Joe Tapine wins Canberra Raiders' 2022 Meninga Medal with double the amount of votes to his closest rival

The 28-year-old took out his first Canberra Raiders' best-and-fairest on Monday night with 44 votes in the final tally, 22 points clear of his teammate Jack Wighton in second place.

It's a stark improvement from the New Zealand international's fourth-placed finish in last season's medal race.

But it is no surprise in 2022. Tapine leads the NRL in post-contract metres by more than 100 metres, is second in offloads and is the only prop alongside two fullbacks in the top three players for most run metres this season.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said Tapine had developed into a great leader at the club both on and off field.

"He commands a lot of respect and his professional approach to his preparation and his game this year has taken him to another level," he said.

"He's in the best form of his career, we all knew Joe's capabilities and he's worked so hard to be achieving them.

"You can't deny his passion and commitment to the jersey, and his teammates. That's what I really respect with all my senior players and it's something I really respect with Joe. He's a protector, he protects his teammates, he's committed to his team and his on field performance is a great example of this."

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The Green Machine took time out of their preparation for the knockout semi-final against the Eels at Parramatta on Friday night for two things on Monday.

They celebrated their late chairman Allan Hawke in the morning, where Raiders' players formed a guard of honour for his funeral, and came together at the NCCC for their awards night later on.

Stuart admitted it had been a busy 24 hours but said his side were taking it one day at a time for their six-day turnaround.

And honouring player's efforts was an important part of the season, as there was no greater honour for a coach than watching your senior players excel like Tapine had this season.

"There's no greater accolade in a sport than achieving the respect and vote of best player from your teammates," Stuart said.

"Our whole performance has come on the back of our senior players playing their best football."

Second rower Hudson Young finished third in the Meninga Medal votes on 19 points but did not leave empty handed on the night, after taking home the NRL Coaches' award.

Brad Schneider stepped into halfback for 10 games in the first half of the year for the injured Jamal Fogarty, and earned himself the Raiders' rookie of the year for his performance.

The award held extra significance in 2022, as it was renamed the Peter Mulholland rookie of the year to honour the club's former head of recruitment and development, who passed away late last year.

Meninga Medal - Joseph Tapine

NRL Coaches' award - Hudson Young

Peter Mulholland NRL Rookie of the year - Brad Schneider

Fred Daly club person of the year - Kate Gallegos

Geoff Caldwell welfare and education award - Harley Smith-Shields

Gordon McLucas junior representative of the year - Michael Asomua

NSW Cup player of the year - Peter Hola

NSW Cup Coaches' award - Ata Mariota

Jersey Flegg player of the year - Steven Numambo

Jersey Flegg Coaches' award - Loghan Lewis

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