Steelform Wanganui's young tearaway back Te Rangatira Waitokia is heading to Auckland as the latest local player to be nominated for the Mitre 10 Heartland Championship Player of the Year award.
Waitokia will be joined by fellow nominees James Lash (Buller) and Willie Paia'aua (Horowhenua-Kapiti) at the 2016 ASB Rugby Awards, being held at Sky City Convention Centre on December 15.
Cover fullback then winger, the 20-year-old Waitokia was the top tryscorer in Heartland this year with 12 tries, and set up the opening try in the Meads Cup final victory over Lash's Buller team.
Lash was the top overall points scorer in the competition.
Winger Paia'aua, a former Manawatu Turbos player, was a standout in an underperforming Horowhenua-Kapiti side.