Rabbitohs front rower Tevita ‘Junior’ Tatola has been awarded the Rabbitohs’ highest individual on-field honour tonight (Saturday), being crowned the 2022 George Piggins Medallist as the Club’s best and fairest player of the year.
Tatola, 25, has had his best season to date in the cardinal and myrtle of the Rabbitohs in 2022, becoming the forward-leader of the Club and stamping himself as one of the best front rowers in the game, both in attack and defence.
So far this season with a Finals Series still to be played, Tatola has played 23 games, scored four tries, made 46 tackle breaks, run for over 3100 metres with almost 1300 of those being post-contact and averaging 135 metres per game, as well as making 625 tackles.
Tatola has really come out of his shell in 2022 and has become the guiding light for the Rabbitohs’ forward pack. His late footwork makes defenders miss and his size strength allows him to bend the line each time he takes on the opposition with ball in hand. His defence has also improved in 2022, using his tackling as an attacking option when without the ball.
Junior also represented Tonga this year in the mis-season Pacific Test series and will be up front for Tonga at the end-of-season World Cup.
This is the first time Junior Tatola has won an award at the Red and Green Ball season celebration, and to make that first award be the player of the year medal is quite an achievement.
The best and fairest award is named after Rabbitohs club legend George Piggins who was a Premiership-winning and international player, coach and official over a four-decade period. He was also one of the leading figures in the Club’s fight for reinstatement to the National Rugby League in the early 2000s.
Tatola was presented with the George Piggins Medal by Mr Piggins and Rabbitohs Head Coach Jason Demetriou.
Congratulations to Tevita ‘Junior’ Tatola on taking out the George Piggins Medal for the 2022 season.
Previous Winners
2021 Cody Walker
2020 Cody Walker
2019 Damien Cook
2018 Damien Cook
2017 Sam Burgess
2016 Sam Burgess
2015 Greg Inglis
2014 Sam Burgess
2013 Greg Inglis
John Sutton
2012 John Sutton
2011 Nathan Merritt
2010 Issac Luke
2009 John Sutton
2008 Luke Stuart
2007 Roy Asotasi
2006 David Fa’alogo
2005 Peter Cusack
2004 Ashley Harrison
2003 Bryan Fletcher
2002 Paul Stringer*
* Award known as Jack Rayner Award for the Most Outstanding Player
