Apprentice butcher Billy Carey, from Baradine, has picked up the Youth League Player of the Year award in the 2021 Castlereagh League competition.

The likeable Carey is a well-respected member of the Baradine Magpies Club and the Baradine community, being a talented player with a great attitude

This year he took on a leadership role within his team, moving from fullback into the halves.

In the latter stages of the year Carey also played in the Magpies’ first-grade

side and more than held his own.

Apart from his talent as a player, Carey is also forging ahead as a promising referee.

In other grades, Cobar’s Thomas Plater along and Dunedoo’s Hayley Cox were announced as the Player of the Year recipients in first grade and league tag respectively.

Plater, a new arrival in Cobar after his appointment to the local high school as a teacher at the start of the year, quickly established himself as a high-quality hooker for the well- performed Roosters’ first- grade side.

Apart from being an explosive runner from the dummy-half position, posing many questions to opposition defences throughout the season, he was also the foundation for much of Cobar’s structured play as well as being an excellent defender.

The Roosters will be keen to have him continue playing for them for some time to come, his contribution to the team being highly significant in the them winning the minor premiership in the 2021 season unfortunately cut short by COVID.

League Tag

Hayley Cox, the Dunedoo Swannette’s talented half back and co- captain has put in many outstanding displays on the league tag field this year. Her claiming the League Tag Player Of The Year was remarkable in the fact that she missed quite a number of games while being engaged in another of her sporting passions - equestrian showjumping, where she once again competed at a very high standard, as evidenced by her placing second at this year’s Royal

Easter Show in Sydney. Apart from her obvious talent as a league tag player, the Dunedoo Rugby League Football Club praise Hayley for her enthusiastic and dedicated approach to the club and

her team, in what is a very hectic sporting and working life that she leads. 

Awards presentation

In normal years, the Castlereagh League Player of the Year awards would be presented on grand-final day, but due to the pandemic they will be presented at the association’s annual general meeting to be held in November.