Destructive prop Felila Fakalelu was named the 2024 Sharks Female Pathways Player of the Year at Wednesday's presentation night recognising the Lisa Fiaola and Tarsha Gale teams.
Fakalelu, a try-scoring machine who crossed the line four times in a game against the Panthers this season, also won the Lisa Fiaola Players' Player and Player of the Year awards at a celebratory dinner at Sharks at Kareela.
Other winners included Charlotte Hall (Lisa Fiaola Coaches Award), Joy Levy (Tarsha Gale Coaches Award), Koreti Leilua and Tia-Jordyn Vasilovski (Tarsha Gale Players' Players) and Stephanie Faulkner (Tarsha Gale Player of the Year).
The event was attended by NRLW players Quincy Dodd, Rhiannon Byers, Tayla Preston and Jada Taylor, NRLW head coach Tony Herman, NRLW & Female Pathway Manager Casey Bromilow and General Manager Football Darren Mooney.
Loyal sponsor Minespec Parts also had a presence, having proudly supported the junior teams alongside John Ryan Freight Management, SBA Earthmoving and Attachments, Shore Hire and Cronulla Carpets.
It was a successful campaign for the junior girls, with the under-17 Lisa Fiaola side showing significant improvement throughout their maiden season while the under-19 Tarsha Gale squad fell one win short of the grand final.
Fakalelu is the second recipient of the prestigious Female Pathways Player of the Year gong after Faulkner earned the honour in 2023.
2024 female pathways award winners
Lisa Fiaola Coaches Award – Charlotte Hall
Lisa Fiaola Players' Player – Felila Fakalelu
Lisa Fiaola Player of the Year - Felila Fakalelu
Tarsha Gale Coaches Award – Joy Levy
Tarsha Gale Players' Player – Koreti Leilua & Tia-Jordyn Vasilovski
Tarsha Gale Player of the Year – Stephanie Faulkner
Female Pathways Player of the Year - Felila Fakalelu