Hear what emerging Canberra Raiders star Tevita Pangai Junior had to say at the NYC Team of the Year ceremony in Sydney after he was named as one of the side's starting second rowers.
NRL Head of Football, Mr Todd Greenberg, joined Sandy Alchi, Zone Manager NSW and ACT for GM Holden and members of the 2015 Holden Cup Team of the Year at Rugby League Central’s Heroes and Legends Museum.
This year’s team joins an honour roll that includes some of the NRL’s most talented stars, including Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Valentine Holmes, Daly-Cherry Evans, Ben Barba, Kieran Foran, Marika Koroibete, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Ben Matulino, Dane Gagai, Jesse Bromwich, Jason Taumololo, Shaun Fensom, Tariq Sims, Gareth Widdop, Ben Hunt, Trent Merrin, David Klemmer, Dylan Napa, James Segeyaro, Konrad Hurrell, Luke Brooks and Bryce Cartwright.
“The Holden Cup Team of the Year is a virtual preview of the stars of the future in the NRL,” Mr Greenberg said.
“When you look through the list of players who have made this team in the past it reads like a ‘who’s who’ of the game.
“A number of those players named today have already broken into the NRL - a remarkable achievement when they are still eligible for Holden Cup.
“Importantly, all these players are undertaking training and following a career.
“So these young players not only have enormous potential on the field, but are developing exciting careers off the field as well.”
All players were presented with a $1000 education grant at today’s announcement.
Geraldine Davys, Holden’s Executive Director of Marketing and Customer Experience, congratulated all the players who had made the Holden Cup Team of the Year.
“To be named as part of this team is a fantastic achievement and one they should all be very proud of,” Ms Davys said.
“At Holden, we remain excited about our support of rugby league at every level, from Australia’s most elite athletes to supporting rugby league at a grassroots level.
“We are committed to helping rugby league develop in local communities and we believe the Holden Cup has a fantastic approach to preparing young players for life in, and beyond, sport.”
The 2015 Holden Cup Team of the Year is:
| Position | Player | Club | Studying |
| Fullback | Tom Trbojevic | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | Double Degree: Bachelor of Applied Finance & Bachelor of Economics (Macquarie University) |
| Wing | Gideon Mosby | North Queensland Cowboys | HSC at Kirwan State High School |
| Centre | Jordan Drew | Brisbane Broncos | Bachelor of Education (QUT) |
| Centre | Addison Demetriou | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | Council Worker with SITA |
| Wing | Joseph Manu | Sydney Roosters | Certificate III in Sport & Recreation & Labouring |
| Five-eighth | Te Maire Martin | Wests Tigers | Diploma of Business |
| Halfback | Ashley Taylor | Brisbane Broncos | Full-time Training squad (Apprentice Carpenter with Q Build) |
| Prop | Viliame Kikau | North Queensland Cowboys | Certificate III Sport & Recreation Traineeship |
| Hooker | Jayden Berrell | Brisbane Broncos | Apprentice Carpenter with Stepahead |
| Prop | Joe Ofahengaue | Brisbane Broncos | Certificate III Sport & Recreation Traineeship |
| Second-Row | Coen Hess | North Queensland Cowboys | Bar Tender and Reception at Brothers Leagues Club |
| Second-Row | Tevita Pangai | Canberra Raiders | Bachelor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation |
| Lock | Jai Arrow | Brisbane Broncos | Apprentice Plumber with All Trades Queensland |
| Interchange | Latrell Mitchell | Sydney Roosters | Certificate III Sport & Recreation Traineeship |
| Interchange | Brent Naden | Penrith Panthers | Full-time: Sports Development Officer (NRL Development) |
| Interchange | Jayden Nikorima | Brisbane Broncos | Full-time Training squad (Cert IV in Frontline Management ) |
| Interchange | Danny Levi | Newcastle Knights | Certificate III in Fitness |
| Coach | Cameron Ciraldo | Penrith Panthers | Diploma of Business |
