POWERHOUSE Maitland No.8 Travis Brooke had the loss to Wanderers in the preliminary final softened when he collected the Anderson Medal at the Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union presentation luncheon on Sunday.
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The Kiwi-born back-rower, who will play for NSW Country at the division two National Rugby Championships in Adelaide next weekend, polled 16 points to win the best and fairest award.
Hamilton back-rower Tiueti Asi was second on 14 points but he and Wanderers captain Ben Ham (12 points) were ineligible after being sent off for two yellow cards in separate games. Dane Sherratt (Hamilton) also finished on 12 points.
In the other major awards, Muswellbrook halfback Cameron Young collected the Cyril Burke Medal for a second year, Merewether halfback Peter Salter was the women's player of the year, Jarryd Logan was the Col King referee of the year and Scott Coleman (Hamilton) was the coach of the year.
Brooke tried to lift the Blacks on Saturday. He controlled the lineout and regularly bent the defensive line.
Maitland coach Matt Thomas, though frustrated at losing two players to the sinbin in the first half, said they had themselves to blame.
"In semi-final football you have to play 80 minutes and we didn't," he said. "Everything went against us - every referee penalty, the bounce of the ball ... We can blame everybody but we also have to look within on this one."
Award Winners
Premier: Anderson Medal - Travis Brooke; Kia Toa Shield - Hamilton; Coach of the year - Scott Coleman (Hamilton); Col King referee of the year award: Jarryd Logan; Club of the year - Hamilton, Encouragement award - Southern Beaches; Club championship - Hamilton; Leading point-scorer - Dane Sherratt (Hamilton); Leading try-scorer - Nimi Qio (Wanderers).
Women: Tina Chapman medal - Peta Salter (Merewether); Sevens rep rookie of the year - Logan Flanagan (Hamilton); Coach of the year - Brooke Saunders (Easts); Leading point-scorer - Tahlia Goldsmith (Waratahs); Leading try-scorer - Mackenzie Young (Maitland); Phil Greentree Shield - Hamilton
Divisional: Cyril Burke Medal - Cameron Young (Muswellbrook); Stan McManus Shield - Muswellbrook; Coach of the year - Michael Doody (Pokolbin); Club of the year - Muswellbrook
Spirit of Rugby: Singleton under-15s; Kokoda Six
