Ipswich's top club achievers being honoured

RUGBY League Ipswich players, coaches and officials take a break this weekend as they dress up to attend tonight's presentation function.

Anthony Breeze. Picture: Inga Williams

RUGBY League Ipswich players, coaches and officials take a break this weekend as they dress up to attend tonight's presentation function.

Many awards will be handed out, including Players of the Year in all three grades, Coach of the Year and Rep Player of the Year.

The big award in the senior ranks is the A-Grade Player of the Year where a few players are polling well.

Although Fassifern have been taking all before them on the field, it probably won't be enough for a Bombers player to collect the title.

The competition-leading Bombers will have too many stars taking points off each other this season.

Norths have a genuine contender in their star back rower Sam Martin.

A Swifts contender for the award will be Ratunasia Vatuinaruku.

My selection for the top honour is Brothers champion centre Loia Fetaoai.

The coach of the year accolade will be hard fought with many candidates capable of winning this award.

Brothers Under 19 coach Darryll Squires has enjoyed a great year as has his Reserve Grade partner in Steve O'Connell.

However, my choice would be Swifts coach Damian "Ducky" O'Donahue. He has guided his team to second in his first year at the helm.

My rep player of the Year selection is Under 19 footballer PJ Nosike from West End. He was the standout player at the Chairman's Challenge this year.

Congratulations to all the winners tonight.

Great effort girls

LAST week I wrote about the Brothers under 14 team and the grand final game they were playing.

Unfortunately, the girls couldn't get the job done against a strong Waterford team who ran out winners 34-18.

In their first year together, the girls can hold their heads high with bigger things ahead for this committed team.

While these girls didn't win the title, two other Ipswich sides did win on grand final day.

Redbank won the Under 16 Division 1 title against Waterford 40-22 with China Polata scoring a stunning five tries to take out Player of the Final honours.

The Goodna Under 16 Division 2 side was also victorious, accounting for Runaway Bay 28-18.

Keezjah Akana won the Player of the Final award, scoring two tries.

Ipswich has some talented young girls coming through the grades who will have their eyes on hopefully one day reaching the heights that Ali Brigginshaw has achieved.

Quick thoughts

HERO of the week: I couldn't go pass Billy Slater who announced that this would be his last season. Slater has taken the fullback role to a new level and I regard him as the greatest fullback I have seen play our great game.

Villain of the week: The NSWRL judicial panel has handed John Hopoate a 10 year suspension. The bad boy of rugby league is finally finished with the game.

Did you know? 1. There is a total of 18 minutes of action in an MLB game.

2. In the 1970's, Jack Nicholas played all 40 Majors and finished in the top 10 in 35 of those.

Bomber's best: The streak continued last week with all three English Premier League tips saluting.

This week the roll will go on with the Giants defeating the Lightning in their Super Netball semi-final.