In capping off a breakthrough season, where he made his NRL debut, signed a contract extension with the Sharks and represented the Cook Islands in a mid-year Test match against Samoa, impressive young outside back Kayal Iro has been named the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Player of the Year.
Playing for a Newtown Jets team which heads into a Grand Final qualifying match this weekend, Iro was rewarded for a season where he topped the entire competition for post-contact metres, scored 12 tries, made 14 line breaks and had an incredible 97 tackle busts.
With his father Kevin and uncle Tony, New Zealand internationals, Iro delivered on his immense promise while representing the Jets, to where his talents couldn’t be ignored by the Sharks at the NRL level.
Promoted into the Sharks top-30 earlier this year, then called into the team to play the Bulldogs in round 24, in a match won by the Cronulla side and where he ran for 184 metres on the night, Iro will be aiming to push for a regular place in the NRL squad in 2023 after signing a two-year contract extension.
Iro was presented his award at the NSWRL Brad Fittler Medal event, with James Tedesco taking out the major prize on the night and Sharks Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership player Andie Robinson named NSW Women’s Under-19’s Origin Player of the Year.
Just 19-years of age, Robinson played a role in helping the Sharks reach the HNWP Grand Final, scoring three tries for the NSW Sky Blues in their victory over Queensland in the under-19’s Origin clash to be a standout selection for the player of the year award.
