Emu Park’s Connor Rothery wins 2024 Ollie Howden Medal
Fullback Connor Rothery capped a remarkable 2024 season by claiming Rockhampton Rugby League’s Ollie Howden Medal. See every player, dating back to 1954, who has won the best and fairest award.
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Connor Rothery is firmly focused on locking down a starting spot with the CQ Capras next year after his stellar 2024 season.
The champion fullback had the Midas touch in a memorable nine months of footy.
His achievements were bookended by a win at the Warba Wangarunya Carnival in January and collecting Rockhampton Rugby League’s top award, the Ollie Howden Medal, in September.
In between came his Q-Cup debut with the Capras in March and his first ever A-grade premiership in August, which was also an historic first for his club, Emu Park.
“It’s definitely been an exciting year with everything that’s happened,” is how the 25-year-old sums it up.
Lightning fast and tough as nails, Connor scored 19 tries for Emu Park, which included a record six-try haul in the team’s Round 6 thrashing of Tannum Sands.
It was this attacking flair combined with his willing defence and tireless effort that earned him the Ollie Howden Medal for the league’s best and fairest.
And it’s those very traits he hopes will cement his place in the Capras’ starting line up in 2025.
Boasting a strong league pedigree, Connor became a third-generation Capra - following in the footsteps of father Wade and grandfather Chris - when he started on the wing in the Round 3 clash against Mackay in March.
“It was unreal, a dream come true,” Connor said.
“With the game being in Mackay, my dad and partner got to come and watch, and to score a try on debut was a bonus.”
He played again in the Capras’ Round 19 win over the Redcliffe Dolphins in July.
Now that he’s had a taste of Q-Cup, he wants more and he’s ready to do what it takes to make it happen.
“I want to be playing for the Capras full-time, that’s my goal,” he said a few weeks into the pre-season slog.
“It is tough as expected but you learn to love it.
“It’s only early days so I just need to keep turning up and getting the job done and hopefully I’m ready come the start of the season.”
Ollie Howden Medal winners
1954 Cec Cooper (Brothers)
1955 ‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson (Railways)
1956 Ken Jenkins (Norths)
1957 Alf Bawden (Fitzroys)
1958 Ollie Smith (Brothers)
1959 Cyril Connell Jnr (Norths)
1960 ‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson (Railways)
1961 Neville Willie (Fitzroys)
1962 George Golding (Norths)
1963 Ron Dutton (Fitzroys)
1964 Garth Budge (Norths)
1965 Brian Hammond (Fitzroys)
1966 Des Tracey (Railways)
1967 Glen Whitfield (Norths)
1968 Peter Stark (Brothers)
1969 Ray Laird (Railways)
1970 Max Anderson (Norths)
1971 Steve Crear (Norths)
1972 Les Bunda (Norths)
1973 Graham Horstman (Fitzroys)
1974 Len Brunner (Norths)
1975 Les Williams (Fitzroys)
1976 Tony Perkins (Brothers)
1977 Graham Horstman (Fitzroys)
1978 Greg Reynolds (Norths)
1979 Malcolm Horstman (Fitzroys)
1980 Con Marrinan (Brothers)
1981 Steve Crear (Brothers)
1982 Bruce Applewaite (Railways)
1983 Greg Smith (Brothers)
1984 Peter Gilbert (Brothers)
1985 Troy Evans (Railways)
1986 John Jenkins (Yeppoon)
1987 Greg Upkett (Norths)
1988 Robert Crow Jnr (Brothers)
1989 Pat Busby (Brothers)
1990 Paul Iles (Brothers)
1991 Troy White (Brothers)
1992 Robbie Schmidt (Norths)
1993 Graham White (Norths)
1994 Matt Barclay (Brothers)
1995 Gavin Ryan (Brothers)
1996 Robbie Graham (Brothers)
1997 Zane Fraser (Norths)
1998 Paul White (Brothers)
1999 Hugh Stanley (Brothers)
2000 David Ahern (Brothers)
2001 Michael Wakeman (Fitzroys)
2002 Hugh Stanley (Brothers)
2003 Gerard Parle (Brothers)
2004 James Waterton (CQU Norths)
2005 James Waterton (CQU Norths)
2006 Guy Williams (CQU Norths)
2007 Stephen Lill (Brothers)
2008 Garrett Field (Yeppoon)
2009 Tom Simpson (Brothers)
2010 Tim Harlow (Yeppoon)
2011 Gavin Duffy (Brothers), Ben Faulkner (Yeppoon)
2012 Jakk Kavanagh (Yeppoon)
2013 Rhys Chapman (Brothers)
2014 Peter Rogers (Biloela), Luke Guinane (Norths)
2015 George Grant (Yeppoon)
2016 Mitchell Power (Brothers)
2017 Dean Allen (Norths)
2018 Sam Holzheimer (Yeppoon)
2019 Dean Blackman (Yeppoon)
2020 No competition due to Covid
2021 Kazzi Doyle (Norths)
2022 - Harry Barham (Emu Park)
2023 - Mitchell Power (Rockhampton Brothers)
2024 - Connor Rothery (Emu Park)
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