Brailey in rare air as back-to-back Porter Gallen Medal winner

Author: Sharks Media
Timestamp: Thu 3 Oct 2024, 10:22 PM

Blayke Brailey has joined an illustrious group to claim the Porter Gallen Medal multiple times after being named the Sharks Pontifex Jewellers Player of the Year for the second straight season.

The durable hooker, who touched the ball more than anyone else (3,360 times) in 2024, has become the first player to secure back-to-back NRL Player of the Year awards for the club since Michael Gordon's double in 2013-14.

Brailey received the honour at Thursday's presentation night at Doltone House Sylvania, with over 350 players, officials, sponsors and guests in attendance.

The 26-year-old sits among Sharks royalty as the latest player to receive the NRL Player of the Year award more than once since 1989, the list including Andrew Ettingshausen, Danny Lee, David Peachey, Danny Nutley and Paul Gallen.

Brailey was announced as the 2024 winner by NRL head coach Craig Fitzgibbon, edging out fellow nominees Will Kennedy, Jesse Ramien, Briton Nikora and Siosifa Talakai. Gallen presented the prestigious medal carrying his name and that of inaugural Sharks captain Monty Porter to his former teammate.

In playing every game for a remarkable fourth consecutive season, Brailey was also the lone player to clinch the NRL Iron Man award. The No.9 churned out the second-most tackles in the league (1,108), punching well above his weight.

Ramien took home the Tommy Bishop Players' Player gong after delivering six tries, 13 try assists and 163 average metres in 24 games, while fellow centre Kayal Iro was crowned the Steve Rogers Rookie of the Year.

Having made only one first-grade appearance before this season, Iro seized his opportunity in Round 4 and quickly became a mainstay on the left edge.

Other men's winners included Nicho Hynes and Max Bradbury, who shared the Sharks Have Heart Community award with NRLW star Emma Tonegato.

Daniel Atkinson was voted the NRL Members' Player of the Year, with Jesse Colquhoun taking out the NRL Wellbeing & Education Excellence award.

On the under-21 Jersey Flegg Cup front, the Gavin Miller Player of the Year award went to lock Sam McCulloch, who led the Sharks on an incredible 10-match winning streak en route to last week's narrow grand final loss to the Bulldogs. Hulking prop Felix Faatili received the Greg Pierce Players' Player trophy.

NRL Rehabilitation Coordinator & Wrestling Coach Tony Grimaldi was named the Andrew Ettingshausen Club Person of the Year for all his work behind the scenes.

NRLW and Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership awards were also given out at the Porter Gallen Medal night – CLICK HERE for a full women's wrap. Tiana Penitani secured the NRLW Player of the Year for the second season running, while Quincy Dodd and Brooke Anderson shared Players' Player honours.

See the full list of winners below.