Cleary, Saifiti, Southwell finish season on a high
NSWRL are pleased to announce Nathan Cleary as the Brad Fittler Medallist, Daniel Saifiti as the True Blue Award Winner and Hannah Southwell as the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s State of Origin Player of the Year.
The Brad Fittler Medal is awarded to the best player in the NSW team for their performances during an Origin series and is determined by the players. Cleary was presented with the award when the team arrived back in Sydney overnight following their 20-14 loss to Queensland in the decider.
“Winning the Brad Fittler was a great moment and I’m very proud to receive an award like that,” Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues halfback Cleary said.
“I would have loved to have won it off the back of series win but it’s a great honour and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to have played in the series,”
“It’s been crazy month - I’ve lost two of the biggest games of the my life, there were a lot of lessons learned but its really put the fire in my belly for next year.”
The True Blue Award was also presented to Saifiti overnight and is decided by the coaching staff. It is awarded to the player who displays qualities upon which the team culture is built.
Southwell was awarded the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s State of Origin player of the year after her impressive performance against Queensland, where NSW went down 24-18 at Sunshine Coast Stadium last week.
“It’s decided by the players so we don’t have any say in that,” Fittler said
“Between Nathan Cleary, Daniel Tupou and Daniel Saifiti as well - I thought they outstanding,”
“He had a lot of pressure on him Nathan, more so than any other player by far and for someone that young to stand up, and he stood up again last night, was great,”
“What a great sign for us going forward.”