The 2023 NRL awards: The good, bad and ugly of a drama-packed season

The NRL regular season has come to an end. The Herald looks back at all the defining moments throughout the year to determine which players (and clubs) deserve to have their name up in lights.

Most valuable recruit

• Winner: Reece Walsh (Brisbane Broncos)

Returned to the Brisbane Broncos after a stint with the New Zealand Warriors. Walsh has set the competition alight in 2023 and has arguably been the best player in the competition on a deal worth just $400,000.

• Honourable mentions: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors), Api Koroisau (Tigers), J’maine Hopgood (Eels), Dylan Walker (Warriors)

Best value for money recruit

• Winner: J’maine Hopgood (Parramatta Eels)

Hopgood struggled for game time at the Penrith Panthers behind the likes of Liam Martin, Isaah Yeo and Villiame Kikau. Signed for the Eels on a deal worth just $150,000. He was on the cusp of Origin selection during the season and has been rewarded with an extension at the Eels until the end of 2025.

• Honourable mentions: Jacob Preston (Bulldogs), Reece Walsh (Broncos), Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins), Greg Marzhew (Knights), Eli Katoa (Storm), Jack Cogger (Panthers).

Least value for money signing

• Winner: Viliame Kikau (Canterbury Bulldogs)

Kikau was arguably the biggest off-season signing in the competition, coming off back-to-back premierships with the Penrith Panthers and joining the Bulldogs on a deal worth around $750,000. Unfortunately for Kikau, a pectoral injury at training back in March cost him most of the season. By the time he returned Canterbury’s season was over.

• Honourable mentions: Brandon Smith (Roosters), Josh Hodgson (Eels)

Most improved player

• Winner: Wayde Egan (New Zealand Warriors)

Left Penrith for an opportunity at the end of 2019 given Api Koroisau had a stranglehold on the Penrith No.9 jersey. Egan has been at the Warriors ever since and has been consistently solid without spiking too much fear in opposition. His transformation under Andrew Webster this year has him in line for a potential hooker of the year award at the Dally M Medal celebrations.

• Honourable mentions: Nick Meaney (Storm), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Warriors), Bryce Cartwright (Eels), Corey Horsburgh (Raiders), Billy Walters (Broncos), Tyson Gamble (Knights), Billy Smith (Roosters), Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins).

Rookie of the year

• Winner: Jahream Bula (Wests Tigers)

Bula didn’t get a crack until round eight, but the teenager has set the competition alight since. There hasn’t been so much excitement surrounding a young player at the Wests Tigers since James Tedesco’s debut over a decade ago.

• Honourable mentions: Jacob Preston (Bulldogs), Sunia Turuva (Panthers), Isaiya Katoa (Dolphins)

Most underwhelming player

• Winner: Josh Schuster (Sea Eagles)

The Sea Eagles moved Kieran Foran out of the club to accommodate Schuster’s desire to play five-eighth. He even missed last year’s World Cup to concentrate on getting fit. Unfortunately he didn’t appear to address those issues and struggled for form in the No.6 role, culminating in the club signing Luke Brooks to do so next year. Criticism of his performances peaked when he signed a lucrative long-term extension midway through the year despite no other club making him an offer.

• Honourable mentions: Brandon Smith (Roosters), Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs) Matt Burton (Bulldogs), Zac Lomax (Dragons), Isaiah Papalii (Tigers).

Biggest underachieving team

• Winner: South Sydney Rabbitohs

Started the season as premiership favourites and validated that position with the bookies over the first three months of the competition. They were sitting atop the ladder after 11 rounds but managed just four wins in their final 13 games of the season to miss out on the finals altogether. It’s one of the greatest falls from grace in recent memory, compounded by the dramatic walkout of club legend and assistant coach Sam Burgess.

• Honourable mentions: Sydney Roosters, North Queensland Cowboys, Parramatta Eels

Biggest overachieving team

• Winner: New Zealand Warriors

Not many predicted they would play finals football this season, let alone finish inside the top four. It’s been an incredible transformation under rookie coach Andrew Webster, who has finally found a way to harness the raw talent at the club and turn it into consistent football.

• Honourable mentions: Brisbane Broncos, Newcastle Knights

Second year syndrome award

• Winner: Lachlan Ilias (Rabbitohs)

Had some people asking ‘Adam who’ with the way he performed in his debut season last year. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to take the next step in 2023, leaving those very people questioning the club over the decision to let Adam Reynolds walk. Can’t be blamed for South Sydney’s woes but didn’t help the cause with underwhelming performances at stages in 2023.

• Honourable mention: Jason Demetriou (South Sydney coach)

Coach of the year

• Winner: Andrew Webster (Warriors)

All the hype out of Penrith surrounded assistant coach Cameron Ciraldo. It was a shock to many that Andrew Webster even got the job at the Warriors as the successor to Nathan Brown. He has repaid the club for the faith they have shown him by unlocking the potential at the Warriors.

• Honurable mentions: Ivan Cleary (Panthers), Kevin Walters (Broncos), Adam O’Brien (Knights).

Team of the year

The Steve Menzies award: Veteran player of the year

• Winner: Shaun Johnson (Warriors)

The Warriors halfback started the season in what many thought would be his final campaign in the NRL. It didn’t take him long to demand an extension through his performances. Consistency has long been Johnson’s downfall, but there has been a maturity in his game over the past 12 months that could see him remain in the NRL for years to come. Was close to the best player in the competition this year.

• Honourable mentions: Scott Sorensen (Panthers), Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles), Adam Reynolds (Broncos), Tohu Harris (Warriors)

The James Tedesco award: Player missed most by their old club

• Winner: Reed Mahoney (Eels to Bulldogs)

Left the Parramatta Eels after a dispute in contract negotiations. His management company felt as though he was disrespected by the Eels’ original offer and signed a deal with the Bulldogs. While the Bulldogs have struggled, the Eels missed Mahoney’s direction around the ruck and leadership in the middle of the field, compounded by the injuries to the now retired hooker Josh Hodgson.

• Honourable mention: Kieran Foran (Sea Eagles to Titans)

The Phil Gould award: ‘No, no, no, no, no’ moment of the year

• Winner: Tom Trbojevic and Damien Cook

It was a double whammy in Origin II. The season-ending injury to Tom Trbojevic was hard enough to watch given his wretched luck in recent years. It was compounded by watching back-up hooker Damien Cook thrown into the centres as cover, prompting a savage attack from sections of the media on the NSW Blues brains trust for a decision that came back to bite them.

The Ray Warren award: ‘That’s not a try, that’s a miracle’ moment of the year

• Winner: Alex Twal (Wests Tigers)

A rare scene of joy out at the Wests Tigers this year. Alex Twal’s 116-game try-scoring drought came to an end, much to the delight of his ecstatic teammates and fans. It was a moment to savour for the big Lebanese forward.

The Ivan Cleary award: “Off the bus” moment of the year

• Winner: Sam Burgess

Sam Burgess walked out on the Rabbitohs one week out from the finals series after the Herald’s revelations that he was behind a push to hold coach Jason Demetriou to account for perceived lack of accountability around Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker. The public fallout led to the Englishman hopping off the bus with the Bunnies’ season on the line.

• Honourable mentions: Tim Sheens (Tigers)

The Geoff Toovey award: ‘There needs to be an investigation’ moment of the year

• Winner: Ryan Matterson

Whoever at Parramatta agreed to allow Ryan Matterson to accept a three-game suspension instead of a fine for an indiscretion in last year’s grand final would be feeling terrible right about now. It’s hard, though, to blame anyone but Matterson. Him playing in the opening three rounds could have been the difference in the Eels playing finals football, with the club losing each of those three matches by four points and going on to finish just one win outside the top eight.

The Daly Cherry-Evans award: Biggest backflip of the year

• Winner: Wests Tigers and Tim Sheens

Tim Sheens went from general manager to head coach to the rugby league wilderness all in the space of 12 months. The Tigers went all-in on Sheens, but it didn’t take long for the alarm bells to start ringing. When the opportunity to move him on presented itself towards the end of the season, the club didn’t hesitate.

The Jamie Lyon award: Player who benefited most from missing Origin

• Winner: Kalyn Ponga

The decision from Kalyn Ponga to make himself unavailable for Queensland Origin selection is one of the most unselfish acts in recent times. It was the catalyst for Newcastle’s incredible run home, winning nine straight games to finish the season as the hottest team in the competition.

The Cooper Cronk award: ‘The every sinew in my body coming together in one perfect whole’ moment of the year

• Winner: Nathan Cleary

The two-point field goal, right on the stroke of full-time, to take the round 4 match against the Eels into golden point was described by Matthew Johns as “just about the greatest clutch play I’ve ever seen in rugby league”.

Unfortunately for the Panthers, Parramatta’s Mitchell sealed the win with a field goal of his own in golden point, but it took nothing away from the execution of Cleary just moments earlier.

The ‘why didn’t you start me sooner’ player of the year award

• Winner: Greg Marzhew

Started the year on a contract worth around $180,000. He missed the first three rounds of the competition with coach Adam O’Brien instead opting for Hymel Hunt. Marzhew been a mainstay in the team since being given a shot, culminating in a contract extension and an argument that he should be in discussions for winger of the year.

• Honourable mentions: Siua Wong (Roosters), Connor Tracey (Sharks), Phoenix Crossland (Knights), Jayden Campbell (Titans).

The Manly Pride award: Biggest jersey scandal of the year

• Winner: Wests Tigers

The Tigers were forced to apologise for the botched release of a commemorative jersey to mark Anzac Round and had to re-design a new one. The club was criticised for using a stock image of American soldiers on the front of the jersey. The fact the Raiders did the same thing the year before got lost in the attack of the embattled club.

The Johnathan Thurston award: Best dummy sold of the year

• Winner: Mitchell Moses

The show-and-go Mitchell Moses sold the Wests Tigers culminated in him becoming one of the highest-paid players in the history of the sport. The Tigers later felt they were used as leverage to drum up his price at Parramatta in a protracted contract negotiation that proved a distraction for an Eels team that failed to fire in 2023.

The Oshay Olay award: The ‘regret what you said’ moment of the year

• Winner: Lee Hagipantelis

“There are three certainties in life. Death, taxes and Tim Sheens coaching the Wests Tigers in 2023 and 2024.” They were the words uttered by the Tigers chairman on radio at the end of June after the Herald reported that Benji Marshall had been earmarked to take over a year earlier than originally planned. Two months later, Sheens was gone.

The Benji Marshall award: Best flick pass of the year

• Winner: Phil Gould to Cameron Ciraldo

Phil Gould warned Cameron Ciraldo that his first year at the Bulldogs wouldn’t be pretty. His words couldn’t have been more accurate. The flick pass he threw the rookie coach has resulted in a mass exodus within the playing ranks as they try to rebuild the roster and the culture at the under-siege club.

The Anthony Mundine award: Most controversial quote of the year

• Winner: Phil Gould

“Every time he scores a try. Every time he does something in our game people are going to refer to the fact that he’s going to rugby. Why do we need that? Go now. Don’t let the door hit you on the arse on the way out. Go. Go now. Gone … He’s a tremendous athlete and is great for the game. But he’s decided to be a rugby player. Bye bye. Off you go.” – Phil Gould’s reaction to Joseph Suaalii signing with rugby union in 2025.

• Honourable mention: Jarome Luai: “Chill, All you idiots have work tomorrow morning”.

The ‘weak-gutted dog’ award: Worst quote of the year

• Winner: Rod Churchill

“He is a complete myth who has the aboriginal [sic] cause paramount and south sydney [sic] second, if at all. I hope you and family are well.” – The text message sent to South Sydney chairman Nick Pappas in relation to fullback Latrell Mitchell.

The Arizona award: Worst cover-up attempt of the year

• Winner: Reece Walsh and the Broncos

The award, named in honour of South Sydney’s pre-season camp to the United States which resulted in John Sutton and Luke Burgess spending time behind bars, goes to the Broncos. The attempt from the Brisbane players to try and convince people that Reece Walsh was in fact verbally abusing teammate Pat Carrigan, and not referee Chris Butler, was admirable but laughable at the same time. Walsh failed in his bid to escape suspension at the judiciary, punished with a three-game ban for yelling “what the f— do you mean, c—” to the match official.

The Phil Gould II award: Best secret meeting of the year

• Winner: The Gold Coast Titans and Des Hasler

Very few negotiations stay secret in rugby league, let alone discussions about a potential coach sacking. The Gold Coast Titans stunned the rugby league media when they announced, in a press release, that former Manly coach Des Hasler was coming to the club in 2024 at the expense of Justin Holbrook, who was departing immediately.

The Walking Dead award: Person who was gone before they began

• Winner: Anthony Griffin

The Dragons’ decision to inform coach Anthony Griffin, before the season even began, that they would start to interview coaches for next year was the beginning of the end. By round 11 he was gone.

The Gorden Tallis award: Player who most wanted out of their club

• Winner: Ben Hunt

Ben Hunt’s desire to jump ship from the Dragons was one of the biggest stories of the year. It dominated the headlines during the Origin series, with suggestions he was heading to the Titans or Broncos. If Hunt had it his way he would have been gone but the Dragons, and incoming coach Shane Flanagan, stood their ground. It may not be the last we’ve heard of it.

The sombrero award: Player signing that didn’t quite add up

• Winner: Jack Wighton and the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

The South Sydney Rabbitohs had to explain to the NRL how they planned to fit Jack Wighton in the salary cap. Alarm bells were ringing when Wighton accepted $250,000 less than what the Raiders offered per season. Turns out centres, where South Sydney said they plan to play him, get paid less than five-eighths.

The Buddy Franklin award: Best leap of the year

• Winner: Lindsay Collins

It was an incredible moment during this year’s Origin series that Blues skipper James Tedesco won’t forget any time soon. Roosters teammates Lindsay Collins leaping above him to win game one for Queensland in Adelaide.

Stream the NRL Premiership 2023 live and free on 9Now.

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