As the club season comes to a close, we take a moment to celebrate the outstanding performers recognized through the Men’s Billy Wallace and Women’s Erin Rush Best & Fairest standings. With the winners recently announced at the WRFU Awards, we are excited to reveal the best players selected based on their performances throughout the season.
Men’s Billy Wallace Best & Fairest Team
Key Highlights:
Joint winners: Sam Clarke (Paremata-Plimmerton) and Milan Kriletich (Marist St Pats).
A total of 11 first-time selections in the starting XV, with just five players returning from previous years.
Men’s Team Selection:
Forwards:
Loosehead Prop: Jacob Faifai (Avalon)
Tighthead Prop: Antonio Prim (Wellington Axemen)
Hooker: Harry Press (HOBM)
Locks: Akira Ieremia (Tawa), Hugo Plummer (Tawa)
Blindside Flanker: Teru Time (Wainuiomata)
Openside Flanker: Milan Kriletich (Marist St Pats)
No. 8: Dougal Perrers (OBU)
Backs:
Halfback: Sam Clarke (Paremata-Plimmerton)
First Five: Mark Sutton (Johnsonville)
Midfield: Tyler Tane (Wainuiomata), Alex Ropeti (Ories)
Left Wing: Belgium Tuatagaloa (Petone)
Right Wing: Finlay Sharp (Johnsonville)
Fullback: Esi Komaisavai (Paremata-Plimmerton)
Bench:
- Louis Calvert (OBU)
- Siale Lauaki (Tawa)
- Jordan Gillies (HOBM)
- Asiata (Poneke)
- Kyle Preston (OBU)
- Callum Harkin (Upper Hutt)
- Emmanuel Solomona (Upper Hutt)
Notable Mentions: While every club except Norths is represented in the team, there were several players who narrowly missed selection. Gillies, for instance, ranked well in the voting but played primarily openside flanker, placing him on the bench behind Kriletich.
Women’s Erin Rush Best & Fairest Team
Key Highlights:
This year, the selection saw eleven players making the list for the first time.
Owing to a scarcity of points in some positions, the team had to adopt a flexible approach.
Women’s Team Selection:
Forwards:
Loosehead Prop: Lavinia Lea (Petone)
Hooker: Valini Vaka (Poneke-OBU)
Locks: Flexible selection due to points scarcity
No. 8: Hosanna Aumua (Avalon, first-time three-time selection)
Flankers: Jackie Patea-Fereti (initial selection in 2021)
Backs:
Halfbacks and First Fives: Flexible selection based on performance and availability
Wings: Adaptations made due to fewer point scorers in these positions
Returning Players:
Hosanna Aumua (Avalon)
Lavinia Lea (Petone)
Valini Vaka (Poneke-OBU)
Jackie Patea-Fereti
Conclusion: Both the Men’s and Women’s teams highlight the remarkable talent across the league this season, showcasing a mix of seasoned players and fresh talent. These selections honor the consistent performances of athletes who have excelled throughout the year, paving the way for continued growth and success in the future.
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