Shock honours for Bears star Politoni
BURLEIGH hooker Pat Politoni was a shock winner at the QRL Major Competition Awards dinner last night, named Queensland Cup hooker of the year despite playing less than half of the season.
A broken arm ruled the 26year-old out of the first nine rounds while he missed other state league matches due to NRL call-ups for Gold Coast.
All up, the 2016 premiership winner lined up on just 10 occasions. But in those rare opportunities, he had a profound effect: The Bears won seven of those matches, while holding a dire 3-10 record in games without him.
His recognition as the competition’s premier No.9 comes with a touch of controversy, given Central Queensland’s Krys Freeman polled 25 votes to be third in the overall best and fairest race – well above the Bears enforcer.
Politoni earned a secondtier deal with the Titans earlier this year after impressing throughout the pre-season on a train-and-trial contract.
Following two years in the first grade wilderness, the former Wests Tigers and Cronulla rake was handed his Titans debut in Round 15.
He will play his fourth game for the club on Saturday, selected in the starting side to replace injured star Nathan Peats. Off-contract, the Round 26 Roosters clash shapes as one last chance to prove he should be part of their top-30 squad in 2018.
Having endured a tough time of late on a personal level – missing the last round of the Queensland Cup regular season due to attending a funeral – his NRL promotion caps a stellar campaign.
Politoni was the sole Gold
Coast winner at the awards dinner held at the Royal International Convention Centre in Brisbane.
It proved a difficult year for both Burleigh and Tweed Heads, placing ninth and 13th respectively.
Minor premiers Papua New Guinea cleaned up the major awards. The Hunters took home the minor premiership shield after claiming 17 wins and a draw in 23 starts.
Captain Ase Boas won the People’s Choice Award before being honoured with The Courier-Mail Best & Fairest Medal. Boas received 29 points to pip Redcliffe prop Matt Lodge (28), Freeman, Easts halfback Brodie Croft (22) and Ipswich’s Michael Purcell (22).
PNG mentor Michael Marum was named coach of the year, while Melbourne prodigy Brandon Smith (Sunshine Coast Falcons) was hailed rookie of the year.
Redcliffe won the Club Championship.