The 2018 Dally M Medal winner is the first ever from the Warriors and was given a fitting tribute from his teammates upon winning the award.
According to SportsBet odds, the favourite for this year’s medal was Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and the predictions came good when he was named Dally M Medal winner for 2018.
Tuivasa-Sheck is the first ever Warriors player to be named Dally M Medal player of the year and he showed raw emotion as he accepted the award.
He was also given the honour of his Warriors teammates paying tribute to him with a Haka.
‘Wow this is crazy,’ he said as he accepted the award.
The 2018 Dally M Medal winner Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (pictured) is the first player from the Warriors to win the award
‘I remember the first time I came to these awards in 2013 and Cooper Cronk won the Dally M Award and I was just sitting there thinking it would be a dream to win this award and not knowing the day would ever come.’
His father Johnny Tuivasa accompanied his son to the awards night and got to watch proudly as he was recognised for his special talents.
‘Feeling truly blessed right now to be up here holding this trophy and wearing this medal. There are so many people I would like to thank,’ he said.
‘My family, mum and dad, you guys have been awesome. Constant love and support, always keeping me in your prayers, keeping me grounded which is what is most important.’
His fiancee Ashley Walker was unable to make it to the event but Tuivasa-Sheck made sure she was thanked.
‘A big thanks to my partner Ashley, this one’s for you babe. All the hard work you do behind doors and all the hard work you put in so I can go away and train,;’ he said.
And then something special happened, Warriors teammates led by Issac Luke, paid tribute to Tuivasa-Sheck by conducting a haka right in the middle of the ballroom, bringing him to tears.
He finished his speech by humbly wishing all players good luck in the Grand Final weekend ahead.
The Dally M Medal was first introduced in 1980 and is awarded each year to the player who is judged to be the ‘Player of the Year’.
The award was created by News Limited as a way to recognise the most outstanding player in the NRL competition every year.
It was named after a legend of the sport, Herbert ‘Dally’ Messenger, he was a crucial figure in the establishment of rugby league in Australia, captaining the Eastern Suburbs, runners-up in the inaugural Sydney Rugby League competition.
He played 163 first class games and scored 73 tries and has been known as ‘The Master’ ever since, he passed away in Gunnedah, NSW in 1959.