By MARK CASHMAN

Gordon’s Mahe Vailanu has topped off a stellar season by being named the Ken Catchpole Medal winner for the best and fairest player in the Shute Shield for 2020.

Vailanu who was an integral part of the Highlanders’ 28-8 win over Eastwood in Saturday’s premiership decider at Leichhardt Oval attracted a majority of votes from the competition’s whistle blowers.

He was well clear at the top of the voting with Max Douglas from Manly in second spot and then Ben Marr from Warringah in third.

He is the first Gordon player to win the coveted award since Dave Harvey in 2008 and before that the former Wallaby Ross Reynolds in 1992.

The award was announced after the grand final on Saturday and it continued Gordon’s great run on the day.

They also picked up the Dave Brockhoff Medal for coach of the year in Darren Coleman and then also the ES Marks Shield for minor premiers, the Sir Roden Cutler Shield (won with their last round win over Eastwood at TG Millner Field) and the Gregor George trophy for the club championship.

Vailanu won’t be around to defend the great honour as he is following his coach Coleman to play in the United States in Major League Rugby for the LA Giltinis.

The Catchpole Medal is awarded on the basis of three-two-one votes given by the referee in each Shute Shield game throughout the season.

The top 10 vote getters were: Mahe Vailanu (Gordon), Max Douglas (Manly), Ben Marr (Warringah), Sam Shires (Easts), Harrison Goddard (Gordon), Brad Hemopo (Norths), Christian Kagiassis (Souths), Rohan O’Regan (Sydney Uni), Luke Nadurutalo (Penrith), Henry Clunies-Ross (Sydney Uni)

THE WINNERS: 

Ken Catchpole Medal

Mahe Vailanu (Gordon)

David Brockhoff Medal – Coach of the Year

Darren Coleman (Gordon)

Dick Byres Medal – Referee of the Year

James Quinn

Rookie of the Year

Max Douglas (Manly)

Roscoe Fay Trophy – Highest Points Scorer

Christian Kagiassis (Southern Districts)

Highest Try Scorer

James Turner (West Harbour)

E S Marks Shield Shute Shield Minor Premiers

Gordon

Sir Roden Cutler Shield

Gordon

Gregor George Trophy Club Championship

Gordon

IMAGE: ANDREW QUINN / GORDON RUGBY