This year's resurrection of The People's Choice Central West Rugby Union Team Of The Year continues with the second-rowers, the locks, the blokes often left to do the dirty work at the breakdown and rarely get the kudos they deserve for it.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The region's experts have put together a fair list of second-row nominees too, and these players were outstanding in 2019.
Have your say on makes the final cut by voting for two of these nominees, or adding your own.
1 SHAUN McHUGH (Dubbo Kangaroos)
A Dubbo Kangaroos veteran and one the most likable blokes in the Central West, McHugh proved age is just a number in 2019.
Granted he did play a lot of No.8 this year too, he is a second-rower by trade and for us he served Roos better there than in the back-row.
Was outstanding for his club and for Central West too, deservedly earning a shot in the Cockatoos' initial squad.
2 JUSTIN MOBBS (Bathurst Bulldogs)
For us was the form player of the Blowes Clothing Cup for the majority of the season, and must have been a shout for the player-of-the-year gong his skipper Peter Fitzsimmons ended up winning.
Completed his transformation from second grade fullback to first grade lock, won a country championship with Central West and was named in the initial NSW Country squad to boot.
Look, we're not supposed to put opinion in here but honestly, for us if he doesn't get voted into this side something's not right.
3 JONAH RUZGAS (CSU Bathurst)
The sky seems to be the limit for this young Mitchell Man.
Arguably the students' best forward in their stunning run to the New Holland Agriculture Cup premiership, or at the very least the most consistent, providing a welcome continuity through the Bathurst side's pack.
Earned a call-up to the NSW Country Colts' initial squad, although he did end up missing the final cut unfortunately.
4 SAM McLEAN (Orange Emus)
For us, the most underrated player in the competition.
An out-and-out, old-school second-rower who is no-frills, carries hard, defends superbly, hits rucks and wins lineouts. Great foil for the slightly flashier Nick Hughes-Clapp in Emus' second-row, and the kind of lock any side needs to be successful.
Overlooked for representative sides - although maybe he wasn't available - but he should be on the Blue Bulls' radar for 2020.
5 MEL WATERFORD (Bathurst Bulldogs)
She's the Westfund Ferguson Cup champions' heart and soul and their unequivocal leader.
One of the most experienced women's players in the Central West, she led Bulldogs to another premiership through her barnstorming performances and her composed, level-headed leadership. The latter can't be underestimated either, as the Bathurst side won a number of arm-wrestle style finals on the way.
She skippered Central West's women's side to an emphatic country championship victory as well and, of course, won a spot in the NSW Country squad.
6 TYLER AUSTIN (Coolah Roos)
Claimed Coolah's best and fairest award at their presentation night last weekend and deservedly so after a bumper year in the second row.
Played for the Oilsplus Cup Northern Division rep side at in last year's exhibition game at No.8, and even filled in at inside centre a couple of times this season too, showing a versatile streak rarely found in a second-rower.
Like any good second-rower he provides underrated stability and power at the scrum and, if you listen to the Roos' rivals, was considered among the premier players in the competition.
7 CRAIG CAMPBELL (Narromine Gorillas)
Like McHugh, he's an intensely likable character and there's no denying he's one of those blokes that simply loves rugby. Make no mistake, he loves winning, but he sees the bigger picture too.
Played a bit in the back-row as he tends to do every year but spent most of his time in the No.5 jersey as the Gorillas rolled to another home grand final, providing the 2009 Blowes Clothing Cup champions with typically bullocking carries and staunch defensive efforts.
Incredibly he won player-of-the-final despite being on the losing side, which is no mean feat considering CSU's stunning grand final comeback. He was in the mix for player-of-the-year too.
8 JOHN ESDAILE (Coolah Roos)
Yep, you're reading that correctly, both of Coolah's second-rowers have earned a nod here and that's simply because of how good they were throughout the season.
Like McLean, Esdaile is the kind of lock that does his job and does it well every week, but rarely receives the acknowledgement he deserves. He did this year, picking up the Roos' award for just that, someone who is outstanding but doesn't get their just kudos.
He and Austin were unstoppable in the Roos' second-row and it would be fitting if they were voted in together, but nonetheless they certainly both deserve their nomination.
