The most prized individual honours in Queensland rugby will be unveiled tonight with the winners of the Pilecki Medal and Shannon Parry Medal.
Winning such a gong through the votes of your fellow players always adds special meaning.
There is a real air of mystery around who will win when the 3-2-1 votes of teammates are tallied for a gala function at The Tivoli in Fortitude Valley.
The strength of the Queensland Reds in 2025 was very much that influential performances came from across the park in different games.
You might imagine that backrower Joe Brial’s breakout performance against the Chiefs in the wet in Hamilton would capture the major share of votes from Round Eight.
He was that good just as the likes of Tate McDermott, Tom Lynagh, Harry Wilson and others had high moments during the Smartech Super Rugby Pacific season.
Four tries from Lachie Anderson in the final regular season round of the season certainly had him winning man-of-the-match plaudits from commentators and judges in the media.
Does that convert to top votes from his teammates? That’s where the mystery comes in. Do players see the game the same way as fans in the stand?
The Pilecki Medal is not awarded on the votes of referees or the media but the votes of the 23 players involved in each game. It is the ultimate gong for excellence from your peers.
What is undeniable is that the Pilecki Medal has honoured many true greats of Queensland rugby since it was first awarded in 1992 to halfback Peter Slattery.
The hugely popular Stan Pilecki, the first Queensland player to reach 100 games, presented Slattery with his Medal that evening.
Sadly, Pilecki is no longer with us but his name lives on through the Medal named in his honour.
Tonight, we find out who will join the likes of four-time winner Chris Latham, John Eales, David Croft, Will Genia, James Slipper, Jason Little, Samu Kerevi, Daniel Herbert, Taniela Tupou, Harry Wilson and 2024 winner Fraser McReight on the honour roll.
It is only the third season of the Shannon Parry Medal so the sprint that is Buildcorp Super Rugby Women’s has the capacity for mystery as well.
Tonight, who will join Shannon Parry (2024) and Carola Kreis (2025) as the winner of a Medal that shines extra recognition on the women’s game?
So what pointers do we have from the history of the Pilecki Medal?
The Medal has been won 10 times by backrowers but never by a hooker. Props (five) have won the Medal as often as fullbacks.
To date, the two Shannon Parry Medals have been won by backrowers.
Whoever wins tonight, there will be two worthy names to add to the roll call of the best to wear the Queensland jersey.
