The 2026 Nathan Sharpe medalist will be crowned on Friday night with plenty of worth contenders in the mix to take out the honour.
The Western Force will hold the Club’s Nathan Sharpe medal night at the WACA Ground’s Wally Edwards Function Room, to cap the 2026 Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific campaign where the side finished seventh, with a 7-7 record, their best since 2014.
Individuals will be recognised throughout the evening, with the winners announced for the Matt Hodgson Rising Star, Force Man Award and Members’ MVP, while debutants, milestones and departing players and staff will be acknowledged too.
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The main award will be the Nathan Sharpe medal, with a long list of contenders:
Captain Jeremy Williams has enjoyed an outstanding campaign, playing 13 of the 14 games and leading Super Rugby Pacific for lineout steals with 16 as part of the Force’s revered lineout set-up.
The skipper’s contribution goes far beyond set-play, registering the most minutes of any Force player (1,032, fourth most overall) underlining his stamina and durability, as well as three tries and 139 tackles (21st overall) in what was arguably his most consistency campaign to date.
Back-rower Vaiolini Ekuasi was dubbed ‘Mr Gainline’ by his teammates in pre-season and it’s easy to see why. The no.8 registered 271 in-contact metres (sixth most in Super Rugby) and 143 carries (seventh overall) and 43 dominant carries (10th overall).
He also had 121 pick and go metres (fourth overall) and was ranked 12th overall for tackles with 162.
Fly-half Ben Donaldson was among the early leaders in the Super Rugby Player of the Year voted by coaches, following a consistent season where he pulled the strings with aplomb at 10.
Donaldson’s game driving ability was underlined by his six try assists (equal seventh overall) and 11 line break assists (seventh overall), but his kicking was a major feature too, finishing with 93 points scored (fourth overall) with 78 per cent goal-kicking accuracy (seventh overall). He also had the most kicking metres in the competition (3707.6).
Full-back Mac Grealy enjoyed another stand-out campaign, following up on his impressive maiden 2025 season in Force blue which led to an Australia A call-up.
Grealy ranked fifth league-wide for carries (145) and fifth league-wide for carry metres gained (809), with his fast footwork. He had 37 tackle breaks/defenders beaten (eighth overall) and played high minutes (960, 18th overall).
Winger Dylan Pietsch’s impact on the side was obvious, with the Force winning six of the side’s final eight games, coinciding with his return from injury in Round 8 away to the Queensland Reds.
Pietsch registered six tries in eight games (second most for the Force), finishing with 10 line breaks (equal ninth overall) and 28 tackle breaks, plus a league-best three strip tackle turnovers.
It’s hard to look past Carlo Tizzano as a contender for the top gong, following another free-scoring campaign where he dotted a team-high 10 times to become the Force’s all-time leading try scorer.
Tizzano’s 10th tries was third league-wide overall, but his work rate was arguably his key facet, adding 167 completed tackles (equal eighth overall), with 258 attacking ruck arrivals and 110 ball carries.
Vice-captain Nick Champion de Crespigny was whole-hearted throughout the campaign, finishing fourth in Super Rugby Pacific for completed tackles (176) and registering a team-high 265 attacking ruck arrivals.
Hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa was a standout too, playing 13 of 14 games, ranking second league-wide for jackal nuisance (23) with seven breakdown steals (equal eighth overall) and 101 defensive ruck arrivals (second overall). He had an excellent season at lineout time too.
Midfielders George Bridge and Hamish Stewart had strong season, playing high minutes, scoring two and one tries respectively, with 126 and 130 tackles each respectively. Darcy Swain was brilliant at the lineout, along with Franco Molina who also added four tries.
Scrum-half Henry Robertson enjoyed a brilliant campaign until an ACL injury suffered in Round 13, while experienced trio Harry Johnson-Holmes, Sef Fa’agase and Kurtley Beale didn’t miss a game.
Follow the Western Force socials on Friday night to find out the winners.
Enjoyed the ride!?! Register your interest in a 2027 Western Force Membership today
