2023 NRLW Fans' Choice Player of the Year

[The Greenhouse]

2023 NRLW Fans' Choice Player of the Year



To vote each week... check the Canberra Raiders board for the weekly voting thread

2023 Fans' Choice Player of the Year

Total points

Simaima Taufa - 17
Zahara Temara - 13
Grace Kemp - 6
Apii Nicholls - 4
Madison Bartlett - 3
Shakiah Tungai - 3
Mackenzie Wiki - 3
Cheyelle Robins-Reti - 2
Kerehitina Matua - 1
Ashleigh Quinlan - 1
Chanté Temara - 1

Round by round voting

Round 9 v Titans

3 - Simaima Taufa
2 - Zahara Temara
1 - Grace Kemp

Round 9 votes

18 - Simaima Taufa 18
9 - Zahara Temara 9
7 - Grace Kemp 7
5 - Cheyelle Robins-Reti 5

Round 8 v Cowboys

3 - Zahara Temara
2 - Apii Nicholls
1 - Madison Bartlett

Round 8 votes

27 - Zahara Temara
21 - Apii Nicholls
7 - Madison Bartlett
5 - Shakiah Tungai
4 - Simaima Taufa
3 - Sophie Holyman
2 - Mackenzie Wiki
2 - Kerehitina Matua
1 - Cheyelle Robins-Reti

Round 7 v Knights

3 - Mackenzie Wiki
2 - Cheyelle Robins-Reti
1 - Chanté Temara

Round 7 votes

10 - Mackenzie Wiki
6 - Cheyelle Robins-Reti
5 - Chanté Temara
4 - Madison Bartlett
2 - Ashleigh Quinlan
2 - Simaima Taufa
1 - Apii Nichols

Round 6 v Broncos

3 - Shakiah Tungai
2 - Grace Kemp
1 - Simaima Taufa

Round 6 votes

13 - Shakiah Tungai
10 - Grace Kemp
3 - Simaima Taufa
2 - Hollie Mae-Dodd
2 - Ashleigh Quinlan

Round 5 v Eels

3 - Simaima Taufa
2 - Zahara Temara
1 - Apii Nicholls

Round 5 votes

34 - Simaima Taufa
24 - Zahara Temara
18 - Apii Nicholls
13 - Madison Bartlett
6 - Cheyelle Robins-Reti
5 - Sophie Holyman
2 - Shakiah Tungai
2 - Chanté Temara
1 - Ahlivia Ingram

Round 4 v Dragons

3 - Simaima Taufa
2 - Zahara Temara
1 - Kerehitina Matua

Round 4 votes

30 - Simaima Taufa
20 - Zahara Temara
10- Kerehitina Matua
4 - Apii Nicholls
1 - Sophie Holyman
1 - Hollie Mae-Dodd

Round 3 v Tigers

3 - Simaima Taufa
2 - Zahara Temara
1 - Apii Nicholls

Round 3 votes

48 - Simaima Taufa
36 - Zahara Temara
17 - Apii Nicholls
10 - Cheyelle Robins-Reti
8 - Ashleigh Quinlan
7 - Kerehitina Matua
2 - Sophie Holyman
1 - Hollie Mae-Dodd
1 - Monalisa Soliola
1 - Chanté Temara

Round 2 v Roosters

3 - Grace Kemp
2 - Zahara Temara
1 - Simaima Taufa

Round 2 votes

42 - Grace Kemp
29 - Zahara Temara
25 - Simaima Taufa
11 - Monalisa Soliola
5 - Hollie Mae-Dodd
5 - Apii Nicholls
4 - Cheyelle Robins-Reti
1 - Ashleigh Quinlan

Round 1 v Sharks

3 - Simaima Taufa
2 - Madison Bartlett
1 - Ashleigh Quinlan

Round 1 votes

13 - Simaima Taufa
11 - Madison Bartlett
10 - Ashleigh Quinlan
7 - Grace Kemp
7 - Emma Barnes
4 - Apii Nicholls
3 - Zahara Temara
2 - Mackenzie Wiki
1 - Hollie-Mae Dodd
1 - Kerehitina Matua
1 - Cheyelle Robins-Reti

[The Greenhouse]

Simaima Taufa claims the inaugural NRLW Canberra Raiders Fans' Choice Player of the Year award



Simaima Taufa has claimed the inaugural NRLW Canberra Raiders Fans' Choice Player of the Year award. She has also taken the title of Forward of the Year. She was named woman of the match in five of the nine games and earned points in seven matches.

The Tongan born lock, who was raised in New Zealand before heading to Australia, was the Dally M Female Player of the Year in 2017 - and will challenge for the Dally M again in 2023, after an outstanding NRLW season in green.

The Jillaroos and Blues representative played three seasons with the Roosters and two with the Eels, before deciding on a move to the national capital for Canberra's first season in the NRLW competition. Appointed the Canberra co-captain, alongside Zahara Temara, she's been a tower of strength for the Green Machine in the middle of the park.

In 2023, Taufa ranked fifth in the NRLW for post contact metres and 13th for total running metres (146 per game). She ranked second only to the Titans' Georgia Hale for most tackles in the regular season, averaging 37 per match. She also ranked equal first in the competition with team mate Sophie Holyman for decoy runs (six per game) and was in the top 20 for support runs. In 2023, she scored two tries, while making three line breaks, 19 tackle breaks and posting a 95 per cent tackle efficiency rate.



Zahara Temara is the Fans' Choice Back of the Year. She was named woman of the match in the victory over the Cowboys and picked up points in six matches. Born in Rotorua, Temara moved with her family to Australia's Gold Coast in 2007. Temara played five NRLW seasons with the Sydney Roosters, before joining the Raiders this year. The Jillaroo and Maroons representative was the Raiders' main playmaker, and was instrumental in making the Green Machine a finals challenger. A win by 12 points or more over the Titans in the final round of the regular season would have seen Canberra make the top four, but it was not to be.

Temara scored a try and 21 goals in 2023, making her the fifth highest pointscorer in the league. She also ranked fifth for line engagements (seven per match), eighth for line break involvements (four) and equal 10th for try assists (five). She also ranked second for most kicks and most attacking kicks, third for kicking metres (247 per match) and produced 10 forced line drop outs. She averaged 82 running metres and 14 tackles per match.

The Canberra Raiders Fans' Choice Player of the Year has been awarded to NRL players since 2004, with the inaugural winner being Ruben Wiki. Winners have included Alan Tongue, Terry Campese, Shaun Fensom, Jarrod Croker, Josh Hodgson and Josh Papalii. Jordan Rapana and Matt Timoko shared the 2023 NRL Fans' Choice award. With the entry of the Canberra Raiders into the NRLW Premiership in this year, the award has been extended to the top flight women's competition.

The award, sponsored by The Greenhouse Canberra Raiders supporters site, was voted on by the fans on line, who give 3-2-1 points to the best players each week. The Player of the Year receives a crystal trophy from The Greenhouse.

2023 NRLW Canberra Raiders Fans' Choice

Fans' Choice Player of the Year: Simaima Taufa
Best Forward: Simaima Taufa
Best Back: Zahara Temara

Final leader board:

Simaima Taufa - 17
Zahara Temara - 13
Grace Kemp - 6
Apii Nicholls - 4
Madison Bartlett - 3
Shakiah Tungai - 3
Mackenzie Wiki - 3
Cheyelle Robins-Reti - 2
Kerehitina Matua - 1
Ashleigh Quinlan - 1
Chanté Temara - 1