WHAT THEY SAID: Coast union’s stars of 2020

Sunshine Coast Rugby Union has crowned it’s stars of 2020, with a talented bunch rising above the rest to leave their mark on a tough year for sport.

Sunshine Coast Rugby Union chairman Paul Biggs with best and fairest winners Jess Ling (referee), Pete Sims (reserve grade), Matt Leider (A-grade), Kelsie Price (senior women) and Josh Goddard (colts). Picture: Patrick Woods

Sunshine Coast Rugby Union has crowned it’s stars of 2020, with a talented bunch rising above the rest to leave their mark on a tough year for sport.

SCRU awarded the season’s best and fairest winners for colts, reserve grade, A-grade and senior women during the annual grand final morning tea at Maroochy RSL on Thursday.

Caloundra’s Kelsie Price and Josh Goddard took out gongs for senior women and colts, with Eumundi’s Pete Sims the top player for reserve grade and USC Barbarian’s Matt Leider best and fairest in A-grade.

It wasn’t just the players getting recognised, but officials too with Jess Ling awarded best and fairest referee for 2020.

Here’s what the winners had to say:

Colts best and fairest winner Josh Goddard. Picture: Patrick Woods / Sunshine Coast Daily.

COLTS B&F

Caloundra’s Josh Goddard

“Im pretty stoked with it to be honest, I didn't expect it especially not being in the grand final.

“We had a pretty rough season with COVID and had a fair few new players as well that hadn't played rugby before so we started off slow but by the end of it we kicked off.

RESERVE GRADE B&F

Eumundi’s Pete Sims

“It’s a bit of a shock (to get B&F),” Sims said.

“But, it’s been great (for Eumundi) to be back in the competition and there’s a lot of new fellas with us and it’s been really good, I can’t wait till next year.

“It was (tough at the start of the year), we barely scraped together a team.

“We had Gympie help out with a few boys in that first game just before COVID.

“It’s just a good bunch of boys, most have a league and AFL background and we just got together and put a team together and it’s been really great.”

Matt Lieder of USC Barbarians.

A-GRADE B&F

USC Barbarian’s Matt Leider

“I’m actually pretty taken aback by it (award) to be honest,” Leider said.

“You’ve got two great sides in Caloundra and Noosa that are in the grand final and the boys that we were playing this year with the talent was phenomenal.

“So, I’m really grateful for this and look forward to the next few years.”

“To be honest, I think we did everything right coming up into finals,” Leider said of being knocked out of the competition by Maroochydore in the minor semi-final.

“It was pretty disappointing for us and I know a few of the boys are still down about it but I’ve just come to terms that that’s footy and it was just a game that didn’t go our way.”

SENIOR WOMEN B&F

Caloundra’s Kelsie Price

“I’d like to thank Sunshine Coast Rugby for being able to make this (year) possible especially Caloundra as well for being supportive and being able to build such a big women’s comp this year,” Price said.

“(A highlight of 2020) Is probably just how intense the competition was - it’s stepped up a level this year from what it was last year.

“I really enjoyed it.”

REFEREE B&F

Jess Ling

“I think the thing that stands out for us having watched Jess over the last couple of years...is for a young lady she has a really sensible head on her shoulders and that really shows in the way she approaches the game and the decisions she makes on park,” Sunshine Coast Rugby Referees president Rob O’Donnell said.

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