{"id":884102,"date":"2026-09-08T05:54:13","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T05:54:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/884102\/"},"modified":"2026-09-08T05:54:13","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T05:54:13","slug":"nrl-news-2026-rlpa-announce-players-champion-nominees-nrlw-candidates-james-tedesco-eyes-record-win-to-surpass-johnathan-thurston","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/884102\/","title":{"rendered":"NRL news 2026, RLPA announce players champion nominees, NRLW candidates, James Tedesco eyes record win to surpass Johnathan Thurston"},"content":{"rendered":"

Roosters<\/a> captain James Tedesco<\/a> is in the running to claim a record fifth NRL<\/a> Players\u2019 Champion award.<\/p>\n

The superstar fullback and reigning Dally M Medal winner is one of the 68 NRL players nominated for the award, which is handed out by the Rugby League Players Association<\/a> (RLPA).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Roosters captain James Tedesco.\u00a0Getty Images<\/p>\n

Tedesco already won the award in 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2024. He is currently level with Cowboys legend Johnathan Thurston<\/a>, but can claim a record fifth if he is crowned the winner on September 28.<\/p>\n

And the NRLW<\/a> could be set to crown its first two-time champion, with previous winners Tamika Upton, Raecene McGregor, Simaima Taufa, Jess Sergis, and Isabelle Kelly all nominated for this year\u2019s gong.<\/p>\n

Four players from every team are nominated for the two awards. Players from the men\u2019s and women\u2019s competitions then vote to decide the winners.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be recognised in this way is a significant honour,\u201d RLPA boss Clint Newton said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery contender has first been selected by the player leaders within their own club, reflecting the positive impact they have made on their teammates through their performances\u00a0over the season.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Players\u2019 Champion carries enormous prestige because it is decided by the players themselves. Players understand better than anyone the relentless standards required to perform consistently at the elite level, the\u00a0challenges that need to be overcome, and how an individual contributes to a team.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 2026 NRL and NRLW seasons have again demonstrated the extraordinary quality of our playing group. Across\u00a0both competitions, players continue to raise the standard through their skill, toughness, professionalism and\u00a0commitment to their clubs and teammates.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe final decision now belongs to the players across the NRL and NRLW. To ultimately be voted The Players\u2019\u00a0 Champion by those you compete against every week is one of the greatest endorsements and signs of respect a\u00a0 player can receive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Players from both competitions can now cast votes in a 3-2-1 format, but can\u2019t vote for their teammates. The player with the highest number of votes in the NRL and NRLW lists is crowned the champion.<\/p>\n

The winners will be announced on Nine\u2019s 100% Footy on Monday, September 28.<\/p>\n

\"Tamika<\/p>\n

Tamika Upton can win her second award.\u00a0Getty<\/p>\n

NRL contenders by club<\/p>\n

Broncos: Xavier Willison, Patrick Carrigan, Billy Walters, Kotoni Staggs<\/p>\n

Bulldogs: Enari Tuala, Lachlan Galvin, Sitili Tupouniua, Jacob Preston<\/p>\n

Cowboys: Scott Drinkwater, Reuben Cotter, Jaxon Purdue, Heilum Luki<\/p>\n

Dolphins: Kurt Donoghoe, Herbie Farnworth, Selwyn Cobbo, Thomas Gilbert<\/p>\n

Dragons: Hamish Stewart, Ryan Couchman, Damien Cook, Dylan Egan<\/p>\n

Eels: Jack Williams, Brian Kelly, Ronald Volkman, Kitione Kautoga<\/p>\n

Knights: Phoenix Crossland, Mat Croker, Fletcher Sharpe, Greg Marzhew<\/p>\n

Panthers: Dylan Edwards, Nathan Cleary, Thomas Jenkins, Moses Leota<\/p>\n

Rabbitohs: Cam Murray, Cody Walker, Keaon Koloamatangi, Tallis Duncan<\/p>\n

Raiders: Simi Sasagi, Kaeo Weekes, Joseph Tapine, Zac Hosking<\/p>\n

Roosters: James Tedesco, Naufahu Whyte, Sam Walker, Mark Nawaqanitawase<\/p>\n

Sea Eagles: Haumole Olakau\u2019atu, Taniela Paseka, Toluta\u2019u Koula, Ben Trbojevic<\/p>\n

Sharks: Braydon Trindall, William Kennedy, Blayke Brailey, Teig Wilton<\/p>\n

Storm: Sualauvi Fa\u2019alogo, Stefano Utoikamanu, Jahrome Hughes, Harry Grant<\/p>\n

Titans: Phillip Sami, Keano Kini, Jayden Campbell, Jojo Fifita<\/p>\n

Warriors: Wayde Egan, James Fisher-Harris, Erin Clark, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak<\/p>\n

Tigers: Alex Twal, Adam Doueihi, Api Koroisau, Fonua Pole<\/p>\n

NRLW contenders by club<\/p>\n

Broncos: Tamika Upton, Chelsea Lenarduzzi, Jesse Southwell, Shannon Mato<\/p>\n

Cowboys: Makenzie Weale, Fran Goldthorp, Abigail Roache, Bree Chester<\/p>\n

Dragons: Brooke Anderson, Maria Paseka, Kasey Reh, Montana Clifford<\/p>\n

Eels: Abbi Church, Lindsay Tui, Rory Owen, Elsie Albert<\/p>\n

Knights: Sidney Taylor, Lucy Spain, Olivia Higgins, Kirra Dibb<\/p>\n

Tigers: Faythe Manera, Raecene McGregor, Sarah Togatuki, Shaylee Bent\u00a0<\/p>\n

Tigers: Sienna Lofipo, Laikha Clarke, Georgia Hale, Teagan Levi<\/p>\n

Warriors: Shakira Baker, Apii Nicholls, Stacey Waaka, Harata Butler<\/p>\n

Sharks: Georgia Ravics, Quincy Dodd, Georgia Hannaway, Manilita Takapautolo<\/p>\n

Raiders: Leianne Tufuga, Zahara Temara, Chant\u00e9 Temara, Simaima Taufa<\/p>\n

Bulldogs: Alexis Tauaneai, Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa, Monica Tagoai, Tamika Jones<\/p>\n

Roosters: Jessica Sergis, Isabelle Kelly, Olivia Kernick, Millie Elliott<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Roosters captain James Tedesco is in the running to claim a record fifth NRL Players\u2019 Champion award. The…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":884103,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[568],"tags":[64,63,761,762,158,85],"class_list":["post-884102","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nrl","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-national-rugby-league","tag-nationalrugbyleague","tag-nrl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/884102","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=884102"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/884102\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/884103"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=884102"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=884102"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=884102"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}