Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Apii Nicholls take top honours at NZ Warriors awards

Tuivasa-Sheck, Nicholls take top honours at Warriors awards

NZ Warriors Player of the Year Roger Tuivasa-Sheck seemed on the point of handing his latest accolade off to a teammate, as he reluctantly accepted the Simon Mannering Medal for the third time in his illustrious career.

The flying winger headed off a field that included lock Erin Clark, fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, second-rower Kurt Capewell and front-rower Jackson Ford, but singled out Clark as being particularly unlucky not to take the award.

"I feel extremely lucky," Tuivasa-Sheck admitted. "I was asking Erin Clark what haka he wanted, the Kiwis or kamate.

"I honestly believe Erin Clark had an outstanding year and I thought he would be well deserving of this prize - I just feel lucky at this stage.

"It's crazy, I don't feel like I've done that amazing. I don't feel like I've done better than my mate Erin Clark did - I did my role as best I can and that's how I see it."

Tuivasa-Sheck's previous awards came in 2017 and 2018 - the latter marked the first occasion it took on the name of the club's only 300-game stalwart and was also the year he won the Dally M Medal as the NRL Player of the Year.

In the meantime, he switched codes, played test rugby for the All Blacks and returned to the Warriors last season, when he attempted to transform into a centre, with mixed success.

Back on the wing, where he began his NRL career, Tuivasa-Sheck finished as his team's top tryscorer - equal with rookie sensation Leka Halasima with 12 - averaging 216 running metres per game and 72 post-contact metres, both competition bests.

"Just being in the moment with the young boys, understanding my role and keeping it really clear," he said. "When I came back from rugby, I questioned what weight should I play at, what style of play, what position... that was the big question for me.

"I found a home on the left wing outside Adam Pompey, Chanel Harris-Tavita and Kurt Capewell. I found a home, I found an edge and we went to work."

Tuivasa-Sheck missed the Warriors' 2023 playoff run that finished one win short of the grand final, so reaching the postseason again - seven years after his last visit - marked an achievement for someone whose chances may be running out.

With one year left on his current contract, professional rugby outfit R360 is courting him, but Tuivasa-Sheck hasn't ruled out an extended stay with the Warriors.

"We're working on something at the moment."

Tuivasa-Sheck, 32, was also voted Players' Player of the Year by his teammates, while Halasima took out Rookie of the Year and People's Choice, and young forward Demitric Vaimauga was named Clubman of the Year.

Meanwhile, captain Apii Nicholls took out NRLW Player of the Year hounours, after leading her inexperienced team through their comeback season in the competition, after a five-year hiatus.

"I'm really grateful," she said. "I do my best to help this team and just really thankful to be nominated."

Nicholls, 32, was part of the club's original women's programme in 2018 and 2019, but looked elsewhere, after it withdrew from the competition during Covid-19. She was the only original to return under new coach Ron Griffiths and proved an inspirational presence at fullback, while guiding many of her teammates through their debut seasons at that level.

"These girls have trained so hard and the attitude they brought and their behaviour... they really wanted to learn the game. It was really nice to see them with good behaviours, because that's what you want.

"They gave it their best the whole season."

Second-rower Kaiyah Atai was named Players' Player of the Year, rugby convert Tysha Ikenasio won Clubwoman of the Year, bruising forward Ivana Lauitiiti was Rookie of the Year and tryscoring star Payton Takimoana proved the People's Choice.

2025 NZ Warriors Awards Winners

NRL Simon Mannering Medal - Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

NRL Players' Player of the Year - Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

NRL Clubman of the Year - Demitric Vaimauga

NRL People's Choice - Leka Halasima

NRL Rookie of the Year - Leka Halasima

NRLW Player of the Year - Apii Nicholls

NRLW Players' Player of the Year - Kaiyah Atai

NRLW Clubwoman of the Year - Tysha Ikenasio

NRLW People's Choice - Payton Takimoana

NRLW Rookie of the Year - Ivana Lauitiiti

NSW Cup Player of the Year - Kalani Going

NSW Cup Team Man - Geronimo Doyle

NSW Cup Players' Player - Tanah Boyd

Jersey Flegg Player of the Year - Jacob Auloa

Jersey Flegg Team Man - Paea Sikuvea

Jersey Flegg Emerging Player - Caelys Putoko

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