McReight claims John Eales Medal as Rugby Australia crowns its best of 2026

Fraser McReight has been named the Wallabies’ best and fairest player after claiming the John Eales Medal at the 2026 Rugby Australia Awards in Sydney, capping a career-best 12 months for the Queensland Reds flanker. Faitala Moleka, 21, was simultaneously crowned Wallaroos Player of the Year, though she was absent from the ceremony while on tour with the Australia Next Gen U21s.

McReight stepped into the considerable shadow left by Michael Hooper ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup and has steadily built a reputation as one of the world’s premier opensides. Two-time John Eales Medal winner Rob Valetini described him as “one of the best sevens” in the world, while 1999 World Cup winner Jeremy Paul, former Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt, and current All Blacks coach Dave Rennie have all spoken highly of the headgear-wearing backrower.

His form across the past year has been consistently high. During the 2025 Autumn Nations Series, McReight finished with five turnovers and a team-high tackle count against England. After captaining the Queensland Reds through the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season, he carried that momentum into the Test arena, scoring tries against Japan in Osaka and crossing in both matches away to Argentina. Coach Les Kiss has regularly deployed him alongside Rob Valetini in a settled backrow, with captain Harry Wilson at number eight.

Moleka was the Wallaroos’ first-choice fly-half at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England and has since demonstrated considerable versatility, featuring at fullback and in the midfield for the ACT Brumbies this season.

Elsewhere in the awards, Waiaria Ellis — who has made the number ten jersey her own for both the NSW Waratahs and the Wallaroos — was named Junior Women’s Player of the Year. Amelia Whitaker, a nominee for World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year, took the Santos Women’s Rookie of the Year award after finishing the Wallaroos season with three tries in two appearances and winning the NSW Waratahs Player of the Year honour.

Wallaroos captain Siokapesi Palu Sekona claimed the Cadbury Try of the Year for completing a long-range team effort against Scotland, with retiring centre Cecilia Smith heavily involved in the build-up.