Wests Tigers fullback Jahream Bula has claimed the club’s highest honour, the Kelly-Barnes Medal.
As well as being voted the club’s 2023 NRL player of the year, Bula also took out the Players’ Player and Rookie of the Year categories.
The Kelly-Barnes Medal vote-count went right down to the final match of the season with Bula and Api Koroisau level on 22 votes heading into the Round 27 game against Manly Sea Eagles.
Bula claimed three points – and Koroisau two – in the 3-2-1 voting last Friday, to pip his captain by just one point across the 2023 season
The 21-year-old fullback scored 5 tries in 18 NRL appearances this season and prevented countless four-pointers as the last line of defence, including try-savers in his team’s victory over the Panthers in Bathurst and the Dragons in Magic Round.
Bula played the full 80 minutes in every NRL appearance after not missing a minute in the three NSW Cup games he played for Western Suburbs Magpies.
He averaged a club-high 159.1 running metres per game with a season high of 245 metres against Canberra Raiders in Round 14.
Triston Reilly was named Player of the Year for Western Suburbs in the NSW Cup, after scoring 14 tries in 19 appearances for the Magpies this season.
The 24-year-old centre was rewarded for his efforts, making his NRL debut in the Round 25 victory over the Dolphins.
Second row Jack Boyling was voted NSW Cup Players’ Player after playing consistently well in 22 appearances for the Magpies in 2023.
In the Jersey Flegg Cup, Sione Vaihu was named the Player of the Year while centre partner Josh Feledy picked up the Players’ Player Award.
Wests Tigers premiership winning prop and now senior partnerships executive, John Skandalis, pictured at right, was named Club Person of the Year for his outstanding commitment and contribution to Wests Tigers.
Former English import Gareth Ellis has been inducted as Wests Tigers life member number 27. Ellis played 75 games across four seasons for Wests Tigers and was Player of the Year three seasons in a row.
Wests Tigers 2023 Kelly-Barnes Awards
Kelly-Barnes Medal – Jahream Bula
NRL Players’ Player – Jahream Bula
NRL Rookie of the Year – Jahream Bula
NSW Cup Player of the Year – Triston Reilly
NSW Cup Players’ Player – Jack Boyling
Jersey Flegg Player of the Year – Sione Vaihu
Jersey Flegg Players’ Player – Josh Feledy
Wayne Pearce Community Award – Brent Naden
Wests Tigers Club Person of the Year – John Skandalis
