This article originally appeared in the Rugby News grand final edition.

By Mark Cashman

Not every aspiring Rugby player makes it on to the big stage but if work ethic and natural athleticism is anything to go by then the Shute Shield rookie of the year Irae Simone is well on his way.

The Northern Suburbs centre received his gong at the Ken Catchpole Medal awards night earlier this week at the Glenmore Hotel in The Rocks, won handsomely by his skipper Will Miller.

The Auckland-born centre came back to Rugby this year after a couple of seasons with National Rugby League club South Sydney.

Simone, 21, played in the Rabbitohs’ Toyota Cup Under 20s side in 2014 and 2015 and got a run at the Auckland Nines with Souths in 2014. He played for NZ Schools in 2013.

His coach Simon Cron said he was not surprised at the impact his young charge has made in Rugby.

“Irae is very professional and he’s one of the best in terms of feedback after games,” Cron said.

“We talk every Sunday after the games about his work-ons. For me he’s a natural athlete – his footwork before contact for example, he can receive a ball a metre from somebody and beat them just on footwork.

“But also he’s big, strong, explosive and fast. All the things you want (in a centre) really and he’s got great ball skills, so he can open up your outsides.

“He has to be in the eyes of Super Rugby teams now, he’s that good. To be honest, I believe he’s the future of Australian Rugby that kid,” added Cron.

Miller was a clear front runner in the voting after some consistently strong performances throughout the competition, beating Randwick’s Andrew Deegan (19 points) and West Harbour’s Jordan Tuapou (18 points).

This was the second year Miller had been nominated, having finished third last year behind Randwick’s David Horwitz.

Miller is the fifth player from Northern Suburbs to have won the coveted medal since it was introduced in 1981. Previous winners included Nick Harvey (1995), Keith Gleeson (1999), Andrew Smith (2009) and Dave Harvey (2011).

The award caps off a stellar season for Miller, who was also named Man of the Match in Sunday’s semi final clash against Southern Districts, his team’s 12th win on the trot. 

The Coach of the Year was awarded to Sydney University’s Tim Davidson, who was presented with the David Brockhoff Medal by NSW Waratahs CEO Andrew Hore.

Under Davidson’s mentorship, Sydney University had a very successful season in 2016, recording 13 wins, one draw and four losses in the 18 round regular season to finish as the 2016 competition minor premiers.

Referee Matt Kellahan was also named as the 2016 Referee of the Year and was presented the Dick Byers Medal by last year’s winner, Ian Smith.

Also presented on the night were the major club trophies. Sydney University made a clean sweep of the major trophies this year, winning the Gregor George Shield (Club Champions), the Eric Spilsted Shield (Colts Club Champions) and the ES Marks Memorial Shield (2016 Intrust Super Shute Shield Minor Premiers).

Although not presented with awards on the night, the Sydney Rugby Union also acknowledged the current holders of the Sir Roden Cutler Shield, Warringah, who won the coveted inter-club trophy with their Round 18, 34-20 defeat of Randwick at Coogee.