Narrabri and District Junior Rugby League Club hosted its annual awards presentation event at the Narrabri Golf Club on Sunday afternoon.
The event has previously been held during the annual march and gala/grand final day, but this season it was decided that it would be held as a standalone event.
Club life members, players, parents, special guests and sponsors gathered to farewell what was a successful 2025 season in style.
It was a weather-affected season, with Cooma Oval out of action for seven weeks, but in true footy spirit, the club pushed on to get as many games played as possible.
The NDJRL mini mods program followed the NSWRL Player Development Framework and went fully non-competitive in 2025.
Under-6s began their journey with league tag, focusing on the fundamentals, the under-8s completed the TackleReady program, the under-10s learned the new rules introduced in mod league, and the under-12s continued developing and honing their skills.
The under-12 Cotton Bale Cup team travelled to Mascot and played an excellent game earlier this month, with Mascot retaining the cup. The Narrabri players had a great time exploring Sydney, dining at Souths Juniors, and attending the NRL grand final.
Player numbers in 2025 had a big impact on the international sides, with under-13s moving into the under-14s bracket, and the under-15s and under-16s being combined across the whole Group 4 competition, and then separated into divisions one and two.
The NDJRL under-16s side claimed the division two North West Group 4 Junior Rugby League Plate with a convincing 54-6 win over Dungowan.
On Saturday, 12 boys from that team trialled for the Greater Northern Tigers’ Laurie Daley and Andrew Johns representative sides.
The 2025 NDJRL award winners are as follows:
Bruce Turner memorial sportsperson of the year – Clint Thurston.
Perpetual trophy for outstanding sportsmanship (under-10s) – Eli Warren.
Hildred memorial club overall most improved – Callum Lawler.
Jan Browning memorial under-14s most consistent – Drey Hall.
Laurie Graham memorial 12-years best and fairest – Connor Wallace.
Amy Druce memorial 10-years best and fairest – Harry Thurston.
Tatts Hotel club overall highest point-scorer – Frazer Penberthy.
Len Denton memorial most outstanding grand final player – Frazer Penberthy.
Rookie of the year – Caitlen Lane.
Team awards:
Under-6 Rabbitohs: Coach’s award – Ed Wannan.
Under-6 Storm: Coach’s award – Evie Alexander.
Under 6 Manly: Coach’s award – Korbin Dixon.
Under-8 Tigers: Coach’s award – Charlie Eather.
Under-8 Knights: Coach’s award – Brock Wyborn.
Under-10:
Rabbitohs: Best forward – Nate Fenton, best back – Harry Thurston, most improved – Matt Bramley, coach’s award – Mac Rogers.
Raiders: Best forward – Aiden Eather, best back – Emmett Alexander, coach’s award – Lawson Whan, most improved – Leo Scott.
Under-12:
Eels: Best forward – Jedd Stanford, best back – Jayden Gallen, most improved – Chase Lawler, coach’s award – Alex Thurston.
Titans: Best forward – Darby Cameron, best back – Toby Nairn, most improved – Naiya Cochrane, best defender – Tommy Eather.
Under-14s:
Best and fairest – Cooper Mason, best back – Mason Rushby, best forward, highest try-scorer and highest point-scorer – Jag Carroll, coach’s award – Tyran Lawler, most improved – CJ Lamb, players’ player – Lucas Summers-Lawler.
Under-16s:
Best and fairest and highest try-scorer – Gabe O’Connor, best forward and players’ player – Hemi Mason, best back – Liam Crutcher, highest point-scorer – Frazer Penberthy, coach’s award – Mason Humphries, most improved – Calllum Lawler.
Outgoing under-16s team players were also acknowledged for their service to NDJRL:
Two years – Rashard Green; three years – Hunter Doring, Gabe O’Connor and Mason Humphries; four years – Liam Crutcher; seven years – Toby Ford and Frazer Penberthy; nine years – Khynen Gibbs; ten years – Hemi Mason; twelve years – Chayce Browning, Domenic Browning, Lucas Duff and Callum Lawler.
