Top 40 players, team of the season for the 2023 Group 7 rugby league season
Now that the season is done and dusted, it’s time to look back on the local footy players who made the 2023 Group 7 season a memorable one. Check out our list of 40 top performers.
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Another year of Group 7 rugby league is done and dusted, with the Gerringong Lions emerging as 2023 champions of first grade.
Clubs rejoiced as we got through the year significantly less disturbed than in 2022, in a season where seemingly anyone could beat anyone on any given week.
NewsLocal was following the season with an eager eye each week and has compiled a list of the top performers that really stood out as the season went on.
Check out the full list of 40+ top performers from the 2023 Group 7 season.
James Ralphs (Shellharbour)
Right up there in the conversation for player of the season is captain Ralphs who led his Sharks with class every week.
Tough to handle and tough as nails himself, Ralphs scored 13 tries from the right edge back row, a testament to his terrific run choices and willingness to take on the line with aggression.
It’s the second year in a row he’s finished as the Sharks’ top try scorer.
Toby Gumley-Quine (Gerringong)
A different beast this season, whether it be in his regular left centre spot or when he filled in at fullback for a couple of games in the second half of the season.
Fast, strong and skilful on the ball, he found the try line 12 times this season.
Adam Quinlan (Nowra-Bomaderry)
A terrific fullback, captain and coach for the Jets who looked as youthful as ever in 2023.
Always in support and ready to be released with an offload and always on the same wavelength as the creative forces like Dylan Farrell around him.
Nine tries and countless more try contributions this season.
Colby Smith (Stingrays)
The Stingrays were different gravy when Smith was in the side this season, having missed his creativity when he was out for a period with an injury.
A real game changer who is still very young, Smith is fast and elusive out of dummy half and one of the real breakout stars of the season.
Bailey Sassall (Milton Ulladulla)
The tireless worker for the Bulldogs who has shot into the limelight this season with his performances.
Often puts in 80 minute shifts from lock, never backing down and showing wisdom beyond his teenage years.
Josh Starling (Sterling)
The former NRL player was the form front rower of the competition this season and was sorely missed whenever not in the matchday squad.
His big frame was hard to stop and his experience was invaluable in defence.
On a side note as well, his goal line dropouts can sail well over the halfway line, another weapon in his arsenal.
Hamish Holland (Gerringong)
Another terrific centre in the Gerringong ranks who provides some great carries and edge defence.
A man of the match performance in the grand final ultimately secured the Lions another premiership for their collection.
Beau Luland (Nowra-Bomaderry)
Ends the season on top as the league’s most prolific try scorer with an impressive 17 from out wide.
Alongside Matori Atunsaia, the left flank of the Jets became a go-to on attack and reaped rewards consistently all season thanks to Luland’s lethal speed and finishing.
Also showed his worth at fullback on an occasion when Quinlan wasn’t available, perhaps an option for years to come.
Mark Asquith (Jamberoo)
Mr Consistent for the Superoos, Asquith is consistently getting the job done for his side and coming up with big plays from five-eighth.
The 2022 player of the season scored 10 tries this season and claimed numerous assists. He is ageing like fine wine and still has the pace to burn oppositions.
Jack Walsh (Albion Park)
Not the biggest lock forward but one of the hardest working and one of the toughest to handle, no stranger to breaking the line or finding a pocket of space.
Had great utility value for the Eagles, filling in at hooker and five-eighth when needed, finding the line 11 times this season for his side.
Emanuel Sultana (Shellharbour)
Really grew into a fine leader for the Sharks this season and was always influential in the result of the game.
Was a terrific creator for Ralphs on the right, as well as his other teammates with his terrific passing and kicking game from five-eighth.
Tom Warner (Stingrays)
Not enough good words can be said about captain Warner’s performances in 2023 that massively contributed to his side’s maiden minor premiership.
For a big frame he’s got a decent turn of pace that helped him bust through pockets of space for fun this season and took him to the try line nine times.
Alexander Weir (Gerringong)
A former rookie of the year and now a mainstay in the Lions front line, the big frame of Alex Weir led through example from prop forward.
Defensively solid and a good metre eater, the Lions ultimately have another premiership under their belts because of his matchwinning try in the grand final.
Tyson Simpson (Nowra-Bomaderry)
A real game changer from the back row for the Jets who really grew in form as the season went on and is tough to handle.
He claimed a contender for one of the tries of the season in the semi finals with a Neymar-esque dribbling try for the highlight reel.
Luke Gallagher (Kiama)
Brought lots of energy and workload to the Knights from the second row.
“Did a bit of everything” according to coach Laird, solid in attack and defence whether he be operating on the edge or through the middle.
Justin Jones (Warilla)
Came narrowly close to finishing as the highest try scorer in the league for a second consecutive year, falling one short with 16, a terrific achievement in an underperforming Gorillas side.
Always consistent at the back and a key threat in attack.
Isaac Morris (Shellharbour)
Shows wisdom beyond his years in halfback for the Sharks at the age of just 21.
Small in stature but big in footy IQ and skill, his nerves of steel field goal against the Stingrays booked his side a grand final ticket and epitomises the kind of game changer he can be.
Jack Quine (Gerringong)
Emerged as one of the competition’s best second rowers in his rookie first grade campaign.
Plays tough every week and is a solid defender, while also being a threat on the edge having crossed for eight tries.
Clyde Parsons (Nowra-Bomaderry)
Nifty, fast, skilful, small in stature but big in ability.
Parsons was a welcomed return to the Jets in 2023 and ended the season with the highest individual points in the league with 178.
He found his way to line more times than any other halfback with 15 tries in a terrific campaign.
Mitchell Simington (Milton Ulladulla)
A real X-factor who came up with some massive plays for the Bulldogs this year.
A big frame and blistering pace that makes him a nightmare to tackle, he punished oppositions with a number of long range tries from centre this season.
Zaan Weatherall (Stingrays)
Joining Warner in the back row for the Stingrays was the also dangerous Zaan Weatherall who was lethal from the right edge this season.
Nine tries for himself as well, he similarly was lethal with using his size and speed to break into space down the flank.
Braxton Wallace (Shellharbour)
Another Shark who became more influential as the year went and would be a contender for fullback of the season.
The former Dragons NSW Cup player scored 13 tries from fullback including one in the grand final to cap off a stellar campaign.
Jayden Morgan (Jamberoo)
A hard working lock or prop forward and a top defender.
Was able to put in some big 80 minute performances this season and found his way to the try line eight times as well.
Blair Grant (Warilla)
In a year of rotating halves, Grant was one of the few consistencies and hit terrific form when the Gorillas picked up some wins in the back half of the year.
A strong passer and kicker, he’s a key string-puller for the Gorillas.
Kane Ball (Albion Park)
A real X-factor talent in the Eagles ranks who topped their try scoring tally with 13 from halfback.
You’d back him in a race against anybody in the league, lightning fast foot speed and the ball skills to match.
Matt Nicholson (Shellharbour)
Joining Starling in the front line was the formidable Nicholson who perhaps didn’t always get the plaudits with Starling around, but was consistently a top performer for the Sharks and stepped up whenever Starling wasn’t around.
Played big minutes every week and occasionally bustled his way over for a meat pie.
William Heta (Stingrays)
One of the main creative forces in elevating the Stingrays to a whole new level this season.
Brought great experience to the five-eighth role and showed off one of the best kicking games in the competition weekly.
Nathan Ford (Gerringong)
Captaining his Gerringong Lions to a 21st first grand premiership and a sixth for his individual collection with class.
The leader of all things on and off the park for the Lions, he’s still rock solid in defence and a threat when engaging the line in his veteran years.
Braydon Rumble Walsh (Nowra-Bomaderry)
Completing the trio of Jets that dominated the league’s try scoring table this year is the ever reliable Walsh on the right flank.
Fast, good in the air and lethal from close range, he upped his total from 2022 by three to finish on 15 tries this year.
Cody Roach (Milton Ulladulla)
Described by his coach as “cool as ice”, Roach is a real game changer who was a massive contributor to the second half of the season form of the Bulldogs.
Tricky, elusive and with a great knowledge of the game, he picked up seven tries this season mostly from a big dummy and step to the line.
Daniel Martin (Kiama)
Defensively really solid for the Knights from hooker.
Did lots of tidy-up work in the middle of the park and consistently brought good energy to the no. 9 jersey.
Josh Sainsbury (Albion Park)
An Albion Park junior who returned to Group 7 this season after a stint with Wests in the Illawarra Cup.
He’s a prop forward who will play 80 minutes most weeks, sometimes refusing to come off, in a good way.
Danny Wedd (Gerringong)
A real clubman for the Lions who has been a part of four Lions premiership winning squads now.
Hard working and selfless from lock forward, he’s a consistent performer and regarded as one of the best forwards in the competition.
Ben Weatherall (Stingrays)
Another breakout star for the Stingrays who cemented himself a starting wing spot with his impressive performances.
With a big frame and lightning speed he became a scoreboard menace with 13 tries, also putting in one of the top individual performances of the season against the Magpies where he picked up four tries.
Brody Rigg (Shellharbour)
A hooker who became more and more influential as the season went on.
Crafty and elusive from dummy half, Rigg was a terrific playmaker and a constant threat from the peak of the spine for the Sharks.
Dylan Farrell (Nowra-Bomaderry)
You would forget he wasn’t in the halves during his NRL days with the kind of skill he would bring when he was wearing the no. 6 jersey this year.
A deceitful and skilful passing and kicking game, working along the same wavelength as Parsons and Quinlan to create some highlight reel tries during the year.
Paul Thornton (Milton Ulladulla)
A real leader for the Bulldogs through his aggression and tenaciousness in the front line.
The team responds to his energy when he takes big hit ups on the park and his physicality in defence is invaluable.
Taj Ford (Gerringong)
Another young halfback showing wisdom beyond his years and holding his own among the big boys in first grade.
Only just out of SG Ball this season, he notched seven tries this season and will no doubt be a big part of the club’s future.
Corey Grigg (Jamberoo)
Turned into an unsuspecting try scoring threat for a hot period in the middle of the season from second row, while also providing some great service down the left edge on attack for his teammates.
Tyler Clark (Kiama)
A front rower with a big engine who would play close to 80 minutes through the middle for the Knights.
Tough and durable, his workload was massive and always reliable.
Samuel Hooper (Warilla)
Only made it 11 rounds before suffering a season-ending injury, but in that time he had a terrific impact on the Gorillas from hooker.
Speedy and crafty out of dummy half, he’s a pro at catching defences napping and forcing metres from the ruck.
Trent Griffiths & Aaron Griffiths (Berry)
The Griffiths duo were the diamonds in the rough for the Magpies after a tough year, with coach Thomas electing them as his star performers in both the half year and end of year reports.
Trent nailed down the lock forward role, while Aaron dabbled between centre and hooker.
NewsLocal Team of the Season
1. Adam Quinlan (Nowra-Bomaderry Jets)
2. Beau Luland (Nowra-Bomaderry Jets)
3. Toby Gumley-Quine (Gerringong Lions)
4. Hamish Holland (Gerringong Lions)
5. Braydon Rumble Walsh (Nowra-Bomaderry Jets)
6. Emanuel Sultana (Shellharbour Sharks)
7. Clyde Parsons (Nowra-Bomaderry Jets)
8. Josh Starling (Shellharbour Sharks)
9. Colby Smith (Stingrays of Shellharbour)
10. Alexander Weir (Gerringong Lions)
11. Tom Warner (Stingrays of Shellharbour)
12. James Ralphs (Shellharbour Sharks)
13. Danny Wedd (Gerringong Lions)
14. Mark Asquith (Jamberoo Superoos)
15. Zaan Weatherall (Stingrays of Shellharbour)
16. Bailey Sassall (Milton Ulladulla Bulldogs)
17. Brody Rigg (Shellharbour Sharks)
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