By PETER ROWE
78 years ago Cottesloe’s John Pope became the inaugural winner of the Western Australian Rugby League’s player of the season.
The award, initially called the Brice Trophy, became the Ken Allen Medal in 1988, then the Rothmans Medal for two years, before returning to honour Ken Allen in 1992.
Plenty of great players have won the award, with Alec Lockley of the Fremantle club winning it a record four times.
Kere Parata and Isaac Thomas are the only players to receive the award in back-to-back seasons, with Parata the only player to win the award with different clubs (Belmont and Fremantle).
And five times the game has seen dual winners, with the most recent being in 2019 when Daniel Green (South Perth Lions) and Jeremy Wallace (North Beach Sea Eagles) shared the award.
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NRL WA Ken Allen Medal Winners 2019 – Daniel Green & Jeremy Wallace
Last year Rockingham’s player-coach Tom Murphy came from behind a few other frontrunners to take out the medal. Can someone do the same this year?
It’s possible, but not probable as three names have so far emerged this season as potential recipients.
Two from clubs who have made the finals and one that didn’t. Does that matter? Joondalup’s Taurean Sheehan won in 2021 after his team finished fifth on the ladder.
“All three contenders mentioned have had outstanding seasons for different reasons,” Sheehan said.
“Chris Siddons has been Mr Consistent at Rockingham, Kainoa Gudgeon has led Willagee superbly all year and Samisoni Langi is a class act.”
Sheehan offered more names on list of season MVOs, from all six clubs:
Rockingham: Siddons and one for the future, Crockett Henry. “He’s going be a star. What he has done at his age is amazing.”
Joondalup: In a poor season River Coleman stood out. “He was our MVP in every game he played.” Jack Bullard another youngster to watch in the future.
Fremantle: Eli Beattie stands out. “His strength shone through, so much energy”. And fellow forward Ezra Taomia. “He does so much work – very underrated.”
Willagee: Gudgeon of course. “For a new team in the competition, he has shown so much leadership. And John Leota and Tamaho Tierney have also been so influential.”
North Beach: “Jeremy Wallace has been consistent all year as has Roydon Gillett, a strong runner who gets through a lot of work.”
And finally, minor premiers South Perth: “Soni is a quiet character who just gets on and gets the job done. Real quality. And Mason Hiko is another player who has had a great year. He will run through you with a big smile on his face – we called him the smiling assassin.”
Samisoni Langi / Photo – Carmel Potter-Green
And of all the coaches spoken to this year similar names come to the fore – every week.
Langi and Gudgeon, the two most named. Gudgeon is a previous winner – in 2020 for the Joondalup Giants.
“For me, It’s Langi – head and shoulders above the rest,” North Beach coach Phil Douché said.
“He’s been outstanding in every game we have played against them.”
South Perth coach Duane Gwiazdzinski is Langi’s father-in-law so naturally supports him. But with just cause.
The Lions skipper has led from the front all season and at times it might have been a bit embarrassing for Gwiazdzinski to praise him. But when he did, there was good reason to. He won the man-of-the-match award in nine games he played in.
“Soni is one guy who can even shine in a loss,” Gwiazdzinski said. “He just keeps going.”
Others to catch the eye include Hiko “a solid forward who gives his all” and Siddons, who has kept the Sharks alive in 2025.
Eli Beattie / Photo – Total Sports Photography
“Eli Beattie also caught my eye and he’s had an outstanding season, as has Roydon Gillett. Kobi Aeisi was playing really well until he got injured.”
Fremantle’s player-coach Duane Butler said it was a ‘massive surprise” when he was named the winner in 2023.
“I had no idea I would be winning it,” he said. “ I was invited to the event thinking I might be named lock of the year. I never thought I would be named best player. It’s a big honour to be part of the best in WA’s history.”
And 2025?
“It’s been an even comp this year in many ways, so there are few names that stand out. Kainoa and Soni are the two names that most people talk about and for good season.
Kainoa Gudgeon / Photo – Carmel Potter-Green
“They have led their teams superbly and both have been in contention all season.
“But there’s a few others who deserve a mention. Eli Beattie played every game at the Roosters – and for State. River Coleman stood out for me from the Giants, Siddo (Chris Siddons) at Rockingham was superb and Bailey Millar was scoring tries for fun before he got injured.
If Gudgeon were to win, it would be a first for Willagee. And Langi would be the 16th time a South Perth player has won the award.
Or could it be an outsider – a surprise winner?
All will be revealed on September 3.
Chris Siddons / Photo – Libby McMillan