Langi Gleeson and Georgina Friederichs were presented with the two most prestigious crowns at the 2025 NSW Waratahs Season Awards presentation dinner in Sydney on Tuesday night.
Gleeson, who played No. 8 for the NSW Waratahs, won the Matt Burke Cup.
Friedrichs, who played at outside centre, won the NSW Waratahs Women’s Player of the Year.
The awards were one of nine presented at the dinner in the Grand Ball Room of the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Sussex Street in the Sydney CBD.
The night also recognised departing/retiring players, debutants, milestone caps earners and six NSW Rugby Hall of Fame inductees, including Ron Graham AM and Alana Thomas.
The awards to Gleeson and Friedrichs were the most prestigious though.
Both awards were voted by fellow players, with the match day squads submitting votes on a 3-2-1 points basis after each game.
The player with the highest point score at season’s end won.
Gleeson, also named Best Forward for the NSW Waratahs, set the tone early and lead the point score for the Matt Burke Cup from the start to the finish.
He won on 249 points from winger Triston Reilly (160), fullback Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (158), hooker David Porecki (119) and flanker Charlie Gamble (91).
Asked after receiving the Cup what was the key to his consistency this season, Gleeson said: "The coaches … they really instilled self-confidence they built in me, especially from last year [when] I thought I dropped down; but also the boys [teammates]. They laid the platform out for me, and just let me do my thing."
While Gleeson will be leaving the NSW Waratahs to play in France for Montpellier, the backrower gave strong indications that a return was still a real prospect.
However, asked while still on stage if there is a chance he will return to the NSW Waratahs, Gleeson said without hesitation: "Yes … I definitely want to do that."
Pressed on what it is about being a NSW Waratahs player that would lure him back, Gleeson said: "I have grown up wanting to be a Waratah. Also, for my brothers, I want to instill the confidence in them as a rugby player, to make them do whatever they want. And of course, the boys [teammates] … I just love them to death."
Meanwhile, Friedrichs won the women’s Player of the Year Award with 129 points after a points surge in the second half of the season.
She beat prop Faliki Pohiva (108), winger Desiree Miller (101), lock Annabelle Codey (96) and flanker Leilani Nathan (49).
Asked about her climb up the leaderboard, Friederichs cited the team, rather than her individual prowess, telling the audience: "We started with a bit of a rough start, then we built throughout the season and then finished off really strong."
Asked about her award win and if she felt she had been in a winning position, Friederichs said: "No … I am not a flashy player. I did not expect this tonight."
The awards night also recognised the NSW Waratahs under Head Coach Dan McKellar and the NSW Waratahs Women under Head Coach Mike Ruthven.
The NSW Waratahs Women were SMARTECH Super Rugby Women’s Minor Premiers and won a record sixth Grand Final with back-to-back success.
The NSW Waratahs finished the SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific season in eighth place after six wins - five at home at Allianz Stadium in Moore Park.
Dave Dennis Award - Best Performing Elite Youth
Development Program Player: Eamon Doyle
Chris Whitaker Aspiring Waratah Medal - Most Promising Emerging Player: Teddy Wilson
NSW Waratahs Best Back Award: Joey Walton
NSW Waratahs Best Forward Award: Langi Gleeson
Standing after Rounds 1-5
Langi Gleeson – 92 points
Triston Reilly – 88
Max Jorgensen – 87
Rob Leota – 71
David Porecki – 51
Standings after Rounds 6-10
Langi Gleeson – 166 points
Triston Reilly – 117
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii - 117
Max Jorgensen – 87
Rob Leota – 82
Final Standings
Langi Gleeson – 249 points
Triston Reilly – 160
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii - 158
David Porecki – 119
Charlie Gamble - 91
NSW Waratahs Debutants:
Jamie Adamson, Siosifa Amone, Lawson Creighton, Ethan Dobbins, Ben Grant, Isaac Kailea, Felix Kalapu, Darby Lancaster, Rob Leota, Henry O’Donnell, Archie Saunders, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Leafi Talataina, Taniela Tupou
NSW Waratahs Women’s Rookie of the Year Award: Seneti Kilisimai
NSW Waratahs Women’s Best Back Award: Desiree Miller
NSW Waratahs Women’s Best Forward Award: Annabelle Codey
Standings after Rounds 1-2
Leilani Nathan – 48 points
Desiree Miller – 41
Kaitlan Leaney – 28
Georgina Friedrichs – 27
Faliki Pohiva – 24
Standings after Rounds 3-5
Faliki Pohiva – 102 points
Annabelle Codey – 70
Georgina Friedrichs – 53
Leilani Nathan – 48
Desiree Miller – 42
Final Standings
Georgina Friedrichs – 129 points
Faliki Pohiva – 108
Desiree Miller - 101
Annabelle Codey – 96
Leilani Nathan – 49
NSW Waratahs Women’s Grand Final Champions: Ruby Anderson, Tatum Bird, Emily Chancellor, Annabelle Codey, Piper Duck ©, Waiaria Ellis, Georgina Friedrichs, Caitlyn Halse, Kaitlan Leaney, Arabella McKenzie, Brittany Merlo, Desiree Miller, Leilani Nathan, Nicole Nathan, Bridie O’Gorman, Faliki Pohiva, Emily Robinson, Jade Sheridan, Maya Stewart, Adiana Talakai, Amelia Whitaker
NSW Waratahs Women’s Debutants: Tiarne Cavanagh, Martha Harvey, Seneti Kilisimasi, Tahlia Morgan, Millie Parker, Jay-Jay Taylor, Amelia Whitaker
NSW Waratahs Women’s 25 Caps Recipients: Cheech Barker, Iliseva Batibasaga, Emily Chancellor, Georgina Friedrichs, Arabella McKenzie, Bridie O’Gorman, Emily Robinson, Maya Stewart
Peter Crittle AO, Ron Graham AM, Harold Judd, Syd Malcolm, Ron Rankin DFC & Bar, Alana Thomas
