2022 Meninga Medal winner Joe Tapine and wife Kirsten. Photo: Tim Gavel.
Joe Tapine’s remarkable season has been recognised at the Raiders 2022 awards presentation night (12 September). Tapine took home the prestigious Meninga Medal. This was a significant event as the club had not gathered together since the 2019 Meninga Medal presentation.
In the Raiders’ 40th season, 28-year-old Tapine won the medal as voted by his teammates. And the award should come as no surprise as his playing stats reflect his extraordinary 2022 season.
Mal Meninga and Joe Tapine. Photo: Tim Gavel.
Tapine ran for more metres this season than any other forward in the NRL and is third only to fullbacks James Tedesco and Dylan Edwards.
He won the Meninga Medal with 44 points, 22 ahead of the second-placed Jack Wighton.
In his acceptance speech, Tapine thanked his wife Kirsten for her incredible support throughout his career.
2022 Coaches Award winner, Hudson Young. Photo: Tim Gavel.
Hudson Young won the Coaches Award, described by Ricky Stuart as the ‘Teacher’s Pet’ Award.
Stuart, who this year surpassed Tim Sheens as the Raiders’ most-capped NRL coach, said that Young is a player who “lives and breathes rugby league”.
Brad Schneider won Rookie of the Year, named in honour of the late Peter Mulholland. Peter had been the Raiders recruitment manager from 2016 but died in December 2021.
Raiders CEO Don Furner and Kate Gallegos, Raiders sponsorship manager, and winner of the 2022 Fred Daly Club Person of the Year Award. Photo: Tim Gavel.
Long-time sponsorship manager Kate Gallegos won the Fred Daly Club Person of the Year Award, while Monsignor John Woods became the Raiders’ 10th Life Member. Monsignor Woods has been the Raiders Chaplain and Pastoral Mentor since 1986.
Raiders Life Member Monsignor John Woods. Photo: Tim Gavel.
It capped off a big day for the Raiders with the players attending the funeral for club chairman Allan Hawke AC whose contribution to the Raiders was recognised and honoured during the Meninga Medal presentation night.
Unfortunately, the Club patron, John McIntyre, was forced to miss the presentation night after falling ill during Allan Hawke’s funeral.
The presentations topped off what could only be described as a memorable year for the Raiders. But there is still more ahead.
The underlying talk throughout the Meninga Medal presentation night for the players, coaching staff, and all in attendance was Friday night’s semi-final against Parramatta.
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