The Wests Tigers NRL and NRLW squads and a 600-strong audience that included staff, partners, members and fans attended the club’s 2025 awards gala.
Terrell May and Sarah Togatuki were the major winners, receiving the Kelly-Barnes Medal and the Wests Tigers NRLW player of the year award respectively.
May was also named NRL Players’ Player of the Year.
Having joined the club last November, the prop forward excelled in his first season in orange, white and black, playing all 24 games for the Wests Tigers in 2025.
May averaged 166 running metres per game and led the league in offloads with 66, while also recording 69 tackle breaks over the course of the campaign.
The Samoan international posted 1,023 tackles at a 97.7percent efficiency rate, while averaging 73 minutes per game – illustrating both his durability and impact in the middle of the field.
Togatuki creates more club history with her third consecutive NRLW player of the year award.
The latest honour for the damaging middle forward means she has taken out the top prize in all three of the Wests Tigers seasons in the elite women’s competition.
The NSW Origin and Jillaroos star now joins Gareth Ellis (2009-2011) as the only players to win three successive Wests Tigers player of the year awards.
Togatuki played every match for Wests Tigers in the 2025 season, averaging 142 metres, making 28 tackle breaks and clocking up 599 post-contact metres in 11 games.
The club’s rising stars were also acknowledged for their contribution across the NRL and NRLW campaigns for 2025, with Tony Sukkar and Caitlin Turnbull named rookies of the year respectively.
Such was Turnbull’s debut season as a professional, she also took home the NRLW players’ player award.
It was a breakout year for Turnbull, who joined the Wests Tigers from the Wentworthville Magpies ahead of the 2025 season.
The 24-year-old has taken the NRLW by storm, scoring eight tries in 10 games, having played both wing and fullback.
Turnbull’s performances off the ball were just as significant following her shift to fullback, making some critical plays as the Tigers last line of defence.
Sukkar, a Balmain junior, played 15 games in his first full season in the NRL, impressing with his high work-rate and reliability in defence.
The hard-working second rower provided impact off the bench for Benji Marshall and at just 21-years-old, will only benefit from more time in a professional environment.
Jahream Bula was awarded the Wayne Pearce community award, in recognition of his ongoing work as a mentor at Redfern Youth Connect, a not-for-profit helping provide support, skills and activities for vulnerable Aboriginal youth.
“The gala is a fantastic opportunity for us to come together as a club and recognise some fantastic individual performances from across the season,” said Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson.
2025 WESTS TIGERS AWARD WINNERS
Kelly-Barnes Medal Terrell May
NRLW Player of the Year Sarah Togatuki
NRL Players’ Player Terrell May
NRLW Players’ Player Caitlin Turnbull
NRL Rookie of the Year Tony Sukkar
NRLW Rookie of the Year Caitlin Turnbull
NSW Cup Player of the Year Izaac Tu’itupou
NSW Cup Players’ Player Izaac Tu’itupou
NSW Women’s Premiership Player of the Year Taylor Mapusua
NSW Women’s Premiership Players’ Player Katalina Vave
Jersey Flegg Player of the Year Josese Lanyon
Jersey Flegg Players’ Player Solomone Saukuru
Wayne Pearce Community Award Jahream Bula