The National Rugby League is proud to announce the finalists for the 2022 Ken Stephen Medal - Man of the Year, which recognises the efforts of an NRL player who has not only achieved on the field, but has committed time off the field to community projects.
Angus Crichton (Roosters), Cody Walker (Rabbitohs), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Cowboys) and Nicho Hynes (Sharks) were announced as the finalists for this year's award as part of the 2022 Dally M Awards in Sydney on Wednesday.
In addition to the $1,000 each finalist has received to give back to their junior rugby league club, Hynes has raised an additional $3,500 for his junior club — the Umina Beach Bunnies — after being announced as the winner of the fan vote.
The winner of the Ken Stephen Medal - Man of the Year will be announced at the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final and presented with the award by former rugby league player Wayne Pearce OAM.
Established in 2007, the NRL Community Awards have become the most significant opportunity for our game’s unsung heroes to receive the recognition and thanks they deserve for the tireless work they do in the community. It also provides an opportunity for the NRL to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution that clubs, state leagues and both NRL and NRLW players make year on year.
2022 Ken Stephen Medal finalists
Angus Crichton (Roosters)
Angus has been an instrumental leader in building the relationship between Ronald McDonald House Randwick and the Sydney Roosters, volunteering his time both in person and via FaceTime during Covid-19 protocols. Angus is a strong leader and mentor within the Indigenous community, working with Indigenous student leaders and presenting them with their Sydney Roosters School to Work polo shirts for the NRL Indigenous Youth Leadership Summit. Angus has proactively sought to make a positive impact on Indigenous communities. With his aim to give remote communities a voice, Angus launched an official charity – The First People Project, a mentoring program for Indigenous boys boarding in prestigious Sydney High Schools. Angus eagerly participates in all community- based initiatives and events, always with a smile and positive attitude. Eastern Suburbs Schools Community Carnival, the School to Work Campaign and Boots for Brighter Futures are some examples of events Angus has embraced.
Cody Walker (Rabbitohs)
Cody has a long and proud history championing the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Souths Cares and NRL community initiatives. This has included his dedication to the Nanga Mai Marri (Dream Big) Program, Aboriginal Employment Program, Deadly Youth Mentoring Program and Rabbitoh’s Wellbeing Program. He is passionately involved in numerous Indigenous focused initiatives, such as raising money for the Rising Warriors Program, guest speaking at NAIDOC week school celebrations and collaborating with indigenous leaders from multiple codes and industries in the Unity Dance in 2021. He was part of the ‘I Have a Dream’ Indigenous 2007 player photo recreation and led the Rabbitoh’s Indigenous jersey design.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Cowboys)
Passionate about encouraging education for all, as well as being an ambassador for NRL Cowboys House, Hamiso works closely with Weir State High School as part of the Cowboy’s Adopt a School program. Hamiso teaches Rugby League skills, sharing insights with students about relationships and encouraging students to connect to their culture. Hamiso spreads his work further, often travelling over 1 100 kilometres to visit schools, such as visiting Western Cape College to share the club’s Try for 5! message – encouraging students to attend school every day of the week. Focusing on health care as well as education, Hamiso travelled to Palm Island to combat the slow COVID-19 vaccination rates of Indigenous communities, encouraging vaccination.
Nicho Hynes (Sharks)
As a proud Wiradjuri man and Indigenous role model, Nicho delivered messages of health and wellbeing through the Sharks Deadly Choices program and attended NRL Youth Summit during NRL Indigenous round. Nicho also liaised with Aboriginal youth suicide prevention organisation, Cultural Choice Association, to encourage his teammates to wear boots, hand painted by students at a local Aboriginal youth hostel. Often seen proudly wearing his signature pink Mark Hughes Foundation beanie, Nicho supports the Mark Hughes Foundation as his charity. This year Nicho participated in the Big Three Trek on his scheduled day off, in support of the charity.
