These trophies were awarded to the men's and women's players who showed the most improvement throughout the season and/or from the previous season's efforts. They (along with the Most Promising Players of the Year awards) were discontinued in 2006/07 and replaced by the Zin Harris Memorial Cup and Kim Jamieson Memorial Cup for young male and female players of the year, respectively.

Season	Men's Winner	Women's Winner
1982/83	A Arnold	T Arahanga
1983/84	GR Lucas	CA Campbell
1984/85	BZ Harris	J Beattie
1985/86	RM Ford	JA Turner
1986/87	GM Olliver	T McNamara
1987/88	GR Lucas	M Ormandy
1988/89	GM Rae	M Ormandy
1989/90	NS Tikao	SM Frahm
1990/91	AF Rolfe	M Ormandy
1991/92	JB Mooar	A Morris
1992/93	KB Scott	SM Frahm
1993/94	JS Ward	S Burrows
1994/95	MW Fine	L Walker
1995/96	not awarded	J Durdin
1996/97	JS Ward	CJ Moffat
1997/98	GN Brooks	MJ Carmont
1998/99	JAF Davidson	BH McNeill (Isaachsen)
1999/00	T Breese	SK Burke (Wynands)
2000/01	BA Smith	SK Burke (Wynands)
2001/02	AC Bailey	KA Craig
2002/03	BD Glover	KL Goodacre (Cunis)
2003/04	RK Davidson	RC Milburn
2004/05	NG Tubb (Jones)	AE Satterthwaite
2005/06	ND Cross	LM Tahuhu
2006/07	JPD O'Gorman	AE Forbes

Multiple recipients:

Men:

• 2 - GR Lucas (1983/84, 1987/88)
• 2 - JS Ward (1993/94, 1996/97)
  
  Women:
  
• 3 - M Ormandy (1987/88, 1988/89, 1990/91)
• 2 - SM Frahm (1989/90, 1992/93)
• 2 - SK Burke (Wynands) (1999/00, 2000/01)