Robbie Butcher, Lucy Aigea the big winners at 2024 Frank Johnson awards night
A Nightcliff stalwart and Palmerston captain won top honours on a night where NRL NT announced new life members for the first time in 10 years. See all the winners and pictures from the 2024 Frank Johnson awards.
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Nightcliff Dragons’ playmaker Robbie Butcher has sealed his spot as one of the greats of the NRL NT after winning his third Frank Johnson award.
He first won the prestigious accolade in 2021, and went on to back it up the following year, and, after a minor premiership winning year, the Dragon is again the best and fairest.
It comes in a year where the Nightcliff outfit burst back into finals after two disappointing years, and Butcher’s ability to spot gaps and dictate games was key to their success.
The Dragons fell short in the prelim final, however Butcher was one of the best on ground for them, inspiring a second half fightback that almost stuck.
“It’s a great honour, Nightcliff Dragons is a home and it’s the people around the club that make what I do easy,” Butcher said.
“In terms of the award it was tight at the top and came down to the final round, but having a couple of weeks off in the middle of the year doesn’t help too much.
“The past couple of years have been a rebuild and struggle at the club, but there’s good people in the coaching staff and in the playing group who have helped us come back.
“The boys love playing together, Sam Irwin is a great coach and makes it a happy place for everyone and when you get an environment like everyone will produce their best footy.
“We obviously would have liked to go one more and be in that game on the weekend, but it wasn’t to be this year and the club has rebuilt into a pretty good spot.
“The committee makes our life easier, they just carried on through some personnel changes and made sure we kept playing and were enjoying ourselves.”
As Butcher won his third top gong it was Palmerston Raiders’ captain Lucy Aigea who was named the Gaynor Maggs recipient for her efforts in the women’s competition.
The forward is a key part of the Raiders’ power game and is known for her ability to burst through defensive lines and set the foundation for many a try, if she doesn’t score it herself.
Aigea led the Raiders to a minor premiership, and into the women’s grand final where they are hoping to topple reigning premiers the Darwin Brothers.
“I’m just grateful, it’s a massive honour but I’m just thankful for the opportunities and the hard work our coaches have put in to push me to play the way I can,” Aigea said.
“There’s a lot of standouts in our team, but I’m thankful to all of my girls for trusting me to be their captain and for supporting me.
“The coaching team have been great, as has my partner who plays in the team too and then my sisters who are always in my ear.
“I’m nervous heading into this weekend, but I’m confident the girls will get the win that we’re after.
“Playing league is something I’m really passionate about, I love the environment and for me it’s a great time to get out and socialise.”
Darwin Brothers’ coach Leon Cleal was named coach of the year in a season where the Brethren found their way into the grand final for the first time since 2020.
It’s the second year in a row in which Cleal has won the accolade, after he won in 2023 for guiding the NT Titans women to an undefeated representative championships.
The league’s top try scorer Isaac Seden-Kurnoth, of the Brothers, was named the NT News player of the year after a successful season, in an outfit that takes on the Northern Sharks in the grand final.
The Litchfield Bears also had a successful night, winning club of the year, while Leo Cook took home the Gatley Shield player of the year and Patrick Manktelow was named best in the under-18s.
Meanwhile, the NRL NT inducted three new life members in Nightcliff’s Jackie Edwards and Palmerston pair Greg Hansen and Tanya Hazel.
The trio have amassed decades of service volunteering to the game in the NT, beyond just their home clubs.
And their induction, the first life members to be announce since 2014, was perhaps the biggest celebration of the night.
ALL THE WINNERS
Frank Johnson Medal - Robert Butcher (Nightcliff Dragons)
Gaynor Maggs Medal - Lucy Aigea (Palmerston Raiders)
Rising Star - Daniel Murphy (Palmerston Raiders)
Gatley Shield Player of the Year - Leo Cook (Litchfield Bears)
Under 18’s Player of the Year - Patrick Manktelow (Litchfield Bears)
Coach of the Year - Leon Cleal (Darwin Brothers)
NT News Player of the Year - Isaac Seden-Kurnoth (Darwin Brothers)
John “Shadow” Mount Club Champion - Litchfield Bears
Match Official of the Year - Paul Devir
The Carmen Award Volunteer of the Year - Amelia Solien (Katherine Rugby League)
Teacher of the Year - Sarah Makin (Seda College)
Life Membership - Jackie Edwards (Nightcliff Dragons)
Life Membership - Greg Hansen (Palmerston Raiders)
Life Membership - Tanya Hazel (Palmerston Raiders)
ALL THE PICTURES
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