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The Black's Raiders
bound powerhouse Clint Hill has capped a sterling 2004 Illawarra League
Season by taking out the Noel Mulligan Memorial Trophy for First Grade
Player's Player at the Club's annual Presentation and Awards Night held at
Port Kembla Leagues Club last night. The rugged front rower polled 19.5
votes to narrowly take out the main award from Johno Johnson who polled
17.5 votes. Grant Roberts and Mark Simon finished equal third in the
voting on 15 votes apiece. The award for First Grade Player's Player is
determined by players votes after each of the regular season games. The
votes then determine the Player's Player for the match as well as the
3-2-1 votes which go towards the overall result.
Hill was Port's
tower of strength in the engine room, often playing the full eighty
minutes, a remarkable feat in an age where front rowers rarely go the
distance in any game. Hill was unlucky not to receive the Illawarra
League's Player of the Year award, narrowly beaten to the prize by
Collegian's Nathan Lakeman (by one vote).
Jason Sullivan
received the main club award (the Bob Fisher Trophy for Clubman of The
Year) for his on field service to the club, as well as his help with
Port's junior teams, and his overall passion for the Mighty Black's Club.
It was a worthy reward for the player who returned to Port after much
success with Collegians. Sullivan finished the 2004 season registering his
60th Grade game for the club, having scored a total of 212 points (53
tries) in that time.
Clint Hill also
received the coaches award for Best and Fairest Player in First Grade,
while likeable rake Johno Johnson got the nod for Best Forward in First
Grade ahead of a strong field of contenders including Andrew Bobbin and
Grant Roberts. Mark Simon was named Best Back in First Grade while rookie
Lulia Lulia picked up the award for Most Improved after a debut year where
his on field performances went from strength to strength.
Ben Carr received
his second Reserve Grade Player's Player award after having taken out the
gong in 2002. Like Clint Hill in First Grade, Carr doubled by taking the
Reserve Grade Best and Fairest Trophy also. Mohamad Alchaar was named best
forward while the ageless Victor Daly was presented with the Best Back
Trophy for his outstanding efforts in the seconds this season. Daly ended
the season on 265 games for Port Kembla. Troy Fleming's progression from
Under 18's to Grade was completed with the Trophy for Most Improved.
Some of Port's
greats were honoured with Perpetual Trophies for Under 18's inaugurated in
their names. The Harry Nolan Memorial Cup for Under 18's Player's Player
went to Joel Court. Keith Lulia grabbed the Victor Daly Trophy for Under
18's Best and Fairest. The Bob Searl Memorial Trophy for Best Forward was
presented to Keiran Jack, while the Ralston Family Trophy for Best Back
was awarded to Matthew Michalowski. Richard Velthuis' name is now etched
in the Under 18's Most Improved Trophy, the inaugural award going to Oscar
Ferreira who stepped up a notch from his efforts in last season's Under
18's squad.
Christian Kupenga's
potential was recognised through his acceptance of the Port Old Boys
Potential Trophy, while Mark Simon picked up his first Club leading
Pointscorer award. Simon topped all scorers with 170 season points, just
ahead of Keith Lulia who scored 160 during the 2004 season. Lulia got some
"revenge" on Mark Simon by taking out the Leading Club Tryscorer Trophy.
Lulia scored 18 regular season tries to go with his two finals series
tries to finish the season three ahead of Mark Simon who has now scored
310 points for Port from just 28 games.
In the two final
trophies, Andrew Bobbin received the Trainers Trophy for his efforts on
the training paddock, and Matt Richards picked up the popular Bert
Knuckleport Memorial Water Jug for Living Legend of The Year. The
victorious Under 18's Premier team were also presented with their
premiership jackets which capped off a great evening.
In all, a great
night was had, sponsors were honoured, and the club now looks forward to
season 2005 minus Clint Hill (Raiders) and Andrew Bobbin (overseas). The
Club would like to thank all who attended and made the night so enjoyable,
and in particular Graham Bath and LJ Hooker Warrawong for their kind and
continued sponsorship of the Noel Mulligan Memorial Trophy, and Bob and
Dianne Mitchell from Fellini's On Wentworth who provided awards for the
Player's Player in each of the club's three grades.
The club would also
like to wish Clint Hill all the best in Canberra. Hill will be a great
asset for the Canberra club and we hope he gets the chance to fill the
void left by the departure of Canberra's leading forward, Ruben Wiki. We
would also like to wish Juita Suka well as he tours with the Australian
University team.
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