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How Wallace Sititi humbly reacted to All Blacks Player of the Year honour
By Finn Morton
Backrower Wallace Sititi has capped off a breakout year in style, being crowned the All Blacks’ best player at the ASB Rugby Awards. On New Zealand Rugby’s night of nights last Thursday, Sititi received the Player of the Year award ahead of fellow nominees Tyrel Lomax and Tupou Vaa’i.
Sititi only made his Super Rugby Pacific debut earlier this year after coming off the bench for the Chiefs in their round three loss to the Queensland Reds in Brisbane. The loose forward was once again called on to come off the pine in round five before being named to start.
Coach Clayton McMillan ended up starting the youngster nine times during the campaign, which included an eye-catching performance in the Semi-Final upset win over the Hurricanes, where Sititi was named the Player of the Match that night in Wellington.
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With the All Blacks including Sititi in their initial squad for 2024, there was a sense of intrigue about how the enforcer would fare. Sititi got a run against Fiji in San Diego but really came of age in the second Test away to the world champion Springboks in Cape Town.
There were journalists in South Africa asking who Wallace Sititi was before the Test, but that name won't be forgotten soon with the New Zealander starring at DHL Stadium. Sititi carried that form throughout the entire season, with RugbyPass writers regularly rating the All Black as an 8 or 9 out of 10.
Sititi was recently named World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the Year Awards in Monaco and was last week named the All Blacks Player of the Year. It’s been a forgettable rise to the top for young Wallace Sititi, who remained as humble as ever after receiving the award.
“Just wanted to say it’s a privilege and an honour to receive this award. There’s a lot of boys deserving of this award to be able to receive this award is a special moment for not only myself but also my family,” Sititi said in a video shared on the All Blacks’ social media channels.
“Just wanted to say a thank you to my family, coaches, the boys, my parents, for making this year an enjoyable one. It’s been one hell of a ride and we’ve created some great memories along the way.
“Just wanted to say a thank you to everyone in New Zealand for your support, not only for myself but also for the team, for the boys, it goes a long way. We hear you and we feel you guys and it means so much to us.
“Everyone take care, enjoy the Christmas break, enjoy New Year's. Hopefully we can do this all again in a years’ time.”
As reported last week, the Black Ferns Sevens were named the Team of the Year after taking home Olympic gold at the Prais Games. They got the better of Canada in a tightly-contested gold medal match – the Canadians almost backing up upset wins over France and Australia.
20-year-old Jorja Miller was named the Player of the Year ahead of nominees Risi Pouri-Lane and Michaela Blyde. Miller was superb once again during the opening two legs of the new HSBC SVNS Series season, which included Cup Final glory in Cape Town.
Black Ferns Sevens’ Cory Sweeney was also named Coach of the Year for a record-equalling fifth time, drawing him level with Sir Steve Hansen.
ASB Rugby Award finalists and winners (in bold)
Sky Television Fans Try of the Year
Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong (King Country)
Katelyn Vahaakolo (Black Ferns)
Jed Melvin (North Harbour )
New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year
Ben O’Keeffe
Maggie Cogger-Orr
James Doleman
Charles Monro Rugby Volunteer of the Year
Steve and Lisa Wild (Thames Valley)
Dave Webb (Auckland)
Conor Croke (Waikato)
Bunnings Warehouse Rugby Club of the Year
Foxton Rugby Club (Horowhenua Kapiti)
Green Island Rugby Football Club (Otago)
Ponsonby Rugby Club (Auckland)
Te Hapai New Zealand Rugby Community Impact Award
James Legatt (Tamai Rugby Project)
Lisa Kingi-Bon (New Zealand Rugby Foundation)
Erin Rayner (Sense Rugby NZ)
New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year
Xavi Taele (Auckland)
Vernon Bason (Manawat?)
Oli Mathis (Waikato)
Elinor-Plum King (Manawat?)
NZRPA Kirk Award
Dan Carter
Steinlager Salver – outstanding contribution to New Zealand Rugby
Ian Kirkpatrick
Ian Kirkpatrick Medal (Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship Player of the Year)
Siu Kakala (South Canterbury)
Declan McCormack (Mid Canterbury)
Alekesio Vakarorogo (Whanganui)
Duane Monkley Medal (Bunnings Warehouse NPC Player of the Year)
Timoci Tavatavanawai (Tasman)
Folau Fakatava (Hawke’s Bay)
Josh Jacomb (Taranaki)
Fiao’o Fa’amausili Medal (Farah Palmer Cup presented by Bunnings Warehouse Player of the Year)
Chelsea Semple (Waikato)
Hollyrae Merekara Mete (Manawat?)
Mia Anderson (Waikato)
ASB National Men’s Coach of the Year
Vern Cotter (Blues)
Clark Laidlaw (Hurricanes)
Alando Soakai (Wellington)
Richard Watt (Bay of Plenty)
ASB National Women’s Coach of the Year
Willie Walker (Blues)
James Semple (Waikato)
Campbell McNeill (Manawat?)
ASB New Zealand Coach of the Year
Cory Sweeney (Black Ferns Sevens)
DHL Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year
Hoskins Sotutu (Blues)
Damian McKenzie (Chiefs)
Harry Plummer (Blues)
Billy Proctor (Hurricanes)
Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Player of the Year
Katelyn Vahaakolo (Blues)
Layla Sae (Hurricanes Poua)
Kaipo Olsen-Baker (Matat?)
Kennedy Tukuafu (Chiefs Manawa)
Tom French Memorial Maori Player of the Year
Risi Pouri-Lane (Ngati Kuia, Ngati Koata, Ngai Tahu)
Tamaiti Williams (Ngapuhi)
Tyrel Lomax (Ngai Tuhoe, Muaupoko)
Katelyn Vahaakolo (Ngati Whatua, Ngapuhi, Ngati Maniapoto)
Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year
Fehi Fineanganofo
Tepaea Cook-Savage
Dylan Collier
Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year
Jorja Miller
Risi Pouri-Lane
Michaela Blyde
Black Ferns Player of the Year
Georgia Ponsonby
Alana Bremner
Kaipo Olsen-Baker
All Blacks Player of the Year
Tyrel Lomax
Tupou Vaa’i
Wallace Sititi
adidas National Men’s Team of the Year
Blues
Wellington Lions
Thames Valley Swamp Foxes
adidas National Women’s Team of the Year
Blues
Waikato
Manawatu Cyclones
adidas New Zealand Team of the Year
Black Ferns Sevens
Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year
Jorja Miller
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Latest Comments
Mate, you can't be serious. The Crusaders under Razor lost to a decently strong BIL side 9-3 back in 2017. A match in which both sides had such strong defence and high discipline, not a single try was scored, and almost no penalties were conceded.
You can't take a club or franchise's scores at face value, as internationals, coaching personnel etc all have a massive impact on how well a team performs. Let's not forget The Crusaders had a horrible season this year under Penney, after 7 consecutive years as champions under Robertson.
Go to commentsJapan have now been in the Finals 3 years in a row winning twice, so how did they shock the world??
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