Shellharbour Sharks captain James Ralphs takes out Michael Cronin medal for top Group 7 player of 2023

Tough as nails and a threat to any try line. Shellharbour Sharks captain James Ralphs has taken out Group 7’s top individual honour. Check out all the award winners.

James Ralphs is your 2023 Michael Cronin medalist. Pictures: Thomas Lisson, Shellharbour Sharks Facebook

Shellharbour Sharks captain James Ralphs has taken out the top individual honour for the Group 7 season by being presented as the Michael Cronin medallist for 2023.

In his first season donning the captain’s armband, Ralphs was a standout performer from the back row week in week out for the Sharks, who came agonisingly close to securing the premiership after losing in the grand final to Gerringong.

To take out the award was “thoroughly deserved” in the eyes of Shellharbour coach Abed Atallah.

“We’re really proud as a club of everything James had achieved this year,” Atallah said.

“When Matty Carroll left after last season, we needed someone to fill the shoes as captain.

“Coming off such a good season last year, we needed a leader and to his credit James has taken the role on and done a terrific job in his first year.”

Ralphs debuted for the Sharks in 2016 and was a member of the 2018 premiership winning team.

Ask any opposition coach when they’re going up against the Sharks and they’ll say that Ralphs is the player they need to be wary of.

The ‘tough as nails’ second rower scored 13 tries this season, topping the Shellharbour try scoring tally for the second consecutive season.

James Ralphs side stepping the defence. Picture: Thomas Lisson

“He’s probably a bit old to be making 60m line breaks these days,” Atallah joked.

“You’ve got to be in the right position to be given opportunities though, and he seems to have a really good success rate when he gets himself in those positions down the right.

“He’s strung up a really good combination with Emanuel Sultana on his inside.”

No stranger to the try line. Picture: Thomas Lisson

“He’s just consistent … it’s sometimes unnoticed because it’s come to be expected that you’ll get something out of him each week.”

Atallah assured that Ralphs has plenty more hit-ups and tries left in him and that he’d be gearing up in Sharks colours again in 2024.

A real clubman, Ralphs is also a coach for the Sharks U9s team, highlighting his leadership credentials.

Gerringong captain Nathan Ford and Shellharbour captain James Ralphs. Picture: Steve Montgomery Sports Photography

In the end Ralphs was a clear winner for the medal with 22 points, six points clear of his nearest competition joint in second place in Clyde Parsons (Nowra), Toby Gumley-Quine (Gerringong), Taj Ford (Gerringong), Tommy Warner (Stingrays) and Jayden Morgan (Jamberoo).

Full list of award winners:

Michael Cronin medalist – James Ralphs (Shellharbour)

Athol Noble medalist – Keith Gatt (Stingrays)

Under 18s player of the year – Dreau Clark (Warilla)

Group 7 OWT player of the year – Hannah England (Milton Ulladulla)

LLT Div 1 player of the year– Ebony Murray (Milton Ulladulla)

Rookie of the year – Jarrah Treweek (Milton Ulladulla)

First grade top point scorer - Clyde Parsons (Nowra)

First grade top try scorer - Justin Jones (Warilla) & Beau Luland (Nowra)

OWT top point scorer - Tayleah Handcock (Warilla)

OWT top try scorer - Jaimee-Lee Cotter (Warilla)