She has been heralded as the future of the NRLW, but is Jesse Southwell about to hang a new award next to her Commonwealth Games gold medal?
The Knights halfback is known for her kicking game, which has helped propel Newcastle to their second grand final in two years, but she’s also managed to snag a Dally M nomination for try of the year barely a year after winning rugby sevens gold in Birmingham.
In a tense contest between the NRLW’s two top teams – the Knights and the Roosters – Southwell slipped past Tarryn Aiken, Otesa Pule, Mya Hill-Moana, Keilee Joseph and Corban Baxter to score in the 62nd minute and all but seal up the minor premiership for Newcastle.
Southwell is one of the Knights six nominees at this year’s 2023 Dally M awards, and is nominated for try of the year alongside Tigers centre Leianna Tufuga and Dragons winger Teagan Berry.
Try of the year is just one of the accolades up for grabs on Wednesday night, here are the nominees for every category.
Knights halfback Jesse Southwell celebrates after scoring against the Roosters in round eight.Credit: Getty
Fullback of the year
Nominees: Teagan Berry (Dragons), Evania Pelite (Titans), Tamika Upton (Knights)
Berry has been one of the best players in the NRLW this year. She stepped into the fullback role in 2023 and didn’t let the pressure of becoming a spine player stop her from playing her style of game. But it’s hard to go past Upton for this award. The Knights are hunting back-to-back premierships, and Upton is a major reason for their success this year.
Winger of the year (two winners)
Nominees: Jakiya Whitfeld (Tigers), Sheridan Gallagher (Knights), Julia Robinson (Broncos), Jayme Fressard (Roosters), Shakiah Tungai (Raiders), Destiny Mino-Sinapati (Titans)
There are two clear standouts for this award: Fressard and Gallagher. Both players have picked up six tries this year and have been relentless in attack and defence for their teams. Gallagher, incidentally, is in just her first NRLW season after a code switch from soccer where she was the Young Matildas skipper.
Centre of the year (two winners)
Nominees: Annessa Biddle (Sharks), Mele Hufanga (Broncos), Jaime Chapman (Titans), Shanice Parker (Knights), Jessica Sergis (Roosters), Isabelle Kelly (Roosters)
Mele Hufanga came in for plenty of attention from Newcastle on Sunday – and for good reason.Credit: Getty
Two words: Mele Hufanga. Not just one of the best centres all year, she’s been one of the best players. The rugby union convert has taken the NRLW by storm and is a major reason the Broncos were so successful in 2023.
Five-eighth of the year
Nominees: Gayle Broughton (Broncos), Zahara Temara (Raiders), Tarryn Aiken (Roosters)
Gayle Broughton, Zahara Temara and Tarryn Aiken.Credit: Getty
All three of these players were at new clubs in 2023 and really steered their teams to success. For me, the standout among the bunch is Temara. Tasked with helping establish one of four new NRLW teams this year, Temara took her experience and leadership and gave the Raiders a real crack at the finals in the club’s first year.
Halfback of the year
Nominees: Raecene McGregor (Dragons), Lauren Brown (Titans), Ali Brigginshaw (Broncos)
Veteran Ali Brigginshaw is the frontrunner for the halfback of the year award.Credit: Getty
Hard to look past Brigginshaw for this award. At 33 the Broncos skipper is as sharp as ever and her kicking game has been exceptional – her chip and chase is unrivalled.
Hooker of the year
Nominees: Destiny Brill (Broncos), Emma Manzelmann (Cowboys), Brittany Breayley-Nati (Titans)
Brittany Breayley-Nati opened the scoring for the Titans on Sunday to further push her Dally M claims.Credit: Getty
An all-Queensland affair for this one, and all really different players. The Cowboys had a mixed first season in the NRLW, but Manzelmann could snatch this one; she was excellent in defence and a guiding hand for the team in their inaugural season.
Prop of the year (two winners)
Nominees: Ellie Johnston (Sharks), Millie Boyle (Roosters), Sarah Togatuki (Tigers), Jessika Elliston (Titans), Brianna Clark (Broncos), Shannon Mato (Titans)
Sarah Togatuki showed her new Tigers teammates how it’s done this season.Credit: Getty
This is probably the hardest bunch to choose from. If I had to pick two that really stepped up their games this year, it’s Johnston and Togatuki – scary in attack and showed their young teams what it means to be a heavy-hitting forward.
Second row of the year (two winners)
Nominees: Kezie Apps (Tigers), Shaylee Bent (Titans), Otesa Pule (Roosters), Olivia Kernick (Roosters), Yasmin Clydsdale (Knights), Mahalia Murphy (Eels)
A bit of a mixed bag with this one. Apps was impressive for the Tigers, but the Roosters duo endured a lot given the injuries in their squad. This is really anyone’s pick.
Lock of the year
Nominees: Mariah Denman (Broncos), Simaima Taufa (Raiders), Georgia Hale (Titans)
Raiders NRLW captain Simaima Taufa.Credit: Getty
Hale will be a hot contender for this one, but Taufa will give her a run for her money. Both skippers are masters of the game and their leadership on and off the field plays a big part in both team’s success this year.
Coach of the year
Nominees: Ronald Griffiths (Knights), Karyn Murphy (Titans), Darrin Borthwick (Raiders)
There’s no bad option here. All three coaches have had a cracking season. The success of the Raiders in their first NRLW season puts Borthwick in hot contention for this award, but Karyn Murphy is on the cusp of history: not only has she just led the Titans to the club’s first ever grand final, she’s also the first female coach to take a team to the grand final.
Captain of the year
Nominees: Georgia Hale (Titans), Ali Brigginshaw (Broncos), Simaima Taufa (Raiders)
Georgia Hale and her fellow captain of the year nominees will be hard to split.Credit: Getty
What a fantastic trio. I know the award doesn’t work like this, but really, they all deserve skipper of the year. For the same reason Borthwick could get coach of the year, Taufa could get captain of the year. She’s calm, controlled and leads by example.
