Winterburn strikes the double again
Flying winger Northcott Most Promising Player
Rahui loose forward Joel Winterburn has again been named Heartland Player of the Year and Ma¯ori Player of the Year, receiving both awards at the annual Horowhenua-Ka¯piti Rugby Union Awards dinner last week.
It was the second time that Winterburn, 32, had received both awards, as his name was etched on both cups at the end of the 2020 season, the dual honour in recognition of another outstanding contribution to a Heartland campaign.
Winterburn made his debut for Horowhenua-Ka¯piti in 2011, playing nine games in his first season, before embarking on a rugby OE that took him to Perth, Australia, for seven years.
He returned in 2018 and has been a mainstay of the HK forward pack since.
Winterburn’s grandfather Mike and uncle Anzac had both played for Horowhenua Ma¯ori. Anzac (Nu) Winterburn had also represented New Zealand Ma¯ ori as a lock forward.
Meanwhile, young winger Louis Northcott, 21, was awarded Most Promising Player on the back of a brilliant season at club level for Waikanae and some stand-out performances in his representative debut season for Horowhenua-Ka¯piti.
Northcott, a track athlete with national titles as a teenager, used his
raw ability and pace to great effect and topped the try-scoring list this season — he even nabbed a hat-trick
during the 37-30 Lochore Cup semifinal loss to East Coast last month.
Most Improved Player of the Year went to John Macneilage, while
speedy Paraparaumu outside back Darren Falaniko — a Hurricanes U20 representative — was voted Under-20
Player of the Year.
Waikanae coach Simon Fifield was awarded Club Coach of the Year for guiding Waikanae to win the Ramsbotham Cup senior competition final, his second title in eight seasons at the helm of the club’s premier side.