LeagueNews.co | Nick Loken
Warrior's Newsflash: Barnett Takes Home Top Honours
In breaking news from down under, Mitchell Barnett has proven himself to be the cream of the crop at the NZ Warriors with a stellar performance in his sophomore year, earning himself the prestigious Simon Mannering Medal at the club's 30th annual awards ceremony at the Aotea Centre in Auckland.
The 30-year-old dynamo embodied the true spirit of a Warriors player with his unwavering consistency and unwavering toughness throughout the season, only missing a single match out of the 24 on the schedule.
His absence? Oh, just a minor blip on the radar as he was called up for his debut representing New South Wales in the State of Origin series.
Barnett didn't just stop at one accolade, as he also took home the One New Zealand People's Choice award, proving that he's not just a standout on the field but a fan favorite off it as well.
Taking his game to new heights, Barnett reached a career milestone of 150 games and even stepped up to captain the team in the absence of the injured Tohu Harris.
Averaging an impressive 15 runs, 149 meters (a career best), and 32 tackles per game, his defensive game was on point with a staggering efficiency rate of 93.93%.
Not to mention his career-best post contact meters (1409) and tackle breaks (46), as well as matching his personal best with 28 offloads.
Competing for the club's highest individual honor alongside Barnett were the likes of prop Addin Fonua-Blake, versatile player Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who held his own in multiple positions, and the slick halfback Te Maire Martin.
In true warrior fashion, Barnett rose above the competition to claim his spot at the top, proving that he's not just a player, he's a leader on and off the field.