Easts hooker Max Craig has today been honoured with the 2026 Alec Evans Medal while Norths centre Mel Wilks has won the Selena Worsley Medal.
The high achievers were honoured with the major awards at the annual Sumo Energy Grand Final Breakfast for Queensland Premier Rugby at the Tattersall’s Club.
The morning also previewed an exciting weekend ahead with nine grand finals at Ballymore Stadium.
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The Bond University vs Sunnybank grand final in the Sumo Energy Founders Cup for women (2:45pm) is the peak Saturday match while the Brothers vs Wests grand final is Sunday's climax of the Sumo Energy Hospital Cup (2:45pm).
Craig's upbeat season at the heart of the Tigers pack reflected the balance of playing a full season with his boyhood club and work as a carpenter.
The three-game Queensland Reds hooker of 2024-25 was recognised by regular nods from referees who awarded votes on a 3-2-1 basis for each game in the Sumo Energy Hospital Cup.
Whether it was marshalling a strong scrum, a pinpoint lineout throw to set up a driving maul he could complete with a surge to the tryline or his workrate at ruck time, Craig was a regular contributor to Easts' run to the finals.
He was a clearcut winner on 19 points. Craig finished ahead of Norths pair Will McCulloch (16) and Mosiah Christian (14), key architects of the club's first finals appearance in 34 years.
“It’s probably a reflection of not taking the season too seriously and being healthy after a few tough years with injuries. I really enjoyed my season with the Tigers and it's a privilege to win an award like this," Craig said.
Wilks was a standout for Norths as the season's leading point-scorer (147) in the Founders Cup and a threat against every side she faced.
"It's an honour to win a medal named after Selena Worsley, one of the first Wallaroos and a pioneer for women's rugby," Wilks said.
Brothers dominated the awards. Fullback Benn Dalle Cort (168) was a reliable sharpshooter off the kicking tee as the Hospital Cup's leading point-scorer. He will be a valuable figure in Sunday's grand final.
Souths outside centre Xavier Rubens (15) jumped to the top of the try-scoring list with two in the final round. Bond's Fa'agase Tupuola-Palale had a bumper haul of 20 tries as top women's try-scorer. She will be a strong-running weapon from the bench in Saturday's grand final.
Brothers, with five teams through to grand finals from firsts to fifth grade plus Colts 2, won the Doughty Shield as club champions.
The Horsley Trophy went to Brothers as minor premiers as did the Welsby Cup for the winners of the match between the 1st and 2nd-placed teams (Brothers vs Easts) at the halfway point of the season when they meet in Round Two.
Brothers also took the Geoff “Bunter” Shaw Challenge Cup (Bunter Bowl) while Brothers lock Leo McCarthy won the Ford F150 Try of the Year for his long-range sprint to the tryline at Crosby Park.
The prestigious Under-20s Player of the Year award honoured Brothers backrower Teina Graham.
The lineage of players of the future to earn this award (formerly Colt of the Year) is well established with World Cup-winners Ben Tune, Tim Horan, David Wilson and Toutai Kefu among the previous winners as well as current Reds such as Harry Wilson and 2025 winner Rubens.
Founders Cup Top Point-scorer: Melanie Wilks (Norths) 147
Hospital Cup Top Point-scorer: Benn Dalle Cort (Brothers) 168
Founders Cup Top Try-scorer: Fa’agase Tupuola Palale (Bond University) 20
Hospital Cup Top Try-scorer: Xavier Rubens (Souths) 15
Under-20's Player of the Year: Teina Graham (Brothers)
Andrew Cole Medal (Referee of the Year): George Myers
Geoff "Bunter" Shaw Challenge Cup (Bunter Bowl): Brothers
Welsby Cup (Round 2 Winner when Teams 1st vs 2nd from Round 1 play): Brothers
Mieke Fortune Shield (Women's Minor Premiership): Sunnybank
Keith Horsley Cup (Men's Minor Premiership): Brothers
Ford F150 Try of the Year: Leo McCarthy (Brothers)
Doughty Shield: Brothers
Selena Worsley Medal (Founders Cup Best & Fairest)
Winner: Melanie Wilks (Norths)
2nd: TJ Murray (Bond University)
3rd: Kieran Berry (University of Queensland)
4th: Ana-Marie Afuie (Sunnybank) & Lina Mia Chioato (Easts)
Alec Evans Medal (Hospital Cup Best & Fairest)
Winner: Max Craig (Easts) 19 points
2nd: Will McCulloch (Norths) 16
3rd: Mosiah Christian (Norths) 14
4th: Lachlan Howse (GPS) 13
5th: Finn Prass (Brothers) 12
