Sport
3 September, 2024
Gold medal winner dinner
AN awards night celebrating stand-out players in the FNQ Rugby League competition was held at Brother’s Leagues Club in Cairns last Friday night.
The FNQ Rugby League Gold Medal Dinner saw players, including nominees across nine different Medal categories, families, friends and club affiliates from across the FNQRL competition attend to celebrate the nominees and winners of each category.
Mareeba’s Tyrone Williams took home the U19 Player of the Year award. The front-rower won the U18 award in 2022 and 2023 and the league changed this to the U19 award in 2024, making this the third year in a row he’s won this competition.
“Tyrone is a great player, he does what he has to do on the field and he enjoys it when he’s out there and I think that’s great leadership.
“When he’s on, he’s on and when we just let him do his role he does it well. It’s showing in his game like his kicking game is good, he’s talking to the boys out there and really leading them.
“He really deserved it, he works hard and hopefully that will carry on through his footy career as he goes,” said Mareeba’s U19 coach
Bronson Ryan.
The Mareeba Gladiator’s club president Shaun Fincham was both impressed and “extremely proud” of the club’s young player.
“To be named Player of the Year in three consecutive seasons is something I don’t think will be repeated.
“The club is extremely proud of Tyrone’s achievement, it’s well-deserved,” said Shaun.
“We look to forward to watching Tyrone progress into a full-time A Grade player in 2025.”
Jackson Clark (pictured below) from the Atherton Roosters won the Under 17 Coastal Player of the Year. Jackson played lock in his Friday night games with the U17’s and often backed it up on Saturday’s playing with the Atherton U19 teams.
Harrison English from the Malanda Eels won the U17 Eacham Male Player of the Year at the awards ceremony on Friday night.
Gold medal dinner nominees
Gold Medal nominee: Gabriel Tunimakubu (MBA)
Female Player of the Year nominees: Lexeen Mathieson (ATH), Paige Groves (ATH), Teesha Potts (ATH)
Male Rookie of the Year nominees: Riley Flute (ATH), Jason Hastie (MBA)
Female Rookie of the Year nominee: Rayleigh Opperman (ATH)
U17 Eacham Male Player of the Year nominees: Brett Barlow (RAV),
Harrison English (MAL), Jackson Chong (RAV)
U17 Coastal Female Player of the Year nominees: Freya Gutchen (MBA), Taylor Fitzgerald (ATH)
U17 Coastal Player of the Year nominee: Jackson Clark (ATH)
U19s Player of the Year nominee:
Tyrone Williams (MBA)
