Melbourne Storm's Cooper Clarke has been voted the RLPA Rookie of the Year for his outstanding debut year in the NRL.
Clarke made his mark on the NRL in Round 1 this year, with Craig Bellamy selecting him for every single Storm match in his 2026 campaign.
The players themselves vote for the RLPA's Rookie award, giving Clarke the ultimate pat on the back from his teammates and opposing rivals.
As voted by NRL players, the RLPA is proud to announce Cooper Clarke as the Players' Rookie of the Year for 2026.
What a year it’s been for the Melbourne forward 🔥
Read more: https://t.co/l90Hy7cUky pic.twitter.com/ur9xJFaACr
— RLPA | Rugby League Players Association (@RLPlayers) September 14, 2026
Clarke finished his 2026 season with two tries, 56 tackle breaks, 988 post-contact metres, 2,237 running metres and 637 tackles, proving to be a handful for defenders.
The 20-year-old was immediately rewarded for his progression with an extension at the club until the end of 2029, announced at the start of April.
Clarke's swift advancement through the Storm pathways turned plenty of heads last year.
He played a key role in the club's maiden Jersey Flegg title win in 2025, which also saw him crowned SG Ball Player of the Year and a call-up to NSW Blues Under-19s honours.
He joins illustrious company in Storm stars Harry Grant, who was crowned the RLPA award winner in 2020, and Cameron Munster, who received the honour in 2015.
The club also recognised Clarke as a standout youngster and took home the Billy Slater Rookie of the Year Award at the Storm's awards night.
"It's honestly unreal, coming from the players you play against, obviously playing against
probably (players) who are going to be immortals soon," Clarke said on Nine's 100% Footy on Monday.
"The fact that I can be voted this is unreal."
The young forward was also included in the New Zealand Kiwis' extended 40-man squad, with an international berth around the corner in the upcoming World Cup.
Clarke will continue his development under Bellamy and the Storm coaching staff, earmarking him as a future star to don the sky blue at senior State of Origin level.
