Owls Pesi and Faitala Take Out Big Honours at the Rugby Australia Awards

It was a huge night for the Owls at the 2026 Rugby Australia Awards, with Faitala Moleka and Siokapesi Palu Sekona both taking home major honours.

At just 21, Faitala became the youngest ever winner of the Wallaroos Player of the Year award. She beat fellow Owl Pesi and back rower Piper Duck in a hotly contested field. Faitala’s year was capped by a brilliant finish to the season, moving into inside centre and starring in the three-Test series against Scotland, including a Player of the Match performance in the final Test in Canberra. She wasn’t in Sydney to collect the award, as she was in New Zealand preparing to play for Australia U21 against New Zealand U21 in Christchurch.

Pesi didn’t go home empty-handed either. She was named Super Rugby Women’s Player of the Year and also claimed the Cadbury Try of the Year for her superb effort against Scotland at GIO Stadium. It is a fitting reward for a player who captained the Brumbies and the Wallaroos through another outstanding season.

Read the full Brumbies article here.