The Western Force Season Awards will be held at The Westin on Friday night with the Nathan Sharpe medal for the best men’s player in the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season to be announced.
There’s no shortage of contenders for the prestigious gong, named after the Club’s inaugural captain and previously won by club legends like Matt Giteau, Ben McCalman, Dane Haylett-Petty and Matt Hodgson (three times).
Wallabies recognition is a strong indication of the favourites, putting Hamish Stewart, Ben Donaldson, Nic White and Jeremy Williams’ names up in lights, along with Carlo Tizzano and Bayley Kuenzle who were selected in the wider training squad.
New Zealand trio Chase Tiatia, Reed Prinsep and Tom Franklin all had strong campaigns, along with hooker Tom Horton, who started every game.
Loose forward Tizzano, who won the Club’s Members’ MVP in 2019, is among the contenders having led Super Rugby Pacific for tackles with 240. The back-rower was also in the top 10 in Super Rugby for turnovers won (10 from 14 games).
Inside-centre Stewart wasn’t far behind Tizzano for tackles, finishing equal fourth in Super Rugby Pacific with 180. Stewart, who earned a maiden Wallabies call-up last month, had a team-high 85 carries across the campaign.
Fly-half Donaldson will be in the mix, pulling the strings as playmaker, scoring two tries and setting up plenty of others. He managed a team-high 31 defenders beaten from 84 carries, while he was the Super Rugby leader for kicks in play (136) and kicking metres (5,444m).
Backs Kuenzle and Tiatia will be in contention, having finished as the side’s joint leading try scorers with six each, followed by Tizzano with five.
Utility back Kuenzle had outstanding 2024 campaign, earning a call-up into the wider Wallabies training camp. He was third in the Force for metres gained (504) and second in the team for line breaks (10).
Winger Tiatia topped him in both categories with 570 metres gained and 14 line breaks, starting the season with four tries in the first six games.
Back-rower Prinsep could be a dark horse given his offensive and defensive contributions after joining as injury cover in Round 4, having the most carries of any Force forward (82) with 13 lineout takes and 164 tackles.
Captain Williams missed a handful of games but still was equal fifth in Super Rugby for lineout steals with 7 and won 37 lineouts across his 10 games.
Fellow lock Franklin was equal eighth for lineout steals (5), while Horton played high minutes, starting every game, scoring three tries and making 147 tackles.
White won’t be far off the top echelon having had a good season at scrum-half, finishing fifth in the league for passes with 660 from his 12 games.
Izack Rodda, Harry Potter, Kurtley Beale and Sam Carter missed large chunks of the season but will all be in contention for the top 10, having enjoyed excellent stretches of games.
Stay tuned to Western Force social media (follow along on Twitter and Instagram) on Friday night to find out all the winners.
Nathan Sharpe Medal – Honour Roll
2023 - Sam Spink
2022 - Tim Anstee and Manasa Mataele
2021 – Kane Koteka
2020 – Fergus Lee-Warner
2019 – Issak Fines-Leleiwasa
2018 – Brynard Stander
2017 – Isi Naisarani
2016 – Dane Haylett-Petty
2015 – Ben McCalman
2014 – Matt Hodgson
2013 – Kyle Godwin
2012 – David Pocock
2011 – David Smith
2010 – Matt Hodgson
2009 – Matt Hodgson
2008 – Ryan Cross
2007 – Matt Giteau
2006 – Scott Staniforth
