Warriors fans are questioning whether the NRL club’s player of the year award went to the wrong player on Tuesday night. And even Roger Tuivasa-Sheck admitted in his acceptance speech that Erin Clark probably deserved to win it.
Tuivasa-Sheck won the Simon Mannering Medal for the fourth time, and was also voted by his teammates as the Players’ Player of the Year. But fans were left questioning whether Clark was hard done-by.
Clark was one of five nominees alongside Tuivasa-Sheck, Kurt Capewell, Jackson Ford and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, while Clark and Nicoll-Klokstad were also in in the running for the players’ player gong. But Tuivasa-Sheck scooped both, winning his first Simon Mannering Medal since 2019.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (L) admitted the award probably should have gone to Erin Clark (R). Image: Sam Hewat/Getty
The 32-year-old enjoyed a renaissance of sorts in 2025, scoring 12 tries in 19 games to equal his career-best tally in a season after also scoring 12 in 27 games while with the Roosters in 2015. He averaged 216 running metres per game, which ranks second in the NRL behind only Dylan Edwards. His average of 72.7 post-contact metres topped the whole NRL.
As for Clark, he proved to be one of the buys of the season after switching from the Gold Coast Titans. He played all 25 games for the Warriors this year and turned out to be arguably their best forward. He averaged 147 metres per game and had a total of 66 tackle breaks.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck won his fourth Simon Mannering Medal. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s telling admission
When Tuivasa-Sheck was announced as the winner, fans couldn’t help but question whether Clark was more deserving. Kiwi commentator Sam Hewat, who was in attendance at the awards night, wrote on social media: “I’m not sure I totally agree. Even Roger admits ‘a man wearing 13 could have won this award’. Roger absolutely immense for the back half of the year, but Clark was phenomenal from RD 1 – RD 27.”
The ‘Warriors NRL Fanatics’ account wrote: “In all due respect to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and congrats to him. But for me Erin Clark should have won that award. I thought he was our best and most consistent player across the whole season.”
Another fan wrote: “Well done RTS, but for mine, Erin has been our best player all year.” Another wrote: “Love the bro, had a great season. But Clark deserves this every day of the week.”
Many pointed out that Clark is a genuine chance to win lock of the year at the Dally M awards, but Tuivasa-Sheck likely won’t be one of the wingers. Another fan wrote: “I thought RTS had a good season for sure, but Erin Clark was robbed.”
RELATED:
Dragons and Titans announce award winners
Meanwhile, Apii Nicholls won the Warriors women’s player of the year award, while Leka Halasima got the men’s rookie of the year and People’s Choice award. The Dragons and Titans also held their club presentation nights on Tuesday, with Clint Gutherson and AJ Brimson winning the top men’s gongs.
Madi Mulhall won the Dragons’ women’s player of the year, while Hamish Stewart won the men’s rookie award and Trinity Tauaneai got the women’s equivalent. Jess Elliston was named Titans women’s player of the year, while Josh Patston and Ivana Lolesio got the Gold Coast’s rookie gongs.