Souths player Setefano Cakaunivalu claims Eric Johnston Medal

SOUTH Darwin’s Setefano Cakaunivalu has been awarded the Eric Johnston Medal as NT Rugby’s best and fairest

Souths player Setefano Cakaunivalu is the NTRU player of the year for 2016. PICTURE Helen Orr

SOUTH Darwin’s Setefano Cakaunivalu has been awarded the Eric Johnston Medal as NT Rugby’s best and fairest.

The Rabbitoh’s outside centre pipped Casuarina loose forward Bobby Nurse by one vote at NT Rugby’s presentation night on Sunday.

The 37-year-old former Fijian international also claimed first grade’s leading try-scorer award after the seven’s legend crossed for 22 five pointers in 2016.

In his second year of Darwin club rugby, Cakaunivalu has been a revelation and will be a key player for the Rabbitohs when they take the field against Palmerston in Saturday’s grand final.

Souths president James de Dassel said Cakaunivalu was a deserved winner.

“This year he’s been fantastic,” he said. “He took on a roll of looking after the backline after we lost our coach earlier in the year.

“He’s a natural leader and we’ve got a lot of young guys that look up to him.”

De Dassel said it was great for NT rugby to have a player of Cakaunivalu’s quality.

“The crowds love watching him play,” he said.

“The boys love playing with him and I’m sure the opposition don’t like playing against him.

“For him to receive that medal it’s a fantastic achievement, having been involved in a team that were minor premiers.”

Meanwhile, Palmerston’s Liam Bilston won the Rising Star Award and was presented with the inaugural Tawera Kerr-Barlow Medal, while Robert Butcher claimed the Leading Point Scorer Prize.

Ravin du Plessis was a clear choice for the David Cooper Senior Coach of the Year, after he took the Crocs from only one win in 2015, to a grand final appearance this season.

University fly-half Rhys Venturin was awarded the Dan Panapa Reserve Grade Best and Fairest, while Palmerston duo Aaron Bonaz and Levi Clark were the leading point and try scorers respectively.

In the women’s competition, the Naomi Roberts Medal for the best and fairest player was handed to University’s Claire Rowat, while the Bo de la Cruz Emerging Talent Award was won by Palmerston teenager Sarah O’Connor.