The Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies hosted their Annual Awards Night at Hyatt Hotel Canberra last night, with captains Allan Alaalatoa and Siokapesi Palu scooping the main prizes.
Alaalatoa, 31, was named the Brett Robinson Players’ Player of the Year for a fourth time, with only George Smith having won the award on more occasions. Palu, 28, won three prizes on the night, including the Helen Taylor Women’s Player of the Year Award.
Alaalatoa surpassed our defence coach Ben Mowen with most caps as Brumbies captain this season, resuming as skipper for a sixth consecutive term. Having only scored four tries in his Super Rugby career before 2025, the tighthead prop incredibly crossed the whitewash eight times this season.
Alaalatoa was delighted to receive the award from the man himself, World Rugby chairman Robinson, and highlighted his satisfaction of another season where the club reached the Super Rugby Pacific finals.
“It's really special. As I said up on stage, I think it's the greatest honour to receive an award that's voted for by your peers,” Alaalatoa said.
“The lads who you get to work with every day and people who I try and play hard for every weekend. It's great because I really love this club and I love working here every week.
“I look back on this season and it’s one that I really enjoyed. I was able to be out there for most games and play consistently. We also had a lot of farewells throughout the year, some boys who have been here for a number of years and given this club so much, guys like Noah and Hoops, just to name a couple.
“We wanted to send them off on a high, but we weren't able to do that. As a whole though, as a team, we really did enjoy the year.”
After being named Wallaroos captain for the upcoming Women’s Rugby World Cup in England earlier in the day, Palu scooped the Helen Taylor Award as well as the Women’s Forward of the Year and Women’s Member’s Choice.
Palu was unable to attend the event, as she is currently undergoing rehab on a foot injury ahead of the World Cup, but had another terrific campaign in Brumbies colours, playing every single minute while making 35 carries for 353m across the four games, with 42 tackles across the park.
Hooper and Ryan Lonergan were named as the best forward and back respectively. Hooper was included in the Super Rugby Pacific team of the season alongside Alaalatoa and followed it up with a man of the match performance in the Wallabies’ 22-12 third Test win against the Lions in Sydney on Saturday night. While vice-captain Lonergan had his best season to date, demonstrating his leadership on and off the field and landing the winning penalty kick in the historic 21-20 win over the Blues at Eden Park in March, our first win there since 2013.
Merania Paraone won the Brumbies Women's best back award, having arrived at the Brumbies before the start of this year, after two successful seasons with the Chiefs in Super Rugby Aupiki. She scored just two minutes into her Brumbies debut, during the 29-29 draw against the Western Force in Round 1 and went on to be ever-present during this season, starting every single game at inside centre.
Manu’a Moleka and Lachie Shaw were recognised as the Most Outstanding Young Players for the Brumbies, with both players having breakout campaigns. The pair will be ones to watch for higher honours in the not-so-distant future.
Wing Andy Muirhead was chosen as the Member’s Player of the Year, having been the only player to feature in every single minute of their team’s campaign across the Super Rugby Pacific campaign this season.
Former chief executive Phil Thomson was honoured with the Garry Quinlivan Service to Rugby Award.
Thomson finished his employment contract with the Brumbies on 11th July 2025, having taken up various roles at the Brumbies and ACT Rugby throughout his professional career. He was the inaugural Brumbies Team Manager in 1996 and was in this role for six seasons, where the team reached the final in 1997 and 2000 before becoming the first team from outside New Zealand to win a Super Rugby title in 2001.
After further contributions with the Wallabies and the ARU as the country’s first Integrity Manager in rugby, he stepped in briefly as the Brumbies Interim CEO in May 2016 before taking on the position full-time in October 2018. Throughout his time in the sport, Thomson has shown his passion and commitment for rugby in not only Canberra, but also Australia, and will be sorely missed at the Brumbies.
Jack Debreczeni won the Spirit of the Brumbies Award. The fly half was backs coach for the U19s Championship winning-team late last year, as they flourished in the 40-31 win over the Reds in the Grand Final at Ballymore Stadium. While he came straight into day one of pre season training at Brumbies HQ the following morning.
Debreczeni has always put the club first and made himself available for any squad activity or community engagements last season, despite missing much of the campaign through injury.
The outgoing fly half and Bonnie Brewer were well-deserved winners of the Community Engagement Award, with 18-year-old Eli Langi claiming the Graham Gordon Memorial Trophy for Best and Fairest U20s player. Langi is still eligible for the Brumbies U19s this season and played in every match of the Australia U20s recent World Rugby U20 Championship campaign in Italy, where they defeated England 68-40 in the fifth-place play-off.
2025 ACT Brumbies Award Winners:
- Brett Robinson Players’ Player Award: Allan Alaalatoa
- Helen Taylor Super Rugby Women's Player of the Year: Siokapesi Palu
- Christian Leali'ifano Spirit of the Brumbies: Jack Debreczeni
- Garry Quinlivan Service to Rugby Award: Phil Thomson
- Super Rugby Women’s Most Outstanding Young Player: Manu’a Moleka
- Shawn Mackay Most Outstanding Young Talent Award: Lachie Shaw
- Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies Men's Best Back: Ryan Lonergan
- Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies Best Men's Forward: Tom Hooper
- Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies Best Women's Back: Merania Paroane
- Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies Best Women's Forward: Siokapesi Palu
- Men's and Women's Members Choice Award: Andy Muirhead and Siokapesi Palu
- Men's and Women's Community Engagement Award: Jack Debreczeni and Bonnie Brewer
- Graham Gordon Memorial Trophy for the ACT Best and Fairest U20's Player: Eli Langi
