One New Zealand Warriors hooker Makaia Tafua and centre Jye Linnane have been named in the New South Wales Cup team of the year.
They helped the Warriors to fifth on the ladder at the end of the regular season before they lost 18-24 to the Newtown Jets in their week one elimination final.
Christchurch-born Tafua (22) had a stellar season which saw him make his NRL debut against the Sharks in June before adding two more appearances.
He featured 16 times for the club’s NSW Cup side, scoring six tries and making 628 tackles (average 39 a game), the most by any hooker in the competition. Tafua now sits on 49 NSW Cup career appearances.
New signing Linnane (21) had a delayed start to the season as he recovered from an ACL injury. Usually a half, he was used in the centres and immediately impressed when he made his NSW Cup debut against the Storm in round 11. In 51 minutes on the field he had a first half try double, made six tackle breaks and 149 metres from 10 runs.
He finished the season with 14 tries in 13 games, averaged 134 metres a match and made 79 tackle breaks.
Former Warriors Kalani Going-Leulua (Penrith) and Phillip Makatoa (North Sydney) were also selected in the team of the year.
New South Wales Cup Team of the Year
1 Jaxen Edgar (Penrith Panthers)
2 Jordi Mazzone (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
3 Jye Linnane (One New Zealand Warriors)
4 Kieran Hayman (North Sydney Bears)
5 Jesse McLean (Penrith Panthers)
6 Javon Andrews (Western Suburbs Magpies)
7 Toby Rodwell (Sydney Roosters)
8 Phillip Makatoa (North Sydney Bears)
9 Makaia Tafua (One New Zealand Warriors)
10 Jacob Webster (St George Illawarra Dragons)
11 Logan Spinks (Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs)
12 Zakauri Clarke (Penrith Panthers)
13 Kalani Leuluai-Going (Penrith Panthers)
