Wynnum Manly Seagulls hooker Jayden Berrell and North Queensland Gold Stars fullback Romy Teitzel were formally recognised as the best players in their respective competitions at today’s Queensland Rugby League Awards.
Berrell was announced as the Petero Civoniceva Medallist after his outstanding on-field exploits in the Intrust Super Cup, while Teitzel was named BHP Premiership Player of the Year.
Berrell polled 21 points to edge out Norths Devils star Jack Ahearn (20) to claim the prestigious award named after league great Civoniceva, who was on hand to present the medal to the tenacious Seagulls dummy half in front of 350 guests at Brisbane City Hall.
Ipswich-born Berrell played his junior football with Runaway Bay Seagulls, before signing with the Brisbane Broncos.
He starred for the Broncos’ NYC team in 2015 and also got a taste of junior State of Origin action with the Queensland Under 20 side.
While he made his Intrust Super Cup debut with the Norths Devils, Berrell has found a home at the Seagulls and is a crowd favourite with the club’s passionate supporters, who will be cheering for a preliminary final victory next weekend.
Berrell was also named as the competition’s leading hooker in the Intrust Super Cup Team of the Year, which included fellow Seagulls team mates Jack Campagnolo (five-eighth) and Luke Bateman (lock).
Like Berrell, Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons squad member Teitzel did the double after being announced as the fullback of the year as well as the competition’s best player.
Teitzel impressed throughout the BHP Premiership, with her North Queensland Gold Stars team mixing it with the best teams in the competition.
The Gold Stars qualified for the semi-finals, where they were narrowly beaten by eventual premiers the Burleigh Bears, who prevailed by two points despite Teitzel’s personal efforts of one try and two goals.
Today’s awards also celebrated the contribution of the game’s coaches, with Rohan Smith (Norths Devils, Intrust Super Cup) and Scott Prince (Valleys Diehards, BHP Premiership) recognised for their achievements.
South Logan’s Ezra Mam was named Intrust Super Cup Rookie of the Year, while Destiny Brill claimed the same honour after an outstanding season in the BHP Premiership.
Souths Logan’s Cruise Ten was the Hastings Deering Colts Player of the Year, and Wynnum Manly’s Blake Moore and Shaun Packer shared the Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup Player of the Year award.
Community rugby league shared the spotlight as well, with the Barcaldine Sandgoannas named XXXX Community Club of the Year; and for their efforts in delivering the domestic violence awareness round, the Murgon Mustangs were proud recipients of the Auswide Bank Community Program of the Year award.
QRL Awards winners
Petero Civoniceva Medal
Jayden Berrell, Wynnum Manly Seagulls
BHP Premiership Player of the Year
Romy Teitzel, North Queensland Gold Stars
Intrust Super Cup Coach of the Year
Rohan Smith, Norths Devils
BHP Premiership Coach of the Year
Scott Prince, Valleys Diehards
Hastings Deering Colts Player of the Year
Cruise Ten, Souths Logan Magpies
Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup Player of the Year
Blake Moore (Wynnum Manly Seagulls) and Shaun Packer (Wynnum Manly Seagulls)
BHP Premiership Rookie of the Year
Destiny Brill, Valleys Diehards
Intrust Super Cup Rookie of the Year
Ezra Mam, Souths Logan Magpies
Intrust Super Cup Leading Try Scorer
Jonathon Reuben, Norths Devils
Intrust Super Cup Leading Points Scorer
Todd Murphy, Sunshine Coast Falcons
Auswide Bank Community Program of the Year
Murgon Mustangs’ domestic violence awareness round
XXXX Community Club of the Year
Barcaldine Sandgoannas
XXXX League Championship
Brisbane Poinsettias
Shell V-Power Volunteer of the Year
Neil Redfern, Northern Districts Rugby League
Harvey Norman Female Contribution Award
Gillian Bann, Yarrabah Junior Rugby League
BHP Community Coach of the Year
Nathan Woods, Mossman Junior Rugby League
BHP Premiership Team of the Year
Fullback: Romy Teitzel, North Queensland Gold Stars
Winger: Karina Brown, Burleigh Bears
Centre: Jasmine Peters, North Queensland Gold Stars
Five-eighth: Lauren Brown, Burleigh
Halfback: Zahara Temara, Burleigh Bears
Prop: Millie Boyle, Burleigh Bears
Hooker: Destiny Brill, Valleys Diehards
Second rower: Tazmin Gray, Burleigh Bears
Lock: Georgia Hale, Tweed Seagulls
Intrust Super Cup Team of the Year
Fullback: Trai Fuller, Redcliffe Dolphins
Winger: Jonathon Reuben, Norths Devils
Centre: Sami Sauiluma, Burleigh Bears
Five-eighth: Jack Campagnolo, Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Halfback: Jack Ahearn, Norths Devils
Prop: Nat Neale, Ipswich Jets
Hooker: Jayden Berrell, Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Second rower: Joshua Stuckey, Northern Pride
Lock: Luke Bateman, Wynnum Manly Seagulls