How Wallace Sititi humbly reacted to All Blacks Player of the Year honour

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.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by New Zealand Rugby (@nzrugbyofficial)

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