League Salutes Past And Future

1998 South Burnett Eagles captain Tony Olzard, second from left, with team mates from that historic win and an original South Burnett Eagles guernsey from the game

August 22, 2018

The South Burnett’s rugby league family gathered together on Saturday night to salute the sports stars of the past as well as the up-and-coming stars of the future.

The second annual South Burnett Rugby League presentation dinner – with 365 guests – was held at the Murgon PCYC.

A special attraction was a salute to the last A Grade team to win the 47th Battalion Trophy, way back in 1998.

Many of the players from that successful South Burnett Eagles team were present, as well as the actual 47th Battalion Trophy (on loan for the night from 2018 victors, the Sunshine Coast Falcons).

After a Welcome To Country by Robyn Langton, a minute’s silence was also held for five members of the league family who have died during the past year: Percy Iszlaub, Tristan Murray, Susan Burt, Andrew Cole and Bill Mulcahy.

A spotlight was then shone on the highlights of the year, including the U13 and U14 Development competition in Murgon, the Kingaroy Pink Day, the Murgon Domestic Violence Awareness round, the U35kg carnival jointly hosted by Murgon and Kingaroy clubs, the State Of Mind workshops, and the Women in League round at Nanango.

The Murgon Mustangs JRLFC also received special acknowledgement for being named the NRL Grassroots Club Of The Year

The new NRL Games Development Officer for the South Burnett, Blake Mara, was introduced to the audience.

Blake announced that in 2019, the South Burnett would have its own U12 Girls competition, which would be played across the first four weeks of March.

He then called the 1998 South Burnett Eagles team to the stage to share some memories and receive the acknowledgement from the crowd.

* * *

After dinner, the serious matter of trophy presentations went ahead:

Under 35kg

The Under 35kg Eagles tied as winners in the carnival played in Kingaroy.

Best Back – Will Webber
Best Forward – Riley Gale
Most Improved Player – Archie Pointon
Best Back of the Carnival – Lawson Braithwaite
Player of the Carnival – Zach Harris

East v West representatives were Lawson Braithwaite, Zach Harris and Riley Gale.

* * *

Under 43kg

The U43kg Eagles represented the South Burnett at the carnival in Warwick.

Best Back – Nathan Roderick
Best Forward – Tylah Smith
Most Improved Player – Ziggy Pidgeon
U43kg Player Of The Year – Nathan Roderick

City v Country representatives were Nathan Roderick, Charlie Sippel, Riley Dunlop and Tylah Smith.

* * *

Under 13s

The Under 13 Eagles came 2nd at the 47th Battalion trials held in Bundaberg.

Best Back – Angus Lanser
Best Forward – Fletch Prendergast
Most Improved Player – Jesse Burrows-Lacey
Representative Player Of The Year – Joseph Meikle

* * *

U14 Boys

Best Back – Lachlan Zelinski
Best Forward – Ryan Johnson
Most Improved Player – Steven Walsh
Representative Player Of The Year – Bailey Cavanough

* * *

U14 Girls (with Beachmere)

The combined team played in the Sunshine Coast competition.

Best Back – Lilyanna Railton-Thompson
Best Forward – Lilly Millar
Most Improved Player – Faith Ramsay
Representative Player Of The Year – Kiya King

* * *

U16 Boys

The Under 16s Eagles were placed 2nd at the 47th Battalion Carnival at Bundaberg.

Best Back – Jake Keating
Best Forward – Rylee Schloss
Most Improved Player – Patrick Gentry
Representative Player Of The Year – Jack Garrod

* * *

U16 Girls

The Under 16 Girls are through to the second round of the Finals in the Sunshine Coast competition. They will play Nambour/Noosa on Friday night in Maroochydore for the right to face Caboolture in the Grand Final.

Best Back – Tenesha Trunks
Best Forward – Kaylynn Saltner
Most Improved Player – Nicola Irwin
Representative Player Of The Year – Traevonnah Fisher

Kaia Williams scores his second try for the U18 Eagles against Brothers in Kingaroy

Under 18s

The Under 18 Eagles finished 3rd in the 47th Battalion Carnival at Gladstone and 5th overall in the Toowoomba Rugby League U18 competition.

Best Back of the Carnival – Thomas Springate
Best Forward of the Carnival – Kaia Williams
Most Improved Player of the Carnival – George Fisher
Player of the Carnival 2018 – Jack Sullivan
Season Best and Fairest – Jack Sullivan
Season Most Improved – George Fisher

* * *

Under 20s

The Under 20 Eagles finished 2nd in the 47th Battalion Carnival at Gladstone.

Best Back of the Carnival – Kirby Rubesaame
Best Forward of the Carnival – Bailey Kimber
Most Improved Player of the Carnival – Elwyn Fewquandie
Player of the Carnival 2018 – Karl Berlin

* * *

Open Women

This was the first year the South Burnett fielded a team in the Open Women’s competition. The Open Women’s Eagles finished in 3rd spot after being knocked out in the Preliminary Final.