Players celebrate Dally M winner with incredible impromptu haka
New Zealand fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has become the first Warriors player to win the Dally M medal, and he was honoured with an incredibly special performance.
The Warriors captain scooped the 2018 Dally M medal of the year award, and was also named best fullback for his stellar season – but the impromptu haka initiated by teammate Isaac Luke stole the show.
Luke’s spontaneous haka in the middle of the packed ballroom left viewers and attendees amazed at the scenes that unfolded, as Tuivasa-Sheck fought back tears from the ultimate show of respect.
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Tuivasa-Sheck polled 29 votes to win the league’s player-of-the-season award by two points from Newcastle’s Kalyn Ponga, with Cronulla’s Valentine Holmes in third.
As soon as the 25-year-old claimed his awards, the haka broke out – and fans quickly labelled it as the “best moment in Dally M history”.
This haka tho 🔥🔥🔥🔥😍💯 #Buzzy #DallyM
— Edmond Malo (@REziDEMAS) September 26, 2018
An amazing moment unfolding with a range of Kiwi players taking the aisle to perform a haka in honour of RTS winning the #DallyM
— LeagueUnlimited (@LeagueUnlimited) September 26, 2018
Roger fighting back the tears…. #HAKA #DallyM
— Arghh… It's Mark (@drunkenchewybac) September 26, 2018
Haka! Best #DallyM moment ever.
— Cherie Lee 🍷 (@leecd60) September 26, 2018
Brilliant way to end the #DallyM night. New Zealanders bring so much passion to rugby league and it's always special to see performances of the haka like that. #NRL
— Zachary Gates (@zacharyjgates) September 26, 2018
Tuivasa-Sheck was humble as ever as he addressed the room full of people, drawing on his memory of watching Cooper-Cronk win the award in 2013.
“This is crazy,” Tuivasa-Sheck said.
“I remember siting there thinking that it would be a dream to win this award.
“I’m feeling truly blessed right now.”
In a sign of the changing times, none of the top five – which also included Luke Brooks and Mitchell Pearce – have previously polled in the top five positions at the Dally Ms during their career.
The Warriors fullback trailed by one vote with a round to go, but polled three points in the final round against Canberra while Ponga remained on the sideline injured.
In doing so, he became the first fullback to win the award since Ben Barba in 2012, as he averaged 167 metres a match and busted through a total of 92 tackles.
“He’s had a wonderful year for the footy club so he has to be a chance,” Warriors coach Stephen Kearney told AAP earlier on Wednesday.
“Everyone knows Rog for his attacking abilities but I thought a number of times this year he has saved tries for us. I thought that was a really good part for us.”
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Fullback: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors)
Winger: Blake Ferguson (Roosters)
Centre: Joseph Leilua (Raiders)
Five-eighth: Cameron Munster (Storm)
Halfback: Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers)
Prop: Andrew Fifita (Sharks)
Hooker: Damien Cook (Rabbitohs)
Second rower: Josh Jackson (Bulldogs)
Lock: Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys)
Interchange: Jazz Tevaga (Warriors)
AWARDS
Rookie of the year: Jamayne Isaako
Coach of the year: Anthony Seibold
Captain of the year: Cameron Smith
Provan Summons medal: Damien Cook
Peter Frilingos Headline Moment of the year: NRL Women’s Origin
Ken Irvine medal: David Fusitu’a
Try of the year: Jamayne Isaako
Female player of the year: Brittany Breayley
with AAP.
