Tasman Mako & Community Rugby Awards 2022
The 2022 Awards evening was held on Monday 26 September attended by Tasman Rugby staff, sponsors and guests and Tasman Mako NPC men and FPC female players.
Community Rugby Awards
These Awards recognise the performance and achievements of our leading coaches, players and referees within the Tasman Region.
Referee of the Year (Presented by Mako hooker Andrew Makalio)
Ben Alexander was honoured as the Referee of the Year.
Ben has become a leading force in our Tasman Trophy competition and has started to achieve selection at the next level of the game, and all this at the tender age of 23. He is a referee who helps produce a flowing game, which encapsulates what the Tasman and Mako rugby brand stands for.
Club Coach of the Year (Presented by Mako co-head coach Dan Perrin)
Running a club team as head coach requires a lot of time and effort, especially given that you are leading a team of volunteers. This year’s winner of the coach of the year has led a team from Blenheim, not only into the Final of the Tasman Trophy, but coached and played the team to a Tasman Trophy win!
Quentin MacDonald is a true blue Central man and the deserved winner of Club Coach of the Year.
Development Player of the Year (Presented by Mako assistant coach Hoani MacDonald)
Sitaleki Baker (Wanderers club) was deemed a total team player on and off the pitch, who lived and breathed the group’s values day in and day out. This award is voted by the Development coaching group.
Under 19's Player of the Year
Olly Lawson (Central club) demonstrated both on and off field growth, displaying incredible qualities in all aspects of the development culture in 2022. This award was voted on by the U19 coaching group. Olly was unable to attend.
Women’s Club Player of the Year (presented by Mako assistant coach Billy Guyton)
Kolotita Lupeitu’u (Marist club) had an amazing debut season for NBS Tasman Trophy winners, Marist. Her performances earned selection for the Tasman Mako team in the Farah Palmer Cup.
Men’s Club Player of the Year (presented by Quentin MacDonald)
Braden Stewart (Central club) was the standout player in the Stuff Tasman Trophy competition. His rousing displays at flanker saw him recalled to the Tasman Mako in the Bunnings Warehouse NPC.
Mako Team Awards
Women’s Rookie of the Year
The FPC Rookie award trophy (presented by FPC captain Hannah Kelly) has a simple Koru design, which represents new life, strength and growth – it is the start of the journey towards fulfilling potential.
Brooklyn Logan played in 4 matches at lock forward, scoring 2 tries, and has massive potential as a player and leader.
Men’s Rookie of the Year
The NPC Rookie of the Year (presented by Mako assistant coach James Marshall) went to a young man who debuted in 2022 as an injury replacement player on loan from Canterbury.
Fletcher Anderson has fitted into the side seamlessly at flanker, giving 100% on the field performances as well as being a terrific team member off it.
Women’s Defender of the Year
The Mako FPC women’s trophy displays a Manaia design on the Mako fin – this depicts a guardianship and protector with the ability to keep evil at bay (befitting the defender of the team).
Tahlia Brody was the team's standout tackler and turnover defender and is our 2022 award winner. Tahlia was unable to attend but sent a thank you video.
Men’s Defender of the Year
The Mako NPC award (presented by Hoani MacDonald) went to the player within the squad who displayed all-round excellence on defense.
Braden Stewart showed the qualities looked for by the coaches and management team: most tackles made, percentage of tackles effectively made and the number of dominate tackles made.
Mako Woman of the Year (presented by Billy Guyton)
This award trophy design includes the Mangopare design, as worn on our jersey, and recognises our 8 iwi in the region.
Tamara Silcock who earned her milestone 30-game Blazer this season) has shown a work ethic and ability to bring the best out of everyone in the team through her mana and leadership.
Mako Man of the Year (presented by Dan Perrin)
The recipient of this prestigious award encompasses both on and off field excellence with the winner having displayed outstanding qualities in all aspects of Mako culture.
Alex Nankivell was voted for by his peers, the players and team management, for showing the team’s values of humility, grit and trailblazing to thrive, with a work ethic befitting the Mako Man of the Year.
Woman Player of the Year
This award is given to a player who is judged by her coaches to be the best player on the field week in week out throughout the year. The design of the award is a simple design of the Mako – it brings things back to the team: being the best of the best within the team.
Cassie Siataga lead the team from from first-five with a calm presence, and kept her team moving forward with a strong kicking, passing and running game that yielded 37 points (1 try, 7 conversions, 6 penalties). Cassie was unable to attend.
Mako Player of the Year (presented by Mako co-head coach Gray Cornelius)
This award is voted by the Mako coaching group and is presented to the player who has been the best Mako player of the season week in week out. This player is deemed our Mako on field MVP for the season.
Levi Aumua, with his strong and aggressive displays in the mid-field, has excelled above all others with consistent impact in all matches that he played.
