Jock Campbell and Harmony Vatau were tonight crowned first-time winners of prized individual honours at the 2026 Queensland Reds Awards.
Wallabies fullback Campbell was named the Pilecki Medal winner as the Queensland Reds’ best during Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific.
First-year Reds back Vatau was named the Shannon Parry Medal winner and Rookie of the Year for her influential performances during Super Rugby Women’s. She played centre, fullback and flyhalf across the season.
Both medals are awarded on the 3-2-1 votes of the 23 players involved in each game. It is the ultimate gong for excellence from your peers.
In addition, the Caslick Medal for Queensland's top sevens player from the champion Next Gen Sevens squad was won by Carys Dallinger.
Campbell tallied 237 votes and was loudly applauded when the votes were unveiled at a gala function for more than 250 at The Tivoli in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley.
Campbell ended his standout season with a strong flourish of votes to overhaul early leader and lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (205). Filipo Daugunu (182), the 2025 winner, was third while 2024 winner Fraser McReight (168) was fourth and winner of the Member-voted Player of the Year.
Since 1992, the Medal has recognised the late Stan Pilecki, a wonderful figure in rugby for Queensland as the first to play 100 games.
It was a measure of the quality in the Reds ranks in 2026 that 10 different players won or shared Man of the Match mugs in the 15 games.
Campbell won two for match-turning displays which showcased his speed, evasive skills and timing in support. His effort to spark the epic late win over the ACT Brumbies in Canberra and his try at the death to beat Moana Pasifika in Auckland reflected his strong influence on both games.
"It's very special, particularly when you look at the list of players who have won this award," Campbell said.
"Off scrum and in counter-attack, we had some of the best attack stats in the competition. Credit to the backline we had and the wonderful job done by (attack coach) Brad Davis, who always took on board viewpoints.
"You want to help the team win most of all and I was fortunate a few of the moments this year went my way."
Salakaia-Loto won top votes in three games while Isaac Henry, Daugunu and McReight were top vote-winners in two games apiece.
Young guns Treyvon Pritchard and Vaiuta Latu relished the step up to Super Rugby Pacific for the first time. The duo shared the Rookie of the Year honour.
The Shannon Parry Medal is building its own history. It is just the fourth year in which it has been presented after being named in honour of the former Reds and Wallaroos captain Shannon Parry, the inaugural winner in 2023.
There was no catching Vatau after she dominated in the narrow loss to the ACT Brumbies in her Reds debut.
"I feel very grateful and humbled. To receive the medal from Shannon makes it mean a lot because (as assistant coaach) she was always looking to help me improve my game," Vatau said.
"I only came up from Melbourne this year and the team culture at the Reds made this a season I'll never forget. Thank you to all the girls and staff."
There was worthy recognition for halfback Sarah Dougherty's career-best display in the drought-breaking win over the NSW Waratahs in Sydney.
It pushed her up to fourth on 43 points behind second-placed prop Eva Karpani (58) and centre Ava Wereta (45), who had a fine season.
The Member-voted Player of the Year was the popular Karpani.
