Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Origin vice-captain Hannah Southwell was officially presented with her NSW Women’s State of Origin Player of the Year award by NSWRL Board Member John Anderson at the recent Newcastle Rugby League AGM.
The NSW lock was awarded the medal after her impressive performance against Queensland where NSW went down fighting 24-18 at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Friday 13 November.
It is the first time NSW has lost an interstate match against Queensland since 2014 and the first time they have surrendered the Shield since the Origin concept started in 2018.
“I was obviously shattered by the loss and was shocked when I found out I had won this award,” Southwell said.
“It means a lot to pull on the Blues jersey and it’s an honour each time, so it was an honour to win player of the year as well,”
“Being named vice-captain this year was something special to me and although we didn’t get the win, I think we are building to something exciting with so many young players coming through.”
It has been an impressive year for Southwell, who also took out the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership Player of the Year award in the NSW Women’s Premiership after going on to win the title with the Central Coast Roosters alongside other NSW stars Isabelle Kelly and Kylie Hilder.
She then reached the NRLW Grand Final with the Sydney Roosters and was awarded the KARI Foundation Player of the Year at the Sydney Roosters presentation night which immediately followed the Grand Final.
As well, she was voted by her peers as the RLPA NRLW Players' Champion for season 2020 and took out the Dally M NRLW Tackle of the Year for her shot on Georgia Hale.
