WHITEHAVEN Coal Group 4 completed its 2024 season with a wonderful presentation night handing out well-deserved awards to players and clubs at Wests on Saturday night.
Moree Boars excelled, winning the first-grade premiership for the first time since the 2002 victory over West Lions (34-18).
It is their fifth Group 4 first-grade premiership following wins in 1988, 1989, 1999 and 2002.
They were minor and major premiers and lost just the one game to Werris Creek (40-32).
Moree five-eighth Jamie Sampson was named player of the grand-final, the Boars five-eighth outstanding in the 40-18 victory over Boggabri.
Fullback Adrian Smith was leading point-scorer with 198 points (14 tries and 71 goals) while winger Jake Tighe was leading try-scorer with 28 including a fabulous diving take to score a wonderful and vital try in the grand-final.
Four Boars were also named in the team of the year – Jake Tighe, Mark Pegus, Jamie Sampson and Jack Durheim.
Group 4 president Lad Jones said it was a “great night to finish the season”.
He said he will continue on at the head of G4 “if they want me to”.
“I’ve enjoyed it,” he said.
“Very different to what I’m used to but it’s very buoyant and rewarding. All the clubs have helped me and the board has been amazing.”
Jamie Sampson named player of the grand-final at the Group 4 awards night last weekend (Image Copyright).
He had nothing but praise for club championship winners, Werris Creek.
“It was great for them, they put a lot of hard work into it.
“And the club championship was that close. It came down to the last round.”
Four clubs – Werris Creek, Moree, Dungowan and Kootingal – were in the running, with Werris Creek edging out Moree, who did extremely well despite not having an Under18s side.
“The grand-final day at Moree was outstanding. One of the best we’ve had. Four great games played in great spirit. Four real good games, hard fought,” Jones said.
He said special mention had to be made of the Players of the Year, Callum Hayne and Monique Corbett.
“They were well-deserved,” he said.
“Callum was great all year at hooker for Gunnedah and it was funny, four of the top five were hookers. Callum won but Matt Gillham (Boggabri), Anders Glew (Kootingal) and Dylan Porter (Werris Creek) were in the top five as well.
“Then Monique Corbett won the Ladies League Tag Player of the Year.
“She was outstanding. She was the highest try-scorer (36) and highest point-scorer (242) for the second year in a row and won the best and Fairest. That’s some sort of record.”
Werris Creek’s Rookie of the Year, Nate Follington, was also named in the G4 Team of the Year.
He was one of four Magpies named in that side, joining fullback Ronin Haddin, halfback Mitch Doring and second-rower Riley Leonard in the prestigious side selected by all nine first-grade coaches.
Words: Geoff Newling
Image: Bill Poulos
TEAM OF THE YEAR
1 Ronin Haddin (Werris Creek), 2 Emori Waqavulagi (Gunnedah), 3 Mark Pegus (Moree), 4 Liam Hatch (Kootingal), 5 Jake Tighe (Moree), 6 Jamie Sampson (Moree), 7 Mitch Doring (Werris Creek), 8 Lincoln Smith (Gunnedah), 9 Callum Hayne (Gunnedah), 10 Nic Millar (Boggabri), 11 Riley Leonard (Werris Creek), 12 Logan Howard (Kootingal), 13 Jack Durheim (Moree), 14 Matt Gillham (Boggabri), 15 Nate Follington (Werris Creek), 16 Mark Simon (North Tamworth), 17 Tom Woolaston (North Tamworth).
AWARDS
FIRST GRADE: Major and Minor Premiers – Moree. Player of GF: Jamie Sampson (Moree), Rookie of the Year: Nate Follington (Werris Creek), Player of the Year: Callum Hayne (Gunnedah), Highest Try-scorer: Jake Tighe (Moree) 28, Highest Point-scorer: Adrian Smith (Moree) 198 14t, 71gls.
SECOND GRADE: Minor Premiers – Moree, Major Premiers – Werris Creek. Player of Grand Final – Sam Tickle (Werris Creek), Player of the Year – Justin Smith (Moree Boars) and Kaedyn Smith (Moree Boars), Highest Try-scorer – Mosese Sovatabua (Werris Creek) and Kaedyn Smith (Moree) 17 tries, Highest Point-scorer – Kaedyn Smith (Moree) 172 pts 17 tries 52gls.
UNDER 18s: Minor and Major Premiers – Dungowan. Player of Grand Final – Brayden Allan (Dungowan), Player of the Year – Darcy Weatherall (Werris Creek), Highest Tryscorer – Sam Archer (Dungowan) 19 tries, Highest Point-scorer – Darcy Weatherall (Werris Creek) 106pts 11 tries, 31gls.
LADIES LEAGUE TAG: Minor and Major Premiers – North Tamworth. Player of the Grand Final – Kim Resch (North Tamworth), Player of the Year – Monique Corbett (Kootingal), Highest tryscorer – Monique Corbett (Kootingal) 36 tries, Highest Point-scorer – Monique Corbett (Kootingal) 242pts 36 tries, 49gls.
