KEY POINTS:
Warriors rugby league second rower Simon Mannering won the Player of the Year accolade at the Warriors' annual awards dinner in Auckland last night.
The 22-year-old, one of three players to appear for the club in all 25 National Rugby League (NRL) games so far, beat four other nominees - hooker Ian Henderson, loose forward Micheal Luck, centre Brent Tate and winger Manu Vatuvei.
With 15 tries in 15 matches, Vatuvei picked up the One Tribe Player of the Year award, as voted for on a weekly basis by One Tribe members.
Vatuvei was also named the Club Person of the Year for his overall contribution to the club both on and off the field.
Luck, who won the award the two previous years, was again a nominee as was captain Steve Price.
Vatuvei also becomes the Warriors One Community ambassador, taking over from Luck.
In the other key award of the night, 19-year-old Ben Matulino beat winger Aidan Kirk and second rower-centre Sonny Fai for the Young NRL Player of the Year title.
- NZPA
