Central Coast Rugby League: Vote for the 2023 team of the year
With the CCRL season done for another year, it’s time to reflect on some of the top performers from around the clubs. Have your say for who should be in the 2023 team of the year.
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The Central Coast Rugby League season is well and truly done and dusted for another year, with Toukley claiming a famous minor and major premiership double on the back of some epic defence in what was a thrilling grand final against Erina.
And while the Hawks got the chocolates to claim back-to-back titles, there were plenty of excellent performances across the whole competition.
In what was the first season without significant Covid-19 or weather disruptions since 2019, the first grade competition went down to the wire, with five drawn games across the year and just three points separating third and sixth on the ladder as teams fought it out for a spot in the finals.
To celebrate the season, we’ve put together a list of the top performers from all clubs, with readers given the chance to vote for their team of the year.
Check out the list and vote below.
FULLBACK
Finn Douch (Erina)
Initially starting the season at centre, Douch spent the best part of the year in the number one jersey following the suspension of custodian Lincoln Tubridy.
And while they were big shoes to fill, the 20-year-old slotted in with distinction, while his excellent goalkicking ensuring that he finished the season as the competition’s leading pointscorer.
Kyle Lang (Kincumber)
It was a tough season for the Colts, however the fullback was a bright spark for his side.
Safe at the back and a key metre-eater coming out of his own end, Lang also proved his worth as an attacking weapon by chiming into backline plays.
He was rewarded with his efforts by taking out the Colts’ MVP award for the season.
Jessi O’Neill (Woy Woy)
The young fullback enjoyed a breakout season for the Roosters in 2023.
Good under the high ball and dangerous in broken play, O’Neill was instrumental as Woy Woy went on a run in the second half of the season, picking up the club’s Best and Fairest award and being named joint-players’ player.
Kiran Page (Toukley)
He might have only played a handful of first grade games prior to this season, but the fullback took his game to a completely new level in 2023 as he made the Hawks’ number one jersey his own.
A good runner of the footy, strong defender and good organiser, Page was a standout for the Hawks as they went back to back. In a sign of just how good he was, he was named the club’s Best and Fairest for the season.
WINGER
Riley Burke (Erina)
The breakout star of the season, the young Eagles flyer took the competition by storm after making his first grade debut in round two, scoring an incredible 21 tries to not only finish 2023 seven clear of his nearest rival but also claim the CCRL Rookie of the Year award.
Lightning quick with great instinct and a nose for the tryline, the 17-year-old also showed just how tough he is, constantly throwing his 70kg frame into opposition defences with carries out from his own end.
Ashton Carroll (Woy Woy)
A constant threat on the wing, Carroll racked up 14 tries and 128 points for the free-scoring Roosters over the course of the season to finish second in terms of both tries and points scored.
While he had plenty of highlights, none of them top his 24-point haul of four tries and four goals in Woy Woy’s round nine demolition of Berkeley Vale.
Bailey Frost (Wyong)
The young winger continued his impressive rise with another strong season in 2023.
A regular fixture in the Roos’ backline, Frost crossed for eight tries to be Wyong’s leading tryscorer for the season.
Aaron Heaven (Toukley)
The winger put the cherry on top of a fantastic season with a grand final double in the left corner to help his side home in a thriller.
All up, he finished the season with 11 tries to be third on the overall standings, while his work out of his own end was crucial in starting the Hawks’ sets on the front foot.
Logan Sipple (The Entrance)
One of the most consistent Tigers in his first season with the club, Sipple put in the hard yards at both ends of the field and even earned a couple of games in the Denton Cup for his efforts.
Kane Williams (Berkeley Vale)
In what was a difficult season for the Panthers, Williams was a shining light for the club with some solid performances in the outside backs.
Starting the season on the wing, Williams moved into fullback towards the back-end of the season and was rewarded for his efforts by being named the club’s player of the year.
CENTRE
Stephen Gordon (Wyong)
He may have only played half a season but the veteran certainly showed his class as he played a key role in Wyong’s late-season charge towards the finals.
With plenty of experience gained over the course of his glittering career, Gordon proved his worth both on and off the pitch as he helped mentor some of the Roos’ young outside backs.
Jacob Griffin (Toukley)
One of the Hawks’ most consistent performers, Griffin once again played a key role in the team’s back-to-back premiership win.
Lining up in every single game throughout the season, Griffin was excellent on the left edge, picking up six tries over the course of the year and showing his defensive steel with a try-saving tackle on Erina’s Finn Douch late in the nailbiting grand final victory.
Josh Martin (Berkeley Vale)
Showed plenty of leadership for the Panthers in another tough season, Martin was once again one of the club’s star performers both on and off the field.
A stalwart for the Panthers, Martin will be sorely missed next season as he moves away from the area for work.
Caydn Rosemeyer (Terrigal)
He might not have come into the season as one of the top players to watch, but Rosemeyer certainly made a name for himself after an excellent 2023 for the Sharks.
A hardworking centre who never shirks away from the tough carries, he was among Terrigal’s most consistent players and was duly recognised with the club’s best back award.
Riley Stevenson (Erina)
A regular for the Eagles throughout the season, Stevenson was a constant threat with the ball in hand.
Electric in attack and the kind player who can score from anywhere, he had an excellent season in the tricolours.
Leighton Tali (Woy Woy)
Another who only joined midway through the season, the 25-year-old certainly made an impact with some explosive performances, earning the gong for the club’s best back and remarkably sharing the players’ player award with fullback Jessi O’Neill.
FIVE-EIGHTH
Jake Fitzpatrick (Toukley)
The spiritual leader of the club, the Hawks’ captain-coach was once again immense as his side wrote itself into immortality with a second-straight premiership.
Not only playing a key role in coaching the team and building the culture of the playing group, the skipper showed that he could step up on the biggest stage, with Fitzpatrick instrumental in the grand final as Toukley’s left edge clicked gear with two crucial first half tries in the narrow 8-6 win over Erina.
Scott Gowans (Woy Woy)
With a big body and sharp footwork, Gowans was a constant threat with the ball for the free-flowing Roosters as they piled on the points in 2023.
Nick Newman (Erina)
In a team that amassed 506 points across its 16 games this season, the five-eighth was absolutely central to the Eagles’ attacking fluency and was in turn named player of the year for the whole competition by the CCRL.
With an excellent running and passing game, Newman crossed for nine tries himself throughout the season to sit equal fourth on the leading tryscorers’ list, while also laying countless others on for his teammates.
Jake Slee (The Entrance)
In a team that was constantly changing due to injuries, suspensions and Denton Cup commitments, Slee was one of the few consistent figures in the spine for the Tigers.
Playing alongside various different halves partners, the young five-eighth impressed over the course of the season and enhanced his reputation with some strong performances.
Aaiden Wright (Wyong)
Described as “too tough for his own good” by coach Todd Lewis, Wright is one of the competition’s ultimate competitors who leads with his actions.
Shifted from fullback to five-eighth throughout the year as part of a plan to cut his workload, Wright had a hand in everything as Wyong’s spine clicked into gear to be the form team of the second half of the season.
HALFBACK
Cameron Davies (Erina)
The other part of Erina’s fantastic halves duo, Davies was once again brilliant as he and Newman seemingly laid on tries for fun for the free-scoring Eagles.
With an excellent running and kicking game, Davies was a constant threat with the ball in hand throughout the season.
He also came excruciatingly close to snatching the game in the grand final with a weaving run that was stopped just centimetres short of the line.
Josh Kessler (Toukley)
The young playmaker put another exclamation mark on his incredible start to his senior footy career with his second premiership in as many years.
With an incredible pack in front and captain-coach Fitzpatrick playing alongside him, Kessler showed plenty of maturity to guide the team around the park, while his sharpshooting with the boot ensured that he finished the season as the third-highest pointscorer.
Todd Lewis (Wyong)
The Roos’ captain-coach was the glue that held the team together in 2023, with his leadership both on and off the park helping to dig Wyong out of an early season hole to become the form team of the second half of the season and come within one game of the grand final.
Linking well with halves partner Aaiden Wright and hooker Terence Seuseu, Lewis played a key role in the Roos’ revival, while his experience and ‘actions instead of words’ mantra helped the team bounce back from their tough start to the season.
Blake Mattei (Woy Woy)
In a team that piled on 380 points to be the competition’s second-most potent attacking side, Mattei was often the puppet master pulling the strings of the Roosters’ attack.
In his return season after a couple of years away from football, the halfback’s cool hand in directing the team’s attack and managing games also came to the fore in the back half of the season as Woy Woy went on a giant-killing run to narrowly miss out on the finals.
Josh Moffitt (Terrigal)
In his first season back on the Coast after playing in the Hunter Valley, Moffitt played a key role in steering the Sharks round the park, with the spine really hitting its straps in the second half of the season.
Meanwhile, with Terrigal involved in three draws and three wins by four points or less, his goalkicking was crucial in getting the side over the line in the tight contests.
HOOKER
Zade Besley (Erina Eagles)
Working in a rotation with Tom Peters and Toby Elliot at various stages throughout the season, Besley locked down the Eagles’ starting spot with his high-energy football.
With excellent line speed and plenty of aggression in defence, he was key to putting his team on the front foot in the early stages of matches in 2023.
Jaydn Field (Terrigal)
The former Parramatta Eels junior rep player was a key part of the Sharks’ very strong middle in 2023.
In particular, his vision and strong running game out of dummy half was particularly dangerous as Terrigal clicked into gear throughout the season.
Justin McDermott (Woy Woy)
With a great passing game, excellent running game and as someone who usually makes more tackles than anyone else on the field, Woy Woy’s number nine just about the prototype for the perfect hooker.
In a year in which he played his 150th senior game for the club, McDermott was once again a standout for the Roosters.
Terence Seuseu (Wyong)
The former NRL star well and truly showed his class for the Roos after stepping back from Denton Cup duties to focus on the local league this season.
One of the best players in the competition, full stop, the 35-year-old often acted as a barometer for Wyong’s attack, with his craft and guile out of dummy half playing a huge role in the team’s incredible run in the second half of the season.
Josh Starling (Kincumber)
The ultimate competitor, Starling was a rock for the Colts at dummy half.
A terrier in defence and crafty in and around the ruck, he was one of the best in red and white in 2023.
FRONT ROW
Brady Barwick (Toukley)
One of the main reasons behind Toukley’s rock-solid middle, Barwick was immense as Toukley dominated the battle of the forwards all season.
His hard work certainly didn’t go unnoticed, with the big prop named players’ player by his teammates for a fantastic campaign.
Showing that he’s also a man for the big moments, Barwick famously jolted the ball loose from Erina’s Oliver Clements as the Eagles’ forward appeared destined to score late in the Hawks’ nailbiting 8-6 grand final victory.
Damon Brady (Kincumber Colts)
The leader of the pack in one of the youngest teams in the competition, Brady brought plenty of muscle to Kincumber’s middle.
Up there with the club’s best until he broke his arm in round nine, the front-rower left a gaping hole in the Colts’ side after his season was finished early.
Blake Carter (Toukley)
The veteran came out of retirement for one last hurrah in 2023 and he certainly didn’t disappoint, playing a key role in Toukley’s successful title defence.
However it wasn’t just his defensive work and carries that helped make the Hawks’ pack the most feared in the comp, with Carter crossing for a series of important tries that ultimately helped his side get home in tight games.
In what was a fairytale year, he capped off the season with a thrilling grand final win before announcing his retirement.
Joel Frazer (Erina)
The leader of the pack, Frazer was absolutely outstanding as he led his young Eagles throughout the season.
In a team that was hit by plenty of injuries over the course of the year, the big front rower dominated the middle with his strong carries and defence – and even bagged a try in the Eagles’ narrow grand final loss.
Dylan McKeown (Terrigal)
In a team that built itself around its huge pack, the Sharks’ captain-coach led by example and was immense for his side in the middle.
Not only capable of the big plays, McKeown’s fitness meant that he spent big minutes out in the middle as Terrigal finished third in what was a strong season.
Brandon Shoveller (The Entrance)
The leader of the Tigers’ pack in 2023, Shoveller was outstanding in the middle throughout the course of the season.
After proving to be a standout in the local first grade competition, he also finished up the season for The Entrance in the Denton Cup.
Eden Syme (Terrigal)
The other half to the Sharks’ champion front row, Syme was consistently strong in partnership with his captain-coach.
While excellent on the park, his importance to the team was perhaps best emphasised when an ACL injury ruled him out for the back end of the season.
Brae Verheyen (Wyong Roos)
Fit, strong and with a motor capable of playing 80 minutes, the front-rower was the leader of the Roos’ pack in 2023.
The big man put in an excellent season and was rewarded by being named Wyong’s most consistent player.
SECOND ROW
Kodi Costello (Wyong)
Perhaps a utility player more than anything else, Costello had an eventful season that saw him kick off 2023 playing in the halves in reserve grade.
However by mid-season he made his way into the top grade remarkably playing in the front and back row, where he provided an incredible impact off the bench during Wyong’s excellent late-season run.
Jakob Giles (Toukley)
The hero of the grand final, Giles took home man-of-the-match honours on the back of some strong carries, excellent defence and a moment of brilliance with a round-the-corner offload to set up Aaron Heaven’s second try.
The GF capped off a wonderful season for the big backrower, who was a constant threat on the edges and never afraid of a tough carry.
Will Hodder (Kincumber)
The Central Coast Roosters junior rep player was impressive on the edges in a team that was well beaten throughout the season.
With another pre-season under his belt he should be ready to take his game to the next level in 2024.
Jarrod Kessler (Toukley)
Another one of the Hawks’ epic forward pack, Kessler may not get the plaudits of some of his teammates but he certainly earned his stripes with a very consistent season in the back row.
Kye Leaudais (Wyong)
Wyong’s Mr Fix-It, Leaudais once again showed every week with an incredibly season.
Ever reliable, Leaudais also emphasised his versatility in 2023, playing at hooker and in the halves before finding a home in the back row, where he excelled for the Roos.
Jack Smith (Erina)
A classic up and down footy player who isn’t afraid of putting in the hard yards, Smith was one of the Eagles’ most consistent throughout the season and was ever reliable on the edge.
Beni Valu (Terrigal)
In terms of pure strike power, it is pretty hard to go past the Sharks’ massive unit in the back row.
An incredibly damaging runner of the ball on the edge, Valu was one of Terrigal’s key attacking weapons and one of the hardest players to stop on his day.
LOCK
Kallin Adams (Toukley)
One of Toukley’s unsung heroes, Adams was a rock in the middle throughout the whole season.
A key cog in the Hawks’ gun pack, the lock was named the club’s most consistent for his efforts in 2023.
Jake Dawe (Wyong)
Another one of Wyong’s key enforcers, Dawe was huge for the Roos in the middle with his workrate, fitness and skill impressing both teammates and opponents alike.
Elih Jackson (Terrigal)
Playing 80 minutes in the forwards week in, week out, the backrower was an absolute star for the Sharks this season.
Lining up on the edge for the first part of the season before moving into lock, Jackson was the Sharks’ barometer throughout the year and was duly recognised by the club after taking the best forward, players’ player and beat and fairest awards.
Bryce Holland (Kincumber)
In what was often a very young Kincumber side that took to the field in 2023, Holland was one of the Colts’ most experienced faces in the middle.
Jack Weir (Erina)
One of the Erina’s standouts who always puts in 100 per cent and never backs down, Weir was immense for his side.
However it wasn’t just his workrate that caught the eye, with Weir showing his skill with the ball in hand by laying on an excellent short pass for skipper Joel Frazer to crash over for Erina’s only try in the grand final.
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