Cobar Roosters’ Thomas Plater has been announced as the Christie and Hood Castle-reagh 2021 First Grade Player of the Year.
Plater, a new arrival in Cobar after his ap-pointment as a teacher at Cobar High at the start of the year, quickly established himself as a high quality hooker for the very well per-formed Rooster’s First Grade side.
Apart from being an explosive runner from the dummy half position, posing many ques-tions to opposition defences throughout the season, he was also the foundation for much of Cobar’s structured play as well as being an excellent defender.
The Roosters will be keen to have him con-tinue playing for them for some time to come, as his contribution to the team being highly significant in the them winning the minor premiership in the season unfortunately cut short by COVID.
Dunedoo’s Hayley Cox and Baradine’s Billy Carey were also announced as the Players of the Year in the League Tag and Youth League 2021 competitions respectively.
Cox, the Dunedoo Swannettes’ talented half back and co-captain has put in many outstand-ing displays on the League Tag field this year.
Winning of Player of the Year is remarkable in the fact that Cox missed quite a number of games while being engaged in another of her sporting passions, equestrian showjumping, where she once again competed at a very high standard, as evidenced by her being placed second at this year’s Royal Easter Show in Sydney.
Cox displayed an enthusiastic and dedicated approach to the club and her team in what is a very hectic sporting and working life that she leads.
Apprentice butcher, Billy Carey, from Ba-radine has picked up the Youth League Player of the Year Award.
The likeable Carey is a very well respected member of the Baradine Magpies club and the Baradine community, being a talented player with a great attitude
This year he took on a leadership role within his team, moving from fullback in to the halves. In the latter stages of the year Carey also played in the Magpies First Grade side and more than held his own.
Apart from his talent as a player, Carey is also a promising referee.
In a normal season the Christie and Hood Castlereagh League Player of the Year Awards would be presented on grand final day, but due to the pandemic they will be presented at the Castlereagh AGM in November.
