The NSWRL have decided to make skipper Paul Gallen ineligible for the Brad Fittler Medal after he was suspended from the game for breaching the anti-doping policy.
Gallen was on Thursday kicked out of contention for the Dally M representative player of the year by the NRL, with the NSWRL following in the same foot steps ahead of the September 10 awards night at Curzon Hall.
After a lengthy board meeting on Friday morning, the NSWRL decided to prevent Gallen from winning the Fittler medal, which he looked certain to collect after winning the Wally Lewis medal for player of the series.
Eels fullback Jarryd Hayne is now the frontrunner to win the award after his stellar performance in Origin I at Suncorp Stadium.
NSWRL chief executive David Trodden said it was important the NSWRL was consistent with the NRL when making its decision.
"Earlier this week we asked the NRL for guidance on the terms of Paul Gallen's suspension," Trodden said.
"We did so as we did not wish to do something which was inconsistent with the NRL's philosophy and put Paul in a difficult position as a consequence. The NRL has come to a determination that Paul should be ineligible for awards that they control. In order to be consistent, our board feels that we should come to a similar view.
"After a board meeting this morning, it was decided that Paul would not be eligible for awards at the Brad Fittler Medal night on September 10. Paul has been a wonderful servant for NSW. He is going through a difficult period at the moment during which he has our support. He has been subjected to an enormous amount of scrutiny in recent times and we do not wish to add to that. I have spoken with Paul about the decision and he is understandably disappointed. We are also disappointed to be placed in this position, but we understand the stance which the NRL has taken on the issue."
