Rugby League Central Coast: Vote for the 2024 team of the year
After a huge Central Coast league season, it’s time to reflect on who shone in 2024. Have your say for who should be in the people’s choice team of the year.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
With some nailbiting games, a drought-breaking premiership and some of the most controversial local league issues in recent memory, 2024 will certainly go down as a memorable one in Central Coast rugby league.
And while Erina got the chocolates with its first grand final victory in 33 years, there were some stunning highlights from all clubs as they battled it out in a tightly contested season.
To celebrate the year, 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
There was plenty of class in the number one jersey in 2024. Dropping back to the local competition from the Denton Cup, The Entrance’s Adam McInnes was a standout for the Tigers, while Toukley’s Kiran Page and Dora Creek’s Matthew Simon also had strong seasons.
Mason Ward was a welcome addition for Woy Woy in his first season in the competition. Meanwhile, playing in a hybrid role that saw him drift out to the wing at times, Erina’s Jack Frasca was outstanding for the Eagles at the back.
WINGER
Plenty of pace out wide, with Erina’s Riley Burke taking his game to another level this year. Playing a hybrid role that saw him move into fullback at times, the 18-year-old showed his playmaking ability by laying on the matchwinning try in the grand final.
On the other side on grand final day, Toukley’s Aaron Heaven and Harrison Packham both enjoyed strong seasons, Dora Creek’s Aaron Simon finished the regular season as the leading tryscorer with 12, while Matthew Gentles and Taine Peterson posed a threat out wide as The Entrance piled on the points. Elsewhere, Joe Williams was a handful as Woy Woy enjoyed a strong season.
CENTRE
Good luck sorting through this list.
Starting with the premiers, Riley Stevenson and Finn Douch were excellent for Erina on both edges, while Damon Goolagong provided plenty of power for Toukley in his return to the club.
Woy Woy’s Leighton Tali was once again a handful, Malu Fui and Max Trueman were impressive for The Entrance, while Dora Creek pair Royce Geoffrey and Cody Boyle were among their side’s best in the Swampies’ debut season on the Coast.
Elsewhere, Tyson England was a shining light for Wyong and mid-season arrival Makrau Fonmanu gave Berkeley Vale fans something to cheer about during what was a tough year for the Panthers.
FIVE-EIGHTH
There were plenty of big names at five-eighth throughout the year.
Toukley’s Jake Fitzpatrick was once again inspirational as he led the Hawks to their third-straight grand final, while his opposite number in the grand final, Toby Elliott, was arguably one of Erina’s most important players as the Eagles famously broke a 33-year drought.
Elsewhere, although he started the year at hooker, former NRL player Ben Marschke showed his class with an outstanding season for Kincumber, Kendyll Fahey was impressive for Dora Creek while young halves Haydan Ritchie and Hemi Knebel both saw their stars rise on the back of their performances for The Entrance and Woy Woy respectively.
HALFBACK
Some familiar faces shone in the number seven jersey, with Erina’s Cameron Davies leading his side to a famous grand final win and Toukley’s Josh Kessler guiding the Hawks to another strong season.
Around the clubs, while he only played around half the season in the grade before moving up to Denton Cup, The Entrance’s Nick Newman was absolute dynamite for the Tigers, Andy Sumner was excellent as Dora Creek transitioned to Coast footy and Terrigal young gun Brooklyn Rosemeyer won plenty of fans with an excellent display in his debut season for the Sharks.
And while he only featured in first grade during the back end of the season, Woy Woy’s Reece Piepers was credited as a major factor behind the Roosters’ late-season run, with his excellent game management and kicking game pushing the side deep into the finals.
HOOKER
There was a lot of craft at dummy-half, with experienced campaigners Nathan Cooper, Justin McDermott and Chris Marlborough all putting in strong campaigns for their teams.
Zade Besley was one of Erina’s unsung heroes and Wyong’s Zac Gillett showed why he is so highly regarded in the junior rep system with an outstanding season.
Elsewhere, although he only played about half a season, Josh Veacock gave Toukley a great boost as the team charged towards the grand final.
FRONT-ROW
There were some huge performances from the big boys in the middle.
Erina skipper Joel Frazer was inspirational as he capped off a fairytale finish to his career by leading his young Eagles to a famous premiership, while Toukley’s Kallin Adams once again proved why he’s a fan favourite at Darren Kennedy Oval by churning out a mountain of work in the front row for the Hawks.
Kincumber pair Ben Thomas and Damon Brady ensured that the Colts had one of the toughest packs in the comp with some massive performances, while The Entrance duo Tim Nawaqatabu and Noah Easton were impressive for the Tigers.
Matt Geoffrey led the line for Dora Creek, Jed Silvester was strong for Woy Woy, while Wyong’s Mat Sheppard and Terrigal’s Dylan McKeown were among their teams’ best in what was a tough season.
SECOND-ROW
There were some serious matchwinners running around in the back row in 2024, headlined by none other than the competition’s biggest name in Andrew Fifita, who was outstanding for Woy Woy.
Toukley’s Jakob Giles maintained his status as one of the best players on the Coast, his teammate Kyle McCudden was another standout on the other edge, while Erina’s Nate Dwyer proved his strike power and big-match credentials by scoring the all-important winning try in the grand final.
And although they didn’t finish the season on the same kind of high, Dora Creek’s Corey Willmott and Terrigal’s Jake Ferguson were all among their team’s best this season, while Zane Griffiths and Kye Leaudais were consistent performers for The Entrance and Wyong, respectively.
LOCK
Running the show in the middle, captain Luke Moore was a huge reason behind Woy Woy’s success, Troy Adams showed his toughness and love of contact while Josh Starling was once again one of Kincumber’s best.
Despite missing a chunk of the season through injury, Toukley Jarrod Kessler was impressive after moving into the middle while Erina’s Oliver Clements was the heart of soul of the Eagles’ pack as they marched towards a famous grand final victory.
UTILITY
A regular fixture all season, Jessi O’Neill-Pethebridge was one of Woy Woy’s best in 2024. Starting the season at halfback, he showed his versatility by moving back to fullback towards the end of the season as the Roosters made a charge towards the finals.
In a similar vein, Kye Beckett was a rare standout for Berkeley Vale in what was a tough season, switching between five-eighth and fullback, while Ben Mooney provided plenty of value for Terrigal either in the halves, at hooker or in the back row.
Playing a more traditional number 14 role, Tom Peters was excellent for Erina, highlighted by a fantastic spell off the bench in the grand final, Brandon Shoveller gave The Entrance plenty of punch from the interchange bench while Jye Tudehope was a bit of an unsung hero for Toukley with a very consistent season.
ROOKIE
With the Central Coast one of the top junior nurseries in the country, there were some seriously talented youngsters make the step-up to first grade.
Handed the keys to the team in what was a tough season for Terrigal, halfback Brooklyn Rosemeyer was outstanding and showed maturity above his years, while fellow halves Chaice Bayley and Joshua Farmilo also impressed as they guided their sides around the park.
Finn Mitchell impressed in the outside backs at Kincumber in what was his return to the game after a few years playing union, while at Erina 17-year-old Devonte Voatu’ua showed why he is so highly regarded by bursting into the Eagles’ first grade team and holding his spot with some outstanding performances in the forwards.
COACH
It’s not just those on the field who made an impact in 2024, with the coaches on the training paddock and the sidelines having a big say in their teams’ success throughout the season.
One who combined on- and off-field roles was Toukley captain-coach Jake Fitzpatrick, who was once again inspirational as he led the Hawks to their third-straight grand final, coming close to pulling off an incredible three-peat.
On the other side was Erina boss Dane Allen, who put aside two heartbreaking grand final losses in recent years to break through and claim the Eagles’ first premiership in 33 years. After losing some key players in the off-season, Allen tapped into the club’s youth and depth to put together a fantastic team that went through the regular season undefeated to claim the minor premiership before winning the grand final against their old rivals the Hawks 12-6.
Meanwhile one coach who experienced the high and lows of local footy was Woy Woy’s Blake McLean. After a difficult first half of the season that saw the Roosters lose key players and face forfeits following a brawl that broke out after its round eight clash with Wyong, McLean got his side firing at the right time of year and took the Roosters to within a whisker of the grand final after a thrilling 24-all draw in the preliminary final against Erina.
NSWRL Junior Reps: Power ranking all 18 clubs heading into the weekend
Coming into the third round of the NSWRL Junior Reps, we deliver our power rankings of where your club is placed and how they’re travelling heading into the weekend.
Photo gallery: 100+ pics from Johns/Daley Cup round 1
After the next-generation of regional rugby league stars kicked off their season, catch up with 100+ photos from round one of the Andrew Johns and Laurie Daley Cup.