It was a night to remember for up and coming junior player Billy Burns who took out the prestigious Steve Sullivan Award for the best achiever in Under 18s at the Parkes Rugby League Club presentation ceremony.
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Steve’s parents John and Brenda were in Parkes to present the award to Burns who also shared the Charles Dwyer Memorial trophy for the Best and Fairest Under 18s player with Ethan McKellar.
Tony Dwyer, who managed the Under 18s side this year, presented the trophies to Burns and McKellar, and described the pair as amongst the best young players Parkes has produced.
Burns has enjoyed an excellent year which has seen him play more than 60 matches.
His form has been fantastic in 2015 which saw him break into the Spacemen first grade squad in July and he maintained his spot for the remainder of the season.
Burns was selected in the NSW Country Under 18s squad which toured New Zealand.
The selection came after the junior Spaceman played a starring role for the Western Rams Under 18s at the Country Championships.
This season was his last as a junior Spacemen. Burns signed a contract to join NRL club Penrith Panthers in June and will move to the foot of the mountains in November.
He has kept busy throughout the season, representing Under 17s Western Academy, Newcastle Development Squad, Southern Country Catholic side, Group 11 Under 18s, as well as the Rams and Country 18s.
Burns was a major factor in Red Bend Catholic College’s runner-up finish in the Combined Catholic Colleges competition.
While it is disappointing for the Spacemen Under 18s to lose Burns from next season, he was one of a number of young stars in the side.