Mannering Medal | James Fisher-Harris
