Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldog's Alexis Tauaneai was yesterday awarded the NSWRL Tarsha Gale Cup Player of the Year at Leichhardt Oval, receiving the honours during the 2023 NSWRL Grand Final Day.
The prestigious award caps off a remarkable season for the versatile front-rower who made a move to Belmore from across the Tasman in the off-season.
Hailing from Wainuiomata, New Zealand, the forward has made a successful transition from Rugby Union where she represented Wellington Pride at a representative level in New Zealand's Farrar Palmer Cup.
A cornerstone of the Tarsha Gale Cup team's forward pack, the prop possesses a strong carry and running game which yielded three tries across the first six rounds. Her strong performance and contribution to Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldog's undefeated record in Tarsha Gale Cup were recognised, with Tauaneai debuting in the Club's Harvey Norman Womens Premiership win against the Wests Tigers in Round 7.
Since her Women's Premiership debut, the 19-year-old has continued her rise through the ranks.
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldog solidified her spot in the top grade when Head Coach Craig Sandercock, named her to start against Mounties in the 2023 NSWRL Womens Premiership Grand Final yesterday at Leichhardt Oval.
While the team fell short in extraordinary circumstances, going down to the Mounties 1-nil in the Grand Final, Tauaneai will look to bounce back as she prepares to make her NRLW debut in the 2023 season under the Dragons.
