Ben Donaldson has been crowned the 2024 Nathan Sharpe medalist while youngster Samantha Wood scooped the pool of women’s awards capped by the Rebecca Clough medal at the Western Force’s Season Awards.
The Force held the Club’s annual Season Awards at The Westin on Friday evening where the top individual performers of the 2024 season were recognised following the Super Rugby Pacific and Buildcorp Super Rugby Women’s seasons.
Inaugural Force captain and 116-time Wallaby Nathan Sharpe was in attendance for the first time to award his medal – voted by players after each game - to Wallaby Donaldson with 224 votes, finishing ahead of Bayley Kuenzle (200) and Hamish Stewart (168), with Carlo Tizzano and Reed Prinsep rounding out the top five.
Donaldson enjoyed an outstanding debut season with the Force following his move from the NSW Waratahs, starting every game bar one at fly-half, where his playmaking ability shone with ball in hand and his boot.
The Wallabies fly-half led Super Rugby Pacific for kicks in play (136) and kicking metres (5,444), while he was deadly off the tee, finishing third overall in the league for points (111 with two tries) and fourth overall for goals (42 goals at 76.4% accuracy).
Donaldson was dangerous with ball in hand, scoring two tries, leading the Force for defenders beaten (31) while he had the second most carries in the team (84) and the second most metres gained (525).
Force head coach Simon Cron said: “Ben is an extremely driven and motivated athlete who epitomises what it means to be a professional athlete.
“It was mentioned to us earlier this year that ‘sweating is easy’. It is what you do away from the field that makes a huge difference. Dono is always working on his craft and constantly looking at ways to get better.
"This year you would have seen how dangerous he is as a triple threat in attack but also a guy willing to put his head in the spokes in defence. This is an award given by his peers and he is thoroughly deserving of it.”
WA women’s rugby royalty Rebecca Clough was also on hand to present her medal to scrum-half Wood, who was a revelation across the 2024 season, pulling the strings as the Force made the finals for the first time in Super W history.
Wood, who only turned 20 last week, not only took home the Rebecca Clough medal, but also claimed the Members’ Super W MVP and Force Woman awards, capping a breakout campaign that led to her Wallaroos debut in April.
The ARKS product was accurate with the boot, kicking three penalties and nine conversions across six Super W games to be the side’s leading points scorer (27).
Force women’s head coach Dylan Parsons said: “Sammy played high minutes for her age and led on-field. She had key moments with her kicking game; scoring points when we needed them and getting us down into scoring zones to execute our Game Model.
“It’s impressive how good her decision making is at that level when she’s so young. It’s exciting that she’s had a full season under her belt now and we’re excited to see her development in the future.
“Off the field, Sam lives our values. We’ve talked a lot about our Maali DNA this year and she showed that every week. She was able to influence her teammates to be better and supported the coaching staff to get across their messages and style of play. She’s a deserving winner.”
Local product Tizzano was voted as the Members’ Super Rugby Pacific MVP following an excellent campaign from the tenacious UWA back-rower who led the league for tackles (240) and was eighth overall for turnovers won (10).
Tizzano along with Wood won the respective Force Man and Woman awards, handed out to the players from each side who embody the Force spirit on and off the field as judged by the coaches.
Scrum-half Henry Robertson won the Men’s Rising Star award, while 24-year-old front-rower Hannah Palelei was named the Women’s Rising Star.
Club dietitian and nutritionist Sophy Foreman won the Adrian Blacker award, which recognises an off-field member of the club that upholds and instills the values of the club throughout the year.
2024 Award Winners
Nathan Sharpe Medal: Ben Donaldson
Rebecca Clough Medal: Samantha Wood
Members’ Super Rugby MVP: Carlo Tizzano
Members’ Super W MVP: Samantha Wood
Men’s Rising Star: Henry Robertson
Women’s Rising Star: Hannah Palelei
Force Man Award: Carlo Tizzano
Force Woman Award: Samantha Wood
Adrian Blacker Award: Sophy Foreman
Nathan Sharpe medal top 10
1. Ben Donaldson (224 votes)
2. Bayley Kuenzle (200)
3. Hamish Stewart (168)
4. Carlo Tizzano (143)
5. Reed Prinsep (139)
6. Chase Tiatia (136)
7. Tom Franklin (126)
8. Tom Horton (119)
9. Jeremy Williams (102)
10. Santiago Medrano (66)
Nathan Sharpe Medal – Honour Roll
2024 – Ben Donaldson
2023 – Sam Spink
2022 - Tim Anstee and Manasa Mataele
2021 – Kane Koteka
2020 – Fergus Lee-Warner
2019 – Issak Fines-Leleiwasa
2018 – Brynard Stander
2017 – Isi Naisarani
2016 – Dane Haylett-Petty
2015 – Ben McCalman
2014 – Matt Hodgson
2013 – Kyle Godwin
2012 – David Pocock
2011 – David Smith
2010 – Matt Hodgson
2009 – Matt Hodgson
2008 – Ryan Cross
2007 – Matt Giteau
2006 – Scott Staniforth
Rebecca Clough Medal - Honour Roll
2024 – Samantha Wood
2023 – Martha Mataele
2022 – Tamika Jones
