LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
The champions at warriors.kiwi have proudly announced their Pathways players who have been recognized for their outstanding performances on the field.
Team captains and hookers Jaydee Auloa and Kaawyn Patterson have been awarded the players of the year at the prestigious NZ Warriors' combined SG Ball Cup and Harold Matthews Cup awards ceremony held in Auckland.
Auloa, a product of St Paul's College, has shown remarkable growth throughout the season.
Co-captaining the club's SG Ball Cup team, the 19-year-old has earned a well-deserved promotion to the NZ Warriors' New South Wales Cup side.
Patterson, a pupil from Westlake Boys' High School, who recently turned 17, led the Harold Matthews Cup team to a historic victory.
The Warriors made history by winning the premiership on their debut, a feat not achieved by any other club since the competition's inception in 1970.
This season marked the first time the Warriors ran a full stable of pathways teams, making the competition tough for Auloa and Patterson who were up against some top-notch contenders for the major awards.
The nominees for the SG Ball Cup award included Kayliss Fatialofa from De La Salle College, Motu Pasikala from Liston College, and Jason Salalilo from St Thomas of Canterbury College.
In the Harold Matthews Cup category, Ezekiel Davidson-Fa'aiuaso from St Paul's College, Joseph Ratcliffe from Palmerston North Boys' High School, and Lennox Tuiloma from St Thomas of Canterbury College were also finalists.
Overall, it was a night of celebration and recognition for these talented players who have shown great promise and dedication on the field.
With their passion for the game and determination to succeed, they embody the spirit of Rugby League and the pride of the Warriors.