While the 2017 Blowes Clothing Cup minor title is all but in Orange Emus’ hands, the competition’s most prestigious individual award is still well and truly up for grabs.
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The player of the year gong – for best and fairest, determined by referees – is normally a mystery until grand final day when it’s presented, although speculation is always rife as the finals loom.
This year though, in Brownlow and Dally M Medal style, the Central West Rugby Union Referees Association (CWRURA) has released a shortlist of contenders leading into this weekend’s third last round.
Naturally, to maintain some mystery and inevitably fuel that speculation, the CWRURA capped the progressive votes at round 12, with the rest of the season to remain behind closed doors until the award’s presentation.
In those first 12 rounds of the season a whopping 102 polled votes, eight of those players notching more than 10 best and fairest points to catapult themselves into contention.
Considering Parkes captain-coach Israel Symington’s gallant effort this season thus far, it’s no surprise to see the Boar among the top eight.
The shortlist was released in no particular order though, so specific rankings are unknown.
Emus guns Andrew Selwood and Nick Hughes-Clapp are both among the front-runners.
Forbes prop Kyle Sharpe, Bathurst Bulldogs bookend Sean Fogarty and Dubbo Kangaroos try-scoring machine Billy Sing have polled plenty of votes too.
Cowra Eagles duo Tim Berry and Tom Dewhurst are among the top eight as well, with Symington rounding out the group.
“The evenness reflects the broad pool of talented players spread across the zone,” CWRURA vice-president Richard Madden said,
In the second tier GrainCorp Cups’ best and fairest stakes, Grenfell’s Mark Amey, Narromine’s Craig Campbell, Temora’s Nathan Phillip and Blayney’s Cam Hobby are among the contenders, as are a trio of Molong Magpies in Matt Hobbs, Blake Hutchinson and Zac Taylor.