Local De La Salle Caringbah junior and Sharks contracted prop Kurt Dillon took home the major award at the annual Newtown Jets presentation night when announced as the winner of the Brian ’Chicka’ Moore Shield as the club’s ‘Best and Fairest’ in 2017.
Dillon had a magnificent season for the Jets, one that saw him chosen in the NSW Rugby League’s Intrust Super Premiership NSW team of the Year, no mean feat for a player from a club that finished well out of finals contention.
He also reached his 50 games with the Jets in 2017 after first playing for the Newtown club in 2015.
Along with hooker/utility Kurt Kara, Dillon was one of Newtown’s best-performed players during the 2017 rugby league season, with the pair just two of many worthy winners at the Jets presentation dinner, held at the Petersham RSL Club last week.
Kara, who represented the Sharks at the 2017 NRL Auckland Nines, won the prestigious Fred Daly Memorial Shield for his outstanding play and selfless leadership during the just-completed season.
Kara also reached the benchmark of having played 150 games with the Newtown since joining the club in 2011. He also won the Newtown RLFC members’ player of the year award.
Despite injury cutting short his season, Matt Evans won the best back award, while also reaching the 50 games mark during 2017.
Giant front-rower Saulala Houma played his 100th game with Newtown this year after joining the club in 2012. He too had an injury plagued year, breaking his leg midway through the season.
2017 Newtown Jets Award Winners were:
Kurt Dillon – Brian ‘Chicka’ Moore Best and Fairest
Kurt Kara – Fred Daly Memorial Shield
Kurt Kara – Members Player of the Year
Tyla Tamou – Most Improved
Leigh Higgins – Coaches Award
Jaimin "Jimmy" Jolliffe – Most Consistent
Edrick Lee – Top try scorer
Fa’amanu Brown – Top point scorer
Mario Facchini – Club Person of the Year
Photo below - from left, Matt Evans, coach Greg Matterson and Kurt Dillon
