Ofahengaue claims Kelly-Barnes Medal
Wests Tigers forward Joe Ofahengaue has claimed the Kelly-Barnes Medal after being voted the club’s 2022 NRL Player of the Year.
Ofahengaue was a highly consistent performer across the season, and one of only two players to play all 24 games.
Playing across a range of positions in the forwards, he averaged 64 minutes per game and ranked in the top 30 players in the competition for total run metres. Ofahengaue was equally effective without the ball, his 882 tackles placing him in the top ten defenders in the league.
The award was presented just hours after the club announced that Ofahengaue had signed a three-year contract extension, keeping him at Wests Tigers until at least the end of 2025.
Last season’s joint winner of the Kelly-Barnes Medal, Daine Laurie, was voted by his teammates as the club’s Players’ Player for 2022.
Laurie enjoyed a stellar start to the season, setting up five tries in his first six appearances.
He suffered a MCL injury in Wests Tigers’ victory over the Rabbitohs in Round 7, but returned in style by registering two try assists and two line breaks in Round 12.
He ended the season with an average of 120 running metres per game and a total of 77 tackle busts, placing him in the top 25 players in the competition.
The Rookie of the Year Award went to Fonua Pole who didn’t miss a game after making his NRL debut against the Warriors in Round 16.
The club’s nominee for the 2022 Ken Stephen Medal, Luke Garner, was recognised for his outstanding community work with the Wayne Pearce Community Award.
Thomas Freebairn was named Player of the Year in the NSW Cup, capping a stellar season which saw him make his NRL debut in Round 21 against Newcastle.
Explosive outside back Junior Pauga – who made his NRL debut last season - was voted as the NSW Cup team’s Players’ Player for 2022.
In the Jersey Flegg Cup, James Valevatu was named the Player of the Year while Tray Lolesio picked up the Players’ Player Award.
Najvada George was named Player of the Year for our premiership-winning Harvey Norman Women’s side, with Keele Browne voted the Players’ Player.
Head of Pathways Matthew Betsey and Head of Fan Engagement Rachel Cummins were the joint-winners of the Club Person of the Year Award - both deserved winners for their outstanding commitment and contributions to Wests Tigers.
Harvey Norman Women’s Team Manager Jess Schwartz was named Wests Tigers Woman of the Year for the outstanding work she has done for the women’s game in 2022.
The club also inducted four new Wests Tigers Life Members, including 2005 premiership heroes Scott Prince and Pat Richards, former Club Person of the Year Paul Tape, and long-time gear steward, Vincent Marando.
Wests Tigers 2022 Kelly-Barnes Awards
Kelly-Barnes Medal — Joe Ofahengaue
NRL Players’ Player — Daine Laurie
NRL Rookie of the Year — Fonua Pole
NSW Cup Player of the Year — Tom Freebairn
NSW Cup Players’ Player — Junior Pauga
Jersey Flegg Player of the Year — James Valevatu
Jersey Flegg Players’ Player — Tray Lolesio
NSW Women’s Premiership Player of the Year — Najvada George
NSW Women’s Premiership Players’ Player — Keele Browne
Wayne Pearce Community Award — Luke Garner
Wests Tigers Club Person of the Year — Rachel Cummins & Matt Betsey
Wests Tigers Woman of the Year — Jess Schwartz
https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2022/09/06/ofahengaue-claims-kelly-barnes-medal/
Congrat's Joe! Well deserved, and it's great to see this award go to a player that has obvious passion and commitment to the team.
IMO he's not the ideal build for a classic forward role with us but his stats show how hard he works. And the contract extension shows what the new coaching staff think of his input to the team and perhaps gives a hint of a mobile forward pack direction for our future?
Regardless of that, Offa needs to be in a role of high leadership in the playing group.
Was a good night.
Well after the season from hell, I'm really glad the morale is there to put a great night together mate!
Well deserved award for Joe, he was our best by a long way.
I see Head of Pathways, Matthew Betsey was joint winner of Club Person of the Year. Is he working in the shadows. Pathways and development is constantly referenced, but us fans are in dark. Surely he’s got some insights worth sharing and stories to tell: What state was Pathways in when he got here. What and how have they changed things. How does it compare to other Pathways. How are we travelling, and how do they measure it. Be great if he could be interviewed on the podcast. That would be one small way of selling the vision, and giving hope to the rusted on fans about the next generation coming through. Penrith’s juniors are NRL ready when they arrive and there’s plenty of them. Pole was excellent this year, hit the ground running, hopefully he’s beginning of plenty more to come and not an exception, we desperately need more of his quality.
I see Head of Pathways, Matthew Betsey was joint winner of Club Person of the Year. Is he working in the shadows. Pathways and development is constantly referenced, but us fans are in dark. Surely he’s got some insights worth sharing and stories to tell: What state was Pathways in when he got here. What and how have they changed things. How does it compare to other Pathways. How are we travelling, and how do they measure it. Be great if he could be interviewed on the podcast. That would be one small way of selling the vision, and giving hope to the rusted on fans about the next generation coming through. Penrith’s juniors are NRL ready when they arrive and there’s plenty of them. Pole was excellent this year, hit the ground running, hopefully he’s beginning of plenty more to come and not an exception, we desperately need more of his quality.
Great minds mate, I introduced myself to him on Tuesday and hope to have him on over the off season. No promises but I am trying to make it happen.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
