Blues Awards: Telea & Gago scoop top gongs

nib Blues hooker Grace Gago and Blues wing Mark Telea have scooped the two top awards for the Blues season, winning their respective Player of the Year gongs.

Both Gago and Telea had outstanding seasons in blue and were rewarded with call-ups to the Black Ferns and All Blacks squads respectively.

Telea was a constant threat on attack throughout the year, topping the ‘defenders beaten’ stat line by some distance while Gago was consistently a stand-out performer for the nib Blues in Super Rugby Aupiki.

Gago also received the Forward of the Year award for the nib Blues, while industrious loose-forward Adrian Choat was acknowledged as the Blues’ best forward.

In the backs, Bryce Heem and Patricia Maliepo were recognised as the stand-outs in 2023, picking up their respective teams’ Back of the Year awards.

The future for Blues rugby looks bright with Byron Smith claiming the Development Player of the Year while the nib Blues Rookie of the Year was stand-out wing, Jaymie Kolose.

See below for a full list of the Blues Award winners:

PIC Blues Development Player of the Year: Byron Smith

Komatsu nib Blues Rookie of the Year: Jaymie Kolose

Duval Team Toa Player of the Year: Rob Rush 

*Team Toa train against the selected 23 players for the week leading into a game

Maui’s Hook: Cheyenne Tuli-Fale

*Awarded to a player consistently showing support to the nib Blues squad

2 degrees Player’s Player of the Year: Mark Telea

KFC Community Award: Joshua Fusitu'a

nib Mahi Man: Ricky Riccitelli

*Mahi Man celebrates the highest work-rate throughout the season

B&T Mealamu Medal Club Person of the Year: Ash Draper (Head Physiotherapist)

2 degrees nib Blues Back Player of the Year: Patricia Maliepo

CMC Blues Back Player of the Year: Bryce Heem 

nib Blues Forward Player of the Year: Grace Gago

Iveco Blues Forward Player of the Year: Adrian Choat

nib Blues Player of the Year: Grace Gago

Better Blues Company Player of the Year: Mark Telea