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International

How Wallace Sititi humbly reacted to All Blacks Player of the Year honour

Wallace Sititi of New Zealand runs with the ball during the Autumn Nations Series match between England and New Zealand All Blacks at the Allianz Stadium on November 02, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Backrower Wallace Sititi has capped off a breakout year in style, being crowned the All Blacks’ best player at the ASB Rugby Awards. On New Zealand Rugby’s night of nights last Thursday, Sititi received the Player of the Year award ahead of fellow nominees Tyrel Lomax and Tupou Vaa’i.

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Sititi only made his Super Rugby Pacific debut earlier this year after coming off the bench for the Chiefs in their round three loss to the Queensland Reds in Brisbane. The loose forward was once again called on to come off the pine in round five before being named to start.

Coach Clayton McMillan ended up starting the youngster nine times during the campaign, which included an eye-catching performance in the Semi-Final upset win over the Hurricanes, where Sititi was named the Player of the Match that night in Wellington.

With the All Blacks including Sititi in their initial squad for 2024, there was a sense of intrigue about how the enforcer would fare. Sititi got a run against Fiji in San Diego but really came of age in the second Test away to the world champion Springboks in Cape Town.

There were journalists in South Africa asking who Wallace Sititi was before the Test, but that name won’t be forgotten soon with the New Zealander starring at DHL Stadium. Sititi carried that form throughout the entire season, with RugbyPass writers regularly rating the All Black as an 8 or 9 out of 10.

Sititi was recently named World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the Year Awards in Monaco and was last week named the All Blacks Player of the Year. It’s been a forgettable rise to the top for young Wallace Sititi, who remained as humble as ever after receiving the award.

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“Just wanted to say it’s a privilege and an honour to receive this award. There’s a lot of boys deserving of this award to be able to receive this award is a special moment for not only myself but also my family,” Sititi said in a video shared on the All Blacks’ social media channels.

“Just wanted to say a thank you to my family, coaches, the boys, my parents, for making this year an enjoyable one. It’s been one hell of a ride and we’ve created some great memories along the way.

“Just wanted to say a thank you to everyone in New Zealand for your support, not only for myself but also for the team, for the boys, it goes a long way. We hear you and we feel you guys and it means so much to us.

“Everyone take care, enjoy the Christmas break, enjoy New Year’s. Hopefully we can do this all again in a years’ time.”

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As reported last week, the Black Ferns Sevens were named the Team of the Year after taking home Olympic gold at the Prais Games. They got the better of Canada in a tightly-contested gold medal match – the Canadians almost backing up upset wins over France and Australia.

20-year-old Jorja Miller was named the Player of the Year ahead of nominees Risi Pouri-Lane and Michaela Blyde. Miller was superb once again during the opening two legs of the new HSBC SVNS Series season, which included Cup Final glory in Cape Town.

Black Ferns Sevens’ Cory Sweeney was also named Coach of the Year for a record-equalling fifth time, drawing him level with Sir Steve Hansen.

ASB Rugby Award finalists and winners (in bold)

Sky Television Fans Try of the Year

Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong (King Country)
Katelyn Vahaakolo (Black Ferns)
Jed Melvin (North Harbour )

New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year

Ben O’Keeffe
Maggie Cogger-Orr
James Doleman

Charles Monro Rugby Volunteer of the Year

Steve and Lisa Wild (Thames Valley)
Dave Webb (Auckland)
Conor Croke (Waikato)

Bunnings Warehouse Rugby Club of the Year

Foxton Rugby Club (Horowhenua Kapiti)
Green Island Rugby Football Club (Otago)
Ponsonby Rugby Club (Auckland)

Te Hapai New Zealand Rugby Community Impact Award

James Legatt (Tamai Rugby Project)
Lisa Kingi-Bon (New Zealand Rugby Foundation)
Erin Rayner (Sense Rugby NZ)

New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year

Xavi Taele (Auckland)
Vernon Bason (Manawat?)
Oli Mathis (Waikato)
Elinor-Plum King (Manawat?)

NZRPA Kirk Award 

Dan Carter

Steinlager Salver – outstanding contribution to New Zealand Rugby

Ian Kirkpatrick

Ian Kirkpatrick Medal (Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship Player of the Year)

Siu Kakala (South Canterbury)
Declan McCormack (Mid Canterbury)
Alekesio Vakarorogo (Whanganui)

Duane Monkley Medal (Bunnings Warehouse NPC Player of the Year)

Timoci Tavatavanawai (Tasman)
Folau Fakatava (Hawke’s Bay)
Josh Jacomb (Taranaki)

Fiao’o Fa’amausili Medal (Farah Palmer Cup presented by Bunnings Warehouse Player of the Year)

Chelsea Semple (Waikato)
Hollyrae Merekara Mete (Manawat?)
Mia Anderson (Waikato)

ASB National Men’s Coach of the Year

Vern Cotter (Blues)
Clark Laidlaw (Hurricanes)
Alando Soakai (Wellington)
Richard Watt (Bay of Plenty)

ASB National Women’s Coach of the Year

Willie Walker (Blues)
James Semple (Waikato)
Campbell McNeill (Manawat?)

ASB New Zealand Coach of the Year

Cory Sweeney (Black Ferns Sevens)

DHL Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year

Hoskins Sotutu (Blues)
Damian McKenzie (Chiefs)
Harry Plummer (Blues)
Billy Proctor (Hurricanes)

Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Player of the Year

Katelyn Vahaakolo (Blues)
Layla Sae (Hurricanes Poua)
Kaipo Olsen-Baker (Matat?)
Kennedy Tukuafu (Chiefs Manawa)

Tom French Memorial Maori Player of the Year

Risi Pouri-Lane (Ngati Kuia, Ngati Koata, Ngai Tahu)
Tamaiti Williams (Ngapuhi)
Tyrel Lomax (Ngai Tuhoe, Muaupoko)
Katelyn Vahaakolo (Ngati Whatua, Ngapuhi, Ngati Maniapoto)

Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year

Fehi Fineanganofo
Tepaea Cook-Savage
Dylan Collier

Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year

Jorja Miller
Risi Pouri-Lane
Michaela Blyde

Black Ferns Player of the Year

Georgia Ponsonby
Alana Bremner
Kaipo Olsen-Baker

All Blacks Player of the Year

Tyrel Lomax
Tupou Vaa’i
Wallace Sititi

adidas National Men’s Team of the Year

Blues
Wellington Lions
Thames Valley Swamp Foxes

adidas National Women’s Team of the Year

Blues
Waikato
Manawatu Cyclones

adidas New Zealand Team of the Year

Black Ferns Sevens

Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year

Jorja Miller

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Comments on RugbyPass

f
fl 21 minutes ago
‘The problem with this year’s Champions Cup? Too many English clubs’

so your solution is that the premiership should get fewer teams, despite being an equal partner to the URC and top 14?


limiting the prem to 5 teams would have excluded bath, harlequins, and exeter from last years competition. Bath made the round of 16; exeter made the QF; harlequins made the SF.


on merit, the english teams deserve to be there far more than the teams finishing 6-8 in the URC and top 14 do.

15 Go to comments
f
fl 31 minutes ago
‘The problem with this year’s Champions Cup? Too many English clubs’

aren't you scottish?

last year the only scottish team in the competition played 3 english teams and lost every time. On merit the english clubs deserve to be there.

15 Go to comments
f
fl 34 minutes ago
‘The problem with this year’s Champions Cup? Too many English clubs’

if the leagues are equal partners in the competition then they should get equal opportunities for representation. if the prem clubs outperform the other leagues then they should be rewarded with more spots.

15 Go to comments
f
fl 36 minutes ago
‘The problem with this year’s Champions Cup? Too many English clubs’

ok, so you don't believe spots should be awarded on merit. You think good results shouldn't be rewarded, and selection should be rigged against leagues that you have arbitrarily decided you don't like.


your wilcard ideas remain terrible, but are also just incomprehensible. when did you learn to write?

15 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
'It doesn’t make sense for New Zealand to deny itself access to world-class players'

Because that's the policy. They have banked on him, invested in him, it's very hard for them to turn around and throw that away. Similar scenario to McDonald feeling pressure to select him imo. I'm part of the reason they see value in keeping him, that doesn't mean I can't see the wood for the trees.

139 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
'It doesn’t make sense for New Zealand to deny itself access to world-class players'

You have bolded the 'were nowhere near it' part. That is not true, we could be very near not holding onto the vast majority.


So this is a question I've asked in the past as well, do you want to plan it properly, or be needing to make a knee jerk reaction when the above scenario happens (given nothing happens to turn things around)?

139 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
'It doesn’t make sense for New Zealand to deny itself access to world-class players'

He's adaptable for sure, but at AB level I just don't think big enough to withstand the sort of contests winning three RWC games in a row is going to require. Were as he can certainly turn himself into a flyhalf that can get the team through those 3+ games.


Yeah just watching the game now, his skills especially with those long balls are superb. Can he throw off his left just as well? He's certainly not at the level I was just talking about yet, just simple things like when he looked up with Moala on him and dropped the ball. Still too many of those moments but they're no reason not to give him gametime now for being right in 2027. More good league style play as well just threatens the D a bit more in which is so necessary in todays climate.


I don't think JD was in anyway demeaning Sam's ability was he?

139 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
'It doesn’t make sense for New Zealand to deny itself access to world-class players'

That's due to numerous reasons, they could (players) demand monitization share of national duties too if they wanted to imo, they just don't need to. That's euro yea, sounds like it would be a little above what ABs get (perhaps more of a drop off after that), what do you reckon Jordie would be getting for his 3/4 season? Some private/3rd party funding huh.

139 Go to comments
J
JD Kiwi 2 hours ago
'It doesn’t make sense for New Zealand to deny itself access to world-class players'

That first sentence is exactly my point.


The Anglo Welsh cup is long gone but in any case, the reason why England doesn't pick from overseas isn't because their players play in the European comps. They'd still play in those if they played for French clubs. It's because they want to access to their players and don't want to weaken their domestic comp.

139 Go to comments
J
JD Kiwi 2 hours ago
'It doesn’t make sense for New Zealand to deny itself access to world-class players'

You can criticise the Blues all you like but every single coach and board at national and Super level that he's been connected to has picked or paid him even if you don't rate him.


The Blues were transformed this year because of Vern Cotter, not Harry Plummer.

139 Go to comments
O
OJohn 2 hours ago
Will overseas selection make the difference for British and Irish Lions?

Both

84 Go to comments
J
JW 2 hours ago
It's time for the All Blacks to break up Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane

The human body doesn't really work that way GP but lets hope he gets really lucky and the body parts that aren't worn thin by injury already don't get a lot of chance impacts, because certainly there are other aspects where you could see his distinct lack of rugby over the years allowing him to contribute for longer.


Personally I think he is going to have to pick up an overseas contract soon. Jacobson is going to have to play in his position of openside next year with Sititi taking his 8 spot, and with Finau on the other flank I can only think this is going to make Jacobsen look extremely good and an automatic AB inclusion given given his cohesion with Vaa'i and Lord as well (though he may also decide to leave if back up isn't doing it for him). Then there are a number of young players who are 7/6 dual flankers like him that it's just very doubtful he doesn't get overtaken. He's going to have some tough competition at the Crusaders alone, Cristie, Kellow, Lio-Willie, Cullen, the other young 6, some pretty good depth.


Oh, and Hotham played behind Christie and both the XV and Tasman level, so you clearly just can't handle the Chiefs being a better team than the Crusaders.

79 Go to comments
J
JD Kiwi 2 hours ago
'It doesn’t make sense for New Zealand to deny itself access to world-class players'

I've no idea what point you're trying to make. The only All Black 10 who's lost to England in the last ten years hasn't played a test all season.


You'll need to give a reference for that Robinson quote, I've not heard him say anything of the sort.

139 Go to comments
A
Ardy 2 hours ago
Australia cap off golden year in youth boys rugby with world title

Why no team list? Be interesting to see if any of them continue into senior rugby.

1 Go to comments
J
JD Kiwi 2 hours ago
'Razor's conservatism is in danger of halting New Zealand's progress'

Whatever you think about Sititi's performance against Argentina and whether those important penalties he gave away were just bad luck, Razor could easily have been conservative and selected someone more experienced against South Africa like Jacobson or Finau. That's after he selected the players.

262 Go to comments
J
JD Kiwi 2 hours ago
'Razor's conservatism is in danger of halting New Zealand's progress'

Or perhaps he didn't get much game time because he wasn't playing or training as well as Slater. Second guessing Clayton is pure speculation.

262 Go to comments
R
RedWarrior 3 hours ago
Toulouse player ratings vs Exeter Chiefs | Investec Champions Cup

Just a lot of errors..it will come together.... Clermont are a decent team, 3rd in top14. Only able to score 8 against Leinster. Didn't get close to anothers core. Barrett out of position. La Rochelle in January will be the first big test.

They are still building and and have still a 100% record

3 Go to comments
J
JW 4 hours ago
'Razor's conservatism is in danger of halting New Zealand's progress'

Haha yeah I know, sorry I just cbf doing anything other than sprouting the garbage that comes in. You either follow the train of thought or don't most the time, that's why I like you, happy to not take it serious like, and reply regardless.

Haha more imaginary rational. You mean in 2018 and 19 he used 36 new players?

more = you're following in Saders footsteps (here I go again assuming you know what I'll mean haha)

imaginary = fictitious world cups (no WC in 2018)

by "months before" you mean 2018/19? = because you wrote 2018 i'm assuming that's because your brain was thinking about that year when he used most of those 36 players

36 new players = because it's absolutely impossible to use 36 new players in the handful of games you get, or "months", before a WC

Doesn't really sound like good coaching and reinforces other theories. Wouldn't spread that.

Doesn't really sound like good coaching = that is waay to many players no matter what way you spin it, or what period. Where did you even get the data for that from?

reinforces other theories = no need to go into them here but it definitely suggests a case of being lucky to win despite the fact (if true) imo

Wouldn't spread that = cheekyness about above point


So yeah, you can see why I don't try to elaberate my posts so everyone can understand and sadly theyre too succinct for some with a slightly different lingo or thought.

and two years of >85% win ratio on the trot - I’d love to see how he’d have down with better coaching.

the none TLDR version reply..

two years = but weren't you following the similar line of this article that Razor needs to open it up? Why would you think that when you're suggesting he's got another 3 or 4 years before he reaches that point in tenure when he should also be trying to hit the 85 mark?

>85% win ratio on the trot = WC years are short and provide easy opposition, you don't normally include them. 22 would be more relevant, and this year you had both other top teams at home, so you'd think that 85 number is overs, or 'above' average based on circumstances (85 is a really fabulous number however so going back to 80 would also still be great)

love to see how he’d have done with better coaching. = well it's exactly the opposite of above isn't it, it's operating at well over 70 for 4 (excl covid) of those 7 years instead of his 60%, before hitting the 80s mark.


You might also ask well how could that be possible when he's done so bloody well just to do what he's done? Well I'm not going to take him (or SA) down a beg or two, instead I'll give you the hint (because I'm over thinking how to type long versions of replys), the answer is in this article!


Can you think of any specific players that became instrumental to the team from those 36 new players? One's plucked out of nowhere so to speak? I know for the first two years after covid he switched up you're team and tactics after each game against NZ (for the second), I think winning both 1st games and losing both rematch's? You don't think he should ever have done that differently, not been so happy to give up a victory against the ABs?

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J
JPM 4 hours ago
Toulouse player ratings vs Exeter Chiefs | Investec Champions Cup

Leinster didn’t seem so great vs Clermont…

3 Go to comments
A
AlanP 5 hours ago
‘The problem with this year’s Champions Cup? Too many English clubs’

Having the same number of prem teams than URC and top14 teams is unfair.

6 teams from top 14, 6 from URC and 4 from prem. Then we have 4 pools of 4. We play home and away games, top 2 qualify to quarter finals, semis, finals, champion!

Simple, beautiful!

15 Go to comments
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