Group 4 Rugby League wrapped up its 2024 season with the annual awards presentation night at Wests Tamworth League Club earlier this month.
The Group 4 night of nights on Saturday, September 14, acknowledged individual brilliance during the year and also saw the team of the year named.
Gun Boggabri prop Nick Millar was picked in the team for the second year in a row, but this year was chosen as a starter after featuring in the number 17 jersey in 2023.
Millar was joined by his teammate Matt Gillham in the 2024 team of the year as the Kangaroos’ captain was named in the 14 jersey, which was an impressive feat in a year that several hookers dominated.
Gillham finished the year in the top five of the best and fairest voting behind fellow hooker and player of the year, Gunnedah’s Callum Hayne, and alongside two other hookers in Anders Glew (Kootingal) and Dylan Porter (Werris Creek).
The 2024 minor and major premiers Moree were dominant among the first grade awards as expected.
Fullback Adrian Smith was named the top point-scorer with 198 points (14 tries and 71 goals) and winger Jake Tighe was named the top try-scorer with 28.
Tighe was also selected in the team of the year alongside three Boars teammates in Mark Pegus, Jamie Sampson and Jack Durheim.
Group 4 Rugby League president Lad Jones told Group 4 Media it was a great night to finish the season and declared he would continue on as president if others wanted him to.
The 2024 team of the year and award winners are as follows:
Team of the year:
1. Ronin Haddin (Werris Creek), 2. Emori Waqavulagi (Gunnedah), 3. Mark Pegus (Moree), 4. Liam Hatch (Kootingal), 5. Jake Tighe (Moree), 6. Jamie Sampson (Moree), 7. Mitch Doring (Werris Creek), 8. Lincoln Smith (Gunnedah), 9. Callum Hayne (Gunnedah), 10. Nick Millar (Boggabri), 11. Riley Leonard (Werris Creek), 12. Logan Howard (Kootingal), 13. Jack Durheim (Moree), 14. Matt Gillham (Boggabri), 15. Nate Follington
(Werris Creek), 16. Mark Simon (North Tamworth), 17. Tom Woolaston (North Tamworth).
First grade awards:
Major and minor premiers – Moree, player of the grand final – Jamie Sampson (Moree), rookie of the year – Nate Follington (Werris Creek), player of the year – Callum Hayne (Gunnedah), top try-scorer – Jake Tighe (Moree) with 28, top point-scorer – Adrian Smith (Moree) with 198 (14 tries and 71 goals).
Second grade awards:
Minor premiers – Moree, major premiers – Werris Creek, player of grand final – Sam Tickle (Werris Creek), players of the year – Justin Smith (Moree) and Kaedyn Smith (Moree), top try-scorers – Mosese Sovatabua (Werris Creek) and Kaedyn Smith (Moree) with 17, top point-scorer – Kaedyn Smith (Moree) with 172 (17 tries and 52 goals).
Under-18s awards:
Minor and major premiers – Dungowan, player of grand final – Brayden Allan (Dungowan), player of the year – Darcy Weatherall (Werris Creek), top try-scorer – Sam Archer (Dungowan) with 19, top point-scorer – Darcy Weatherall (Werris Creek) with 106 (11 tries and 31 goals).
Ladies league tag:
Minor and major premiers – North Tamworth, player of the grand final – Kim Resch (North Tamworth), player of the year – Monique Corbett (Kootingal), top try-scorer – Monique Corbett (Kootingal) with 36, top point-scorer – Monique Corbett (Kootingal) with 242 (36 tries and 49 goals).
