This article originally appeared in last weekend’s Rugby News finals program

Eastwood’s Micheal Icely edged out Norths’ Jude Gibbs and Manly’s Zac Barnabas for the Shute Shield’s top individual award. All three players will feature at North Sydney Oval this Saturday.

MICHAEL ICELY has come a long way from playing in the 16E’s in his final years of high school.

The 2023 Ken Catchpole Medal winner has been one of, if not, the most dominant forward in the Shute Shield in recent seasons, but that wasn’t always the case. 

“Yeah, I was a bit of a late bloomer. I was never crash hot during school but I still loved rugby,” Icely told Rugby News

“I ended up playing in the 3rd XV in year 12 at Joeys with a bunch of really good mates and when they decided to play at Eastwood after school, I followed them there and I’ve been here ever since.”

Icely’s unconventional route towards being named the best player in the Shute Shield highlights the importance of the club rugby pathway. 

From playing before noon, to starring for the Woodies and eventually earning the competition’s most prestigious individual honour. 

“I really wasn’t expecting it to be honest. I hadn’t given it much thought until I found out that I was a finalist the week before the awards,” he said. 

“We’ve got such a strong team at Eastwood with so many quality players so I thought the votes would be split between a few of us, but I was thrilled to hear my name. 

“I was looking over the list of past winners and it’s pretty amazing to join that group. 

“From Eastwood, Scott Fava won it three times, Hugh Perrett was another winner, they are incredible players and its pretty surreal to think I’ll be listed alongside them.”

After starting at Eastwood in third grade colts, Icely worked his way through both the colts and grade ranks and made his first grade debut in 2019.

After growing into his body through Covid, he quickly became one of the best backrowers in the competition and made his Super Rugby debut for the Melbourne Rebels in 2021. He then had a stint with the Aussie 7s in 2022 before making his Waratahs debut earlier this year. 

“Training full time is great but more than anything I think it just gave me the confidence that I could do it. I also got a sniff of what it’s like playing professional footy and it made me even hungrier. I’ve always been hungry, but when you get to experience it, it makes you want it more. 

“I didn’t put a whole heap of size on through that period, it’s been confidence that has been the difference and tightening up a lot of the small detail in my game.”

While Icely wants to play plenty more professional footy in the years ahead, his immediate focus is winning a Shute Shield premiership for the Woodies, the club’s first since 2015. 

Eastwood won just one of their first four matches this season, then won six on the run. But inconsistency plagued last year’s preliminary finalists throughout the back half of the season. 

Tight wins over Sydney Uni and Manly in the final two rounds of the regular season were topped by a dominant 54-20 victory over the Marlins last weekend. 

Once again, the Woodies seem to be peaking at the right time of the season. 

Eastwood lost a heartbreaker to Sydney Uni in last year’s preliminary final and fell short against Gordon in the 2020 decider and Icely said he felt as though this current group is due. 

But first, they need to get past a Randwick side on a 10-match unbeaten run. 

“They are the form team of the competition and probably the team to beat this year. It’s going to be a really big challenge but we just need to try and play our best footy and see where that gets us. 

“Eastwood have been in the finals every year since I’ve been at the club. We’ve been really close a number of times but have just fallen short so it would be really special to win with this group. 

“We’re hopeful, but at this stage we’re not looking past Randwick this weekend.” 

2023 Ken Catchpole Awards Evening winners:

Ken Catchpole Medal:
Michael Icely (Eastwood)

David Brockhoff Medal (Coach of the Year):
Cam Treloar (West Harbour)

Dick Byres Medal (Ref of the Year):
Richard Manchee

Rookie of the Year:
Zac Barnabas (Manly)

Roscoe Fay Trophy (Highest Points Scorer):
Jude Gibbs (Norths)

Sir Roden Cutler Shield:
Randwick 

ES Marks Shield Shute Shield Minor Premiers:
Northern Suburbs

Gregor George Trophy for Club Champions:
Randwick

Eric Spilsted Shield for Colts Club Championship:
Warringah

Most Tries:
Andrew Tuala (Hunter)