Kiwi International Alexis Tauaneai has taken out the 2026 NRLW Player of the Year Award.
2026 NRLW Player of the Year and 2026 NRLW Players’ Player of the Year: Alexis Tauaneai
Alexis Tauaneai has been named as the NRLW Player of the Year as well as the NRLW Players’ Player of the Year for 2026.
The Kiwi International featured in all 11 of the Bulldogs’ matches, showing consistency across a season that saw her score 2 tries, make 14 tackle breaks, 15 offloads and 321 tackles, whilst averaging an impressive 144 metres per game.
Shifting to the middle of the field after starting in the second row last season, Tauaneai was the cornerstone of the engine room in 2026, averaging 59 minutes per game, including three matches playing the full 70.
A popular member of the squad, Tauaneai was also voted by her peers as the NRLW Players’ Player for her selfless attitude and leadership qualities.
"I'm speechless, honestly it's been a hard season but I'm very grateful for the journey that the Club have brought me on," she expressed.
"I'm proud of the connection we had this year. I think everyone who knows you and watches you play sees you as a leader and you feel a bit of responsibility.
"I only moved here from New Zealand when I was 18, and the Bulldogs were the first Club to pick me up when I was in the Tarsha Gale.
"To come home to this Club was a full-circle moment, and I'm very grateful for this Club to bring me under their wing."
2026 Carroll & O’Dea Members NRLW Player of the Year: Tayla Preston
Bulldogs Members have voted for Tayla Preston as their Carroll & O’Dea Members NRLW Player of the Year.
A popular figure in the women’s game, Preston bravely led the Bulldogs around the field in her second season as Co-Captain alongside Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.
The halfback was a passionate yet composed figure for the young side, with her leadership qualities shining throughout the Club’s second season in the NRLW, setting up six tries, averaging 50 metres with ball in hand and averaging 17 tackles per match.
"I believe we've got the best Members and fans in the game, they're so passionate," Preston said.
"They're there for us through and through, and they're always turning out for our games, so it's always special to be part of.
"You can definitely hear them out there, and we absolutely love it."
2026 NRLW Community Award: Olivia Va’alele
Olivia Va’alele has been awarded the 2026 NRLW Community Award, displaying leadership qualities beyond her years within the community.
Va'alele has gone beyond her playing commitments to co-design an inclusive junior rugby league competition for children with intellectual disability.
Volunteering her time, she helped create a program that embeds participants within existing club structures, with each of the 13 junior league teams adopting an inclusion team.
Launching in 2027, the initiative will conclude with a "come and try" event that welcomes children and their families into the rugby league community.
Olivia's hands-on leadership and commitment to inclusion ensure every child has the opportunity to belong and participate.
2026 NRLW Rookie of the Year: Leilani Wilson
Leilani Wilson has been named the 2026 NRLW Rookie of the Year following a stellar first season in first-grade.
After debuting from the interchange and playing Round 2 at lock, Wilson made a strong impression on the right side of the field, where she formed combinations with Daynah Nankivell and Simina Lokotui.
From Round 3 onwards, the Greenacre Tigers junior played every single minute of every single game, averaging 77 metres with ball in hand and 22 tackles at an impressive 93% efficiency.
Her clever ball-playing was also on display, setting up a hat-trick of tries and four linebreaks.
"I'm born and raised in Belmore, so I bleed Blue and White," Wilson said.
"I worked really hard and I'm thankful to Brayden and the coaching stuff. I got off my back side and did all the hard work and I feel grateful for being presented this award."
2026 NRLW Coaches Award: Hope Millard
Young star Hope Millard has been awarded the 2026 NRLW Coaches Award following a breakout season.
The 21-year-old continued her strong development off the back of her debut season last year, featuring in every single match for the Bulldogs in 2026.
Providing plenty of impact player from the bench, Millard turned the tides on a number of occasions with her powerful running and presence in defence.
She scored her first try in Round 2, before adding another to her name after crashing over in the Round 6 victory against the North Queensland Cowboys at Belmore Sports Ground.
Averaging 72 metres per game, Millard displayed her defensive prowess with 21 tackles per game at an impressive 90.4% tackle efficiency.
"It was really important to me, I think a lot of my game is based on the effort areas of what I can do," Millard said.
"To be the player that everyone wants to play with and to win football games, I'm really grateful to be here."
