The best performances in 2014 were honoured on Friday night at the Group Six Rugby League Awards Dinner at the Bargo Sports Club.
A full house saw the best performances in all grades recognised, and for the second year running, there was a tie for the First Grade Player of the Year.
Former NRL players Ray Cashmere (Camden) and Eddie Paea (Thirlmere) tied for the honour with 17 votes, one ahead of Camden halfback Chris Browne.
Browne was recognised as the leading pointscorer in 2014, with a tally of 158 for Camden, as they fell one game short of the Grand Final this season.
Browne’s coach Mitch Newton was recognised for his efforts with the clipboard this year, as he won the Coach of the Year title in leading the Rams to the Preliminary Final.
Mitchell Brasington (The Oaks) was the leading tryscorer in the competition, with 14 to his name, with Appin’s Roman Loelu being named the winner of the Garry Dowling Rising Star Award.
John Mewburn was awarded life membership of the Group Six Rugby League on the night, with Michael Lett and Yileen Gordon were acknowledged for reaching Representative honours with NSW Country.
Besides all the awards for the various grades being awarded, the Group marked 100 years of football by naming a Team of the Century which was announced on the night.
Former NSW Premier John Fahey was among the 17 players chosen, along with former St Gregory’s College head coach Peter Mulholland, and Illawarra Steelers star Ian Russell.
The full list of award winners are below:
Under 18-2 Player of the Year – Jake Bostock (Mt Annan Knights)
Under 18-1 Player of the Year – Regan Walsh (Narellan Jets)
Second Division Player of the Year – Corey Harrison (Narellan Jets)
Reserve Grade Player of the Year – Luke Canham (Camden Rams)
First Grade Player of the Year – Ray Cashmere (Camden Rams) & Eddie Paea (Thirlmere Roosters)
Garry Dowling Rising Star Award – Roman Loelu (Appin Dogs)
First Grade Leading Tryscorer – Mitchell Brasington (The Oaks Tigers – 14)
First Grade Leading Pointscorer – Chris Browne (Camden Rams – 158)
Team Of The Century – Kim Patrick; Noel Chesham; Chris Cummings; Peter Mulholland; Jim Hindmarsh; Barry Andrews; David Applebee; Geoff Downing; Grahame Murchie; Tony Newell (dec); Adrian Haertsch;
John ‘Jack’ McClean (dec); Ian McRae; Ian Russell; Garry Dowling (dec); John Cole; John Fahey.
