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Trbojevic caps 2021 with 13th league gong

3 minute read

Tom Trbojevic has claimed the NSW State of Origin Brad Fittler Medal after being voted as the Blues' best player, capping off a stunning 2021 season.

TOM TRBOJEVIC
TOM TRBOJEVIC Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Tom Trbojevic has completed his trophy cabinet for 2021 with a stunning 13th gong after being named NSW's best player in their State of Origin series win.

Trbojevic was crowned as the Blues' Brad Fittler Medallist on Tuesday night, also claiming the people's choice award from NSW's 2-1 series win.

It marked the last two awards available to the Manly fullback in 2021, after one of the greatest individual seasons of all time.

The 25-year-old claimed essentially every prize available to him with the exception of the Clive Churchill Medal, after Manly were knocked out in the preliminary finals.

His accolades include the Dally M Medal, Players' Champion and Wally Lewis Medal for player of the Origin series.

The No.1 was also Manly's MVP, the Dally M fullback of the year and broke the record for the most tries in a season by a Sea Eagle with 28 in 18 games.

"It's pretty cool the awards I have won this year," Trbojevic admitted.

"It is hard to fully put into words what it does mean. There are some special ones there, and I will cherish them.

"This one means a lot. Brad Fittler is a legend of the game and NSW.

"Now to be coached by him and win an award named after him is pretty surreal. I am honoured."

The feat is even more stunning given the concerns over his long-term future when he suffered a fourth hamstring injury in two years in the pre-season.

That was as a result of him engaging in a race down the Manly Corso on a drunken night out.

But by year's end, he was the face of the game.

His Origin honours came after he was the Blues' best in their record-breaking series-opening 50-6 flogging of Queensland in Townsville, where he caused havoc.

Playing out of position at centre, he scored a hat-trick in the opening match and finished with four tries for the series while averaging 187 metres per game and setting up another four-pointer.

The Brad Fittler Medal is determined by a NSW player vote at the end of the series.

Latrell Mitchell was handed the True Blue Award by coach Brad Fittler for helping build the team's culture, while Isabelle Kelly was named women's Origin player of the year.

TOM TRBOJEVIC'S 2021 ACCOLADES:-

* NRL Dally M Player of the Year

* Dally M Fullback of the Year

* Dally M Try of the Year

* RLPA Players' Champion

* RLPA Dream Team Fullback

* Wally Lewis Medal

* NSW State of Origin Brad Fittler Medal

* NSW People's Choice award

* Manly's Roy Bull Best and Fairest

* Manly Players' Player

* Manly leading try-scorer

* Gordon Willoughby Medallion (Manly members' player of year)

* NRL Academic Player of the Year

NSWRL AWARD WINNERS:

Women's Player of the Year: Chantelle Graham (Newcastle Maitland Region Knights)

Men's Player of the Year: Jake Goodwin (Riverina Bulls)

NSW Women's Premiership Player of the Year: Jessica Sergis (Helensburgh Tigers)

NSW Sky Blues Player of the Year: Isabelle Kelly

People's Choice Award: Tom Trbojevic

True Blue Award: Latrell Mitchell

Brad Fittler Medal: Tom Trbojevic

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