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Hawke’s Bay Magpies halfback Folau Fakatava is in line to become only the second player to claim the NPC’s player of the year award for a second time, despite injuries which plagued the middle of his season this year.
Folau Fakatava has been a fixture of the Hawke's Bay Magpies for several seasons now. Photo / Photosport
He is one of three finalists for the Duane MonkleyMedal named this week in community and provincial categories of the ASB Rugby Awards.
Super Rugby and national team categories finalists are yet to be named. The awards are presented on December 12.
This year he is up against Tasman wing and centre Timoci Tavatavanawi and Taranaki first five-eighths/fullback Josh Jacomb, who along with Fakatava made-up the top three when points were last published at the end of Round 6.
At that time Fakatava led the points, which are allocated by match officials on a 3-2-1 basis for each game. They are not displayed in the latter rounds, in the interests of maintaining suspense until the presentations.
Significantly, NPC champions Wellington and beaten finalists Bay of Plenty do not feature, although the Wellington Lions are finalists in the team of the year category.
