A day after collecting two Dally M trophies, inspirational captain Tiana Penitani has secured back-to-back Sharks NRLW Player of the Year awards at tonight's Porter Gallen Medal ceremony.
Penitani, who won the Dally M Captain of the Year and Centre of the Year gongs on Wednesday, was announced as her team's best and fairest for 2024 at Doltone House Sylvania in front of over 350 players, officials, sponsors and guests.
She joined NRL star Blayke Brailey in earning the team's top award in consecutive years, having received the honour in the club's inaugural NRLW season.
The 28-year-old Penitani, who beat out fellow nominees Ellie Johnston, Quincy Dodd, Emma Tonegato and Brooke Anderson for the NRLW Player of the Year mantle, will aim to create premiership history on Sunday when she leads her side into a blockbuster Grand Final against the Roosters at Accor Stadium.
Penitani has scored a team-high seven tries in 10 matches this season while averaging 145 metres per game. She crossed for a crucial four-pointer in last week's 14-0 win over minor premiers Brisbane to secure a berth in the decider.
The skipper was also voted as the NRLW Members' Players of the Year and received the NRLW Wellbeing & Education Excellence award.
Other women's award winners on Porter Gallen Medal night included Dodd and Anderson, who shared Players' Player honours, while exciting five-eighth Georgia Hannaway was named the Rookie of the Year after bursting onto the scene.
Star playmaker Emma Tonegato, who balances her NRLW duties with her role as the club's Equal Access Program Lead in working with people with disability, received the NRLW Sharks Have Heart Community award.
Ahliva Graham was announced as the Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership Player of the Year, with Jaydika Tafua the Players' Player.
See a full list of winners below.
Porter-Gallen Medal Night – Award Winners
Porter Gallen Medal–Pontifex Player of the Year
Blayke Brailey
Porter Gallen Medal Nominees
Blayke Brailey, Will Kennedy, Briton Nikora, Jesse Ramien, Siosifa Talakai
Steve Rogers Rookie of the Year
Kayal Iro
Members' Player of the Year
Daniel Atkinson & Tiana Penitani
Tommy Bishop Players' Player
Jesse Ramien
Andrew Ettingshausen Club Person of the Year
Tony Grimaldi
Iron Man Award
Blayke Brailey
NRLW Player of the Year
Tiana Penitani
NRLW Players' Player
Quincy Dodd & Brooke Anderson
NRLW Rookie of the Year
Georgia Hannaway
Sharks Have Heart Community Award
NRL – Nicho Hynes & Max Bradbury
NRLW – Emma Tonegato
Jersey Flegg Greg Pierce Players' Player
Felix Faatili
Jersey Flegg Gavin Miller Player of the Year
Samuel McCulloch
NRL Wellbeing & Education Excellence Award
Jesse Colquhoun
Jersey Flegg Wellbeing & Education Excellence Award
Samuel McCulloch
NRLW Wellbeing & Education Excellence Award
Tiana Penitani
