Revealed: Rugby League Central Coast people’s choice team of the year for 2024
After a thrilling and at times controversial season, footy fans have had their say. Find out who made the RL Central Coast people’s choice team of the year.
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After an exciting and at times controversial season of local footy, readers have had their say and voted for who they believe should be in the Rugby League Central Coast people’s choice team of the year.
Provided with a list of candidates for each position, footy fans on the Coast jumped on board and sent in a flurry of votes over the past few weeks.
And with voting now closed, check out who made it into the squad.
FULLBACK
Jack Frasca (Erina, 50 per cent of votes)
It was an overwhelming decision in the fullback poll, with Erina’s Jack Frasca capping off a dream return to the club by helping the team break a 33-year premiership drought.
Big, strong and safe under the high ball, Frasca’s ball carries were huge for the Eagles throughout 2024, while he often popped up on the wing as a target man for cross-field kicks.
WINGERS
Riley Burke (Erina, 50 per cent) and Aaron Heaven (Toukley, 14 per cent)
There’s a sense of deja vu as the same wingers as last year’s team of the year were once again voted in.
It was another resounding result for Burke, who was outstanding for the Eagles. Playing in a hybrid role that saw him shift to fullback at times, the 18-year-old took his game to another level in 2024, capped off by famously laying on the matchwinning try in the grand final.
Meanwhile Heaven reinforced his status as one of the competition’s leading wingers with another strong season for Toukley.
CENTRES
Finn Douch (Erina, 27 per cent) and Damon Goolagong (Toukley, 19 per cent)
The leading pointscorer for the past two seasons, Finn Douch was outstanding on the edge for Erina in what was a dream season for the Eagles. Alongside teammates Zade Besley, Oliver Clements and Toby Elliott, he was one of four Eagles who emulated the exploits of their fathers by winning a grand final for the Eagles.
Meanwhile for Toukley, while he might have missed a few games with injury, Damon Goolagong was absolutely explosive for the Hawks in his return to the club.
FIVE-EIGHTH
Toby Elliott (Erina, 32 per cent)
In a crack field at five-eighth, it was Erina’s Toby Elliott who came out on top according to the fans after a brilliant year for the Eagles.
One of the team’s main controllers all season, Elliott also came up with a crucial intercept in the grand final that led to a try and ultimately a famous premiership victory.
HALFBACK
Cameron Davies (Erina, 41 per cent)
It’s an all-Erina combination in the halves, with Cameron Davies edging out former teammate Nick Newman to snag the number seven jersey in our poll.
A steady hand with an excellent kicking game who guided the team around the park, Davies was a huge factor behind the Eagles’ success.
HOOKER
Zade Besley (Erina, 40 per cent)
It’s an Erina clean sweep of the spine positions as Zade Besley picked up 40 per cent of the vote to outgun a crack field that included experienced campaigners Nathan Cooper, Chris Marlborough, Justin McDermott, Josh Veacock and excellent Wyong young gun Zac Gillett.
Very much one of the Eagles’ unsung heroes, Besley’s work out of dummy-half and line speed in defence was key to Erina’s brilliant season.
FRONT-ROWERS
Joel Frazer (Erina, 34 per cent) and Ben Thomas (Kincumber, 14 per cent)
After losing three grand finals over the course of his long and glittering career, Erina skipper Joel Frazer finally went out a winner by leading the Eagles to a premiership. It capped off a brilliant year for the veteran, who led the young Erina side with distinction and was overwhelmingly voted in as the first front-rower of the year.
He was joined by former Sydney Roosters prop and Kincumber enforcer Ben Thomas, who well and truly added some steel the Colts’ pack.
SECOND-ROWERS
Nate Dwyer (Erina, 33 per cent) and Jakob Giles (Toukley, 19 per cent)
Two absolute strike edge players made the cut in the back row, with the pair both among the top-six tryscorers for the competition in 2024.
Dwyer was a constant threat for the Eagles throughout the season, notably scoring the winning try in the grand final as he was named the club’s player of the year.
Meanwhile Giles once again ensured that he was among the best on the Coast with another outstanding season in which the Hawks’ left edge was among the most lethal in the comp.
LOCK
Oliver Clements (Erina, 36 per cent)
In a remarkable result that saw an Erina player selected in every position of the starting side, Clements got the nod in our poll after edging out the likes of Toukley’s Jarrod Kessler and The Entrance’s Troy Adams.
The heart and soul of the Eagles’ pack, Clements worked tirelessly in the middle to lay the foundations for the team’s success.
INTERCHANGE
Jessi O’Neill-Pethebridge (Woy Woy)
He started the season at halfback before moving to fullback and helping to inspire Woy Woy’s late-season charge, O’Neill was one of the Roosters’ best in a season full of ups and downs.
He narrowly edged out Erina’s Tom Peters with 34 per cent of the vote in our utility poll to book a spot on the bench.
Andrew Fifita (Woy Woy)
The biggest name in the competition made a huge impact for the Roosters both on and off the field. He worked his way into the squad after narrowly finishing behind Nate Dwyer and Jakob Giles in the second-rowers’ poll.
While Fifita’s size and skill caused plenty of headaches for opponents on the field, his experience and footy knowledge also proved to be crucial for Woy Woy as the club navigated a controversial season.
Mat Sheppard (Wyong)
It might have been a tough season for traditional big club Wyong, but none of that had anything to do with Sheppard, who was consistently among the Roos’ best as he toiled away in the front-row.
Jarrod Kessler (Toukley)
Kessler moved from the edge to the middle this year in a move that suited his game nicely.
And although he missed a chunk of the season with a broken hand, he impressed enough fans to come second in the poll for lock of the year and earn a spot on the bench.
ROOKIE
Devonte Voatu’ua (Erina, 39 per cent)
Just 17 years old, Voatu’ua was a revelation for the Eagles in 2024.
After making his first grade debut midway through the season, the young forward – who recently signed a deal with South Sydney’s pathways – proved to be more than up to the challenge of playing against men in the pack as he held his spot for the rest of the season and featured in the grand final.
He was voted in as rookie of the year ahead of a strong crop that featured Terrigal halfback Brooklyn Rosemeyer and Wyong’s Chaice Bayley.
COACH
Dane Allen (Erina, 44 per cent)
Coming off the back of two straight grand final losses and the departure of some key players in the off-season, the Erina boss put in a remarkable coaching performance to lead his side to the minor and major premiership and break a 33-year drought in the process.
Tapping into the club’s youth and depth, Allen put together a fit and mobile young side and combined it with an up-tempo brand of footy that proved to be too good for the rest of the competition in a stunning season.
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