Litchfield Bears’ Sam McAuley takes home the Frank Johnson medal following a massive season on offence
LITCHFIELD’s star hooker Sam McAuley is the latest Bears’ player to be named a Frank Johnson medalist taking the prize home after the 2020 NRL NT season
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
LITCHFIELD’s star hooker Sam McAuley is the latest Bears’ player to be named a Frank Johnson medalist taking the prize home after the 2020 NRL NT season.
And while the accolade may be a bittersweet one for the experienced forward following a grand final loss to Brothers he was honoured to receive the award.
McAuley’s win places him alongside current teammates Aaron Barnes, Jason Tomes, Luke Mahood and two-time medalist Matt Goodfellow who have all won the renowned medal in recent years.
MORE NT NRL STORIES
Country boys ‘have fun’ in big win over City in representative game
Brothers’ Yarran takes out besrt on ground in NT A-grade grand final
“I’ll take anything I can get when it comes to medals but I wouldn’t say I deserved it but I’ll take what I’m given,” McAuley told the NT News.
“I’ve had some good days and some bad days and while I wouldn’t say I’ve done anything ridiculous this year but someone obviously thought I had.
“It’s a big honour to get this award and to be named up there alongside Matty Goodfellow who has a couple himself.
“The Bears are a good bunch of fellas. Brothers outplayed us in the final but full credit to the boys at Litchfield for another big season.”
McAuley joined the Bears in 2018 and has been something of a good luck charm for the A-grade side who have reached the grand final each year he has been at the club.
His work in offence has destroyed many a side’s offence with his runs from dummy-half in particular often instrumental in picking up a Litchfield try.
And while a more underated asset he combines well in defence with the rest of the big forwards at Litchfield.
Litchfield coach Jake Barnes praised the performances of his hooker who puts in consistent
“He’s an important part of our team, his defence is a sometimes a little underrated because of how strong he is elsewhere,” Barnes said.
LIMITED TIME: New NT News subscription offer: $1 a week for the first 12 weeks
“He’s just that good in attack and is probably close to the quickest guy over 40m in the league while also doing a lot of work in the middle of the field.
“He’s easy to coach doesn’t talk a lot but does lead by his actions and is just one of those guys that people love playing around and for.”
WPL WRAP: Tiwi wins nailbiter as Tigers and Tahs pile on the points
The Tiwi Bombers kept their finals ambitions alive with a mature one-point victory while Nightcliff and Waratah hit triple figures. Read our Round 15 wrap here.
40+ photos: World Title defence and home town hero wow crowd
Knockouts, claret and upsets were the story of a belter sixth edition of the NT Fight Series. Check out all the results and pictures from the night here.