Nathan Cleary has taken another step towards completing rugby league’s ultimate individual clean sweep, after claiming his second Brad Fittler Medal.
Cleary was on Monday night voted NSW’s best in their 2-1 State of Origin series victory, months after he silenced his critics by dominating the arena.
The Penrith halfback was also handed the people’s choice award, after claiming more than 50 per cent of the fan vote for NSW’s most valuable player this year.
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It came as Yasmin Meakes was named NSW’s best player in the women’s 3-0 whitewash, after the Newcastle second-rower also took the award in 2024.
After being handed the prestigious Brad Fittler Medal in front of 600 guests at The Star, Cleary is now one month away from possibly completing a perfect season.
The 28-year-old has already taken home the Wally Lewis Medal when judged the best player in Origin this year by Australia’s Test selectors.
He was also the runaway leader in the Dally M Medal count when votes went behind closed doors in Round 12, and is heavily tipped to win it for the first time.
Penrith are well positioned to push for their fifth premiership in six years over the next five weeks, which would give Cleary the chance of a third Clive Churchill Medal for best player in the grand final.
Tom Trbojevic won the Wally Lewis Medal, Brad Fittler Medal and Dally M in 2021, but missed out on a premiership and Clive Churchill Medal with Manly.
James Tedesco almost did it all in 2019, including the Wally Lewis Medal, Brad Fittler Medal and Dally M Medal and a premiership with the Sydney Roosters.
But while he scored the match-winning try against Canberra to help his side go back-to-back, the fullback missed out on the Clive Churchill.
Cleary’s Brad Fittler Medal came after he scored three tries and set up three more in this year’s Origin series, turning game one on its head late before owning the decider.
In the night’s other awards, Canberra star Hudson Young was handed the True Blue award for his grit throughout the series.
Meakes was NSW’s best across the Blues’ 3-0 series triumph, where she also won the Katrina Fanning Medal for player of the series.
The award will come as some consolation for the 32-year-old, who ruptured her ACL in the third round of the NRLW season and will miss the World Cup.
Blues prop Ellie Johnston won the Origin award for embodying the NSW team spirit, with her series including the crucial try that levelled the scores in game one.