Many thanks must go to everyone for embracing the family-friendly culture the committee has been implementing.

“The emphasis on family, fun, fairness and footy is certainly reflected in the positive vibe,” publicity officer Michelle Williams said.

“Growth has been steady this year and, as numbers continue to climb, we held our annual presentation day over two time slots, at two locations for two age groups.

“The under-6 teams through to the under-11s enjoyed the outdoor setting of the Muswellbrook Race Club, while the older international sides from the under-12s through to the under-15s, including our impressive league tag girls, had a more formalised affair at the Muswellbrook RSL Club.

“It was a massive local undertaking as we celebrated and acknowledged the hard work of not only the players but the volunteers who bring the game to life each week.

“Our club has been whole-heartedly supported by many local businesses, companies and individuals without whom, we simply cannot operate and add joy to the winter weekends of our junior players and the volunteers who assist them, and we are incredibly grateful.

“With emphasis so strongly on family connections this year, it was heart-warming to know that we had local living links to each perpetual trophy with brother and sister Clinton Frame and Kelli Cutrupi presenting awards in the late fathers’ honour for the Graeme Frame award; Tammy Blayden presenting the Val McGhee award in her late great grandmother’s honour and Jess Bellamy and Norma Rowen kindly presenting the Ted and Norma Rowen award.

“Matt Soper-Lawler, from the Newcastle Knights, came along to assist with the mini and mod teams and NRL development officer Daniel Swan helped present trophies to our older teams.”

This is awarded by the coach to a player who has worked tirelessly and put in their best efforts to training and games.

Under-6 Blue - Conan Waugh & Andrew Spicer      

Under-6 Gold - Lachlan Farmer & Kieren Chick      

Under-7 Blue - Cooper Lesley & Harlen Thomas

Under-7 Gold - Murray Shumack & Connor Smith

Under-8 Blue - Dax Vakatini & Mitchell Moss         

Under-8 Gold - Tom Noonan & Xavier McGrady

Under-9 Blue - Zeke Gross & Briley Perrett

Under-9 Gold - Kovin Walmsley & Ryan Brown

Under-10 Blue - Daniel Chapman & Ashton Marco  

Under-10 Gold - Harrison Thompson & Jed Baker

Under-11 Blue - Blake Hatton & Jarrod Small   

Under-12 - Ryan Copland and Kobi Andersen           

Under-13 - Colby Woodeson and Braidyne Rumbel 

Under-14 - Olivia Fitton and Kiah Perry         

Under-15 - Lachlan Barry and Reyde Hennessy

This award is presented to the player most sportsman-like on and off the field to acknowledge their positive attitude, dedication to the game and training, courage, respect and commitment to the game, their team members and peers.

Under-6 Blue - Deegan Lidster  

Under-6 Gold - Reeve Harris

Under-7 Blue - Riley Sowter

Under-7 Gold - Braydon Ross

Under-8 Blue - Terry Russo

Under-8 Gold - Koby Milton

Under-9 Blue - Malakhai Saunders

Under-9 Gold - Leroy Baker

Under-10 Blue - Luke Marco 

Under-10 Gold - Karim Jindi

Under-11 Blue - Isla Johnston

Under-12 - Luke Motbey         

Under-13 - Declan Pettit           

Under-14 - Emily Chapman     

Under-15 - Steven Dengate

This is awarded to a player on a points-based system. This is selected after each match from a spectator, fellow match official, or referee as an outstanding or most improved player. These points are tallied up at the end of the year to find the Best and Fairest player.

Under-6 Blue - Johnny Russo

Under-6 Gold - Kaelen Snow

Under-7 Blue - Campbell Deakin

Under-7 Gold - Daesjarn Coyle

Under-8 Blue - Bailey Chick

Under-8 Gold - Tyler Mullard

Under-9 Blue - Jayden Baker

Under-9 Gold - Darcy Large

Under-10 Blue - Tom Fitton

Under-10 Gold -Richard Darrell

Under-11 Blue - Jaxon Schafer

Under-12 - Reagan Holstein     

Under-13 - Joshua Eveleigh      

Under-14 - Tobey Stewart

Under-15 - Hayden Hoad

This award is presented to player who has stood out during the season, not only for their playing ability but also their improvement in the game, sportsmanship, dedication, courage, respect and commitment to the game and their team members and peers.

Under-6 Blue - Jackson Foot

Under-6 Gold - Kade Perry

Under-7 Blue - Toby Large

Under-7 Gold - Noah Darrell

Under-8 Blue - Flynn Snewin

Under-8 Gold - Ryan Horton

Under-9 Blue - Kobi Wright

Under-9 Gold - Ryan Schafer

Under-10 Blue - Tom Fitton

Under-10 Gold - Cohen Shaw

Under-11 Blue - Elizabeth Ferries

Under-12 - Brody Perry           

Under-13 - Declan Pettit          

Under-14 - Daisy Durham

Under-15 - Damon Boeckx

This is awarded to a player who has worked tirelessly as a forward in their position within the team, and has put in their best efforts into training and games.

Under-10 Blue - Jacob Rousell

Under-10 Gold - Aidan Horton  

Under-11 Blue - Emmet Turner

Under-12 - Bailey Carter         

Under-13 - Alex Forbes 

Under-14 - Lydia Hume

Under-15 - Logan Parker

This is awarded to a player who has worked tirelessly as a back in the position within the team and put in their best efforts into training and games.

Under-10 Blue - Mitchell Lackenby

Under-10 Gold - Logan Phillips

Under-11 Blue - Jeremy Roberts

Under-12 - Kayne Hoad           

Under-13 - Lachlan Marco       

Under-14 - Matilda Jones        

Under-15 - Zaine Stewart

This is the most prestigious Mini League award given by the club. It is awarded to a player who has played for three consecutive years and who has shown dedication to the game and consistently improved in their skills over this time. This player is one of the most positive and respectful players for his age. He is always considerate towards his coaches and other team members. The enthusiasm before and during games is unremitting and his dedication to finish a game hurt or not is unrelenting. This boy has a very bright future ahead of him, already showing great signs of leadership in his own team and empathy and sportsmanship towards the opposition. Qualities that can not be taught but learnt, was awarded to Billy Buck.

This is awarded to a player who has played for three consecutive years with the club and has shown dedication to the game and consistently improved in their skills over this time. This player has shown the dedication, the sportsmanship, the courage and consistency that we find in the great players of all time. He has shown respect to his peers, referees, coaches, league safe, sports trainers and all volunteers over the years he has been playing. His team would not be the same without him – the award went to Angus Williams from the under-12 team.

This award acknowledges a player that has shown great passion and dedication to the game of rugby league, improving their skills to gain selection in representative sides in our state. This player has been a Group 21 representative player since his under-13 season. He has continually worked on his skill set and has boundless natural ability, gaining selection into the Knights under-15 Chargers Squad representing our club at an elite level - the award was given to Hayden Hoad.

Our under-13s finished their regular season minor premiers heading into their qualifying final with only two losses under their belt. They were fired up, coming away winners against Raymond Terrace to head straight to the grand final. The two-week wait did nothing to kerb these boys enthusiasm. They trained harder and ran longer than they had all year in preparation, heading to Aberdeen for their grand final against Raymond Terrace. After a long period with no score, the boys finally scored and went into the break leading 6-0. Raymond Terrace scored two quick tries to lead 8-6 in the second half. Our boys were awarded a penalty in front of the posts with 8 minutes to go to level up. This inspired the boys to push harder and grind away until eventually there was a gap that they utilised and scored with less than two minutes on the clock. The conversion was successful bringing their full-time score to 12-8. The boys walked away victors with much recognition for all their hard work and dedication.

The award, founded in 2015, acknowledges a person who has shown great dedication to the game, passion and belief in our club and teams. This Ram of the Year is a young man who goes above and beyond what you would expect for his age. In between his own training and playing roster in the senior division of our club, he finds time to help other teams out and is a dedicated League Safe Officer for the under-12 side as well. He also stepped up and helped out on our massive mini mod days. Nothing ever seemed too much to ask, even donning the ever awesome Reggie Ram mascot suit when needed.

This year’s recipients for Club Person of the Year are two very dedicated people in our junior league ranks. This couple works quietly in the background. They do all they do for the club because they love it and never ever look to obtain recognition. Their hard work is never unnoticed by the committee as we get to turn up to get started and things are already cleaned or marked or set up. Between the two of them in just 2016, they have both coached a team, they are both active members of the club’s committee with large commitments. They both run the 100’s Club that raises thousands of dollars for you each year and if that’s not enough they both volunteer in our senior ranks as well. These two never stop, and are always committed to moving our club of blue and gold forward.  

Our 2016 Ten-Year Life Members: Dylan Jordan, Donna Taylor and Jane Dengate