Scott Drinkwater and Emma Manzelmann have been named NRL and NRLW Players’ Player of the Year at tonight’s North Queensland Toyota Cowboys Presentation Night.
Drinkwater compiled a remarkable 2023 campaign, finishing in the NRL’s top five for both try and line break assists.
The 26-year-old produced a terrific season as a whole, but it was his seven-game stretch between Rounds 11 and 18, which announced the Cowboys fullback as a bona fide star of the game. During that stretch, he compiled an almost unbelievable 16 try assists and five tries of his own.
Drinkwater was rewarded with a spot in the NSW extended squad for the final game of the State of Origin series.
Manzelmann was one of just four players to appear in all nine NRLW games for the Cowboys.
The Queensland Origin representative was electric from dummy half in her maiden season for her home region.
Manzelmann scored three tries for the season, including the first ever NRLW four-pointer for the Cowboys.
The Mackay product was phenomenal defensively as well, making 280 tackles at a 94.3 per cent efficiency.
