Canberra Raiders star front rower Joseph Tapine has capped off an incredible season by winning his first Meninga Medal as the club’s best player in 2022.
Tapine was a dominant winner of the award, with the New Zealand international securing 44 points, 22 points clear of 2020 Meninga Medal winner Jack Wighton in second on the final tally.
The 28-year-old has featured in 24 matches this season and finished third in the NRL for total run metres (3,991) and first for post contact metres (1,667).
Tapine is fresh off a man of the match performance in Canberra’s 28-20 Elimination Final win over Melbourne where he had 216 run metres, three line break assists and one try assist, leading skipper Elliott Whitehead to praise him as “the best prop in the world”.
Meanwhile, Hudson Young took home the NRL Coaches’ award for the season, with the dynamic Raiders back rower also securing 19 points to finish third in the Meninga Medal tally. Young has scored 14 tries from 23 matches this year and has developed a knack for scoring a crucial try.
After starting the season at halfback for the injured Jamal Fogarty, Brad Schneider was named the Raiders rookie of the year for 2022, after playing 11 matches in his first full season in the NRL after making his debut last year in one appearance. The 21-year-old’s highlight was scoring the match-sealing try against Cronulla in a huge Magic Round upset that helped set up Canberra’s late season charge.
This year’s rookie of the year held extra significance, as the award was renamed the Peter Mulholland rookie of the year as a mark of respect for the club’s former Head of Recruitment and Development Peter Mulholland, who sadly passed away late last year.
It was also a first for the Fred Daly Club person of the year, with Kate Gallegos named the first female winner of the award in club history. Kate, who has worked tirelessly for the club since 2007 as Sponsorship Manager, secured the award for her continued hard work and effort across the Canberra Raiders club.
Earlier in the evening the club paid tribute to the late Chairman Dr Allan Hawke AC, with a moving tribute to open the event, with the Raiders NRL squad and staff also attending his memorial service earlier in the day to form a guard of honour in respect for Dr Hawke.
There was also a special presentation during the night when Monsignor John Woods became just the 10th official life member in club history, for his contribution to the club as Chaplain and pastoral mentor, a role he’s held since 1986.
In the Canberra Raiders lower grade awards the NSW Cup player’s player was awarded to Peter Hola, with Ata Mariota taking home the coaches’ award. Jersey Flegg player of the year was Steven Numambo, with Loghan Lewis winning the coaches’ award.
The Geoff Caldwell welfare and education award went to Harley Smith-Shields, with the club’s Gordon McLucas Junior Representative player of the year awarded to Michael Asomua, who represented the NSW under 19’s this season.
2022 Meninga Medal Winners
Meninga Medal Top Five
44 – Joseph Tapine
22 – Jack Wighton
19 – Hudson Young
14 – Adam Elliott
13 – Josh Papalii
- NRL Coaches’ award – Hudson Young
- Peter Mulholland NRL Rookie of the year – Brad Schneider
- Fred Daly club person of the year – Kate Gallegos
- Geoff Caldwell welfare & education award – Harley Smith-Shields
- Gordon McLucas junior representative of the year – Michael Asomua
- NSW Cup player of the year – Peter Hola
- NSW Cup Coaches’ award – Ata Mariota
- Jersey Flegg player of the year – Steven Numambo
- Jersey Flegg Coaches’ award – Loghan Lewis
