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 af