Star duo make history with both claiming record three-time Eric Johnston Medal

TWO Northern Territory locals have made history with both claiming the coveted Eric Johnston Medal for a record third time after respective outstanding seasons

Hirini Murfitt, Alan Ratahi (1979/80 Best and Fairest winner) and Robbie Butcher at Eric Johnston medals Picture: LEITHAL PICTURES

TWO Northern Territory locals have made history with both claiming the coveted Eric Johnston Medal for a record third time after respective outstanding seasons.

University Pirates’ stalwart player-coach Robbie Butcher and Darwin Dragons’ celebrated captain Hirini Murfitt were named joint Best and Fairest winners in the 2020 Darwin A-grade rugby union competition.

The star performers have been notching up the votes over the years and nothing has changed this year with Murfitt winning three consecutive years in a row and Butcher taking the title in 2014, 2019 and now 2020.

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Butcher’s award will come as a bittersweet consolation after his Pirates outfit, undefeated through the regular season, lost to Murfitt’s Dragons in the semi-final last week.

Butcher also took home the Hahn Super Dry A-grade leading points scorer accolade with 89 points across the season.

“I’m definitely proud to have won the award but it’s a bittersweet feeling after our last game,” Butcher told the NT News.

“It’s something I wasn’t expecting as you don’t go into the season with these accolades in mind but I’m proud and humbled to have received it again.

“I’m super proud of the boys and how they held themselves this season particularly with the COVID-19 break.

“I’m also hugely impressed with how the club has gone this season in B-grade, womens and juniors.

“Awesome respect to Hirini, first player to receive the accolade three times in a row. It’s a credit to how he prepares himself on and off the field.”

Murfitt’s side will now face off against the Casuarina Cougars in this week’s upcoming grand final on Saturday with the Dragons hoping to go back to back.

The captain stepped up to fill the role when the Darwin side’s usual captain Drew Tobin was forced to miss most of the season after picking up a heavy injury.

“I’m really proud to have won and I know my family and wife feel the same,” Murfitt told the NT News.

“This is the highest honour in NT rugby union and to be the first to have won it three years in a row is a huge privilege.

“All comes down to hard work and a lot of rugby around a great team and club which I was also lucky to take over the captaincy role for.

We didn’t have the best start to the season I’m really proud in how the boys performed in the back end and looking forward to see how we go in the big show on Saturday.”

South Darwin’s Jone Vakacegu scored a season high number of tries with seven.

Also taking top honours were University’s Lavinia Vateitei and Michala Shaw who scooped up the Women’s Player of the Year and Emerging Talent awards respectively.

Robbie Taylor was a named the standout referee after another season of hard work, while University’s Frank Jennings and Bryn Templeman from Jabiru Bushratz took home the top coaches awards.

NTRU CEO Tamie Needham praised the winners for their success throughout the season that once again had shown the strength of the sport in the NT.

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“On behalf of our rugby community I wish to congratulate all of our 2020 award winners,” Needham said.

“The Eric Johnston Medal offers the chance to celebrate everyone who contributes to this game from our fantastic volunteers through to our players, coaches and match officials.

“Once again this year there were some outstanding highlights and achievements across the sport and to break new records is just the cherry on top of a fantastic past season.”