Star Woodie ices standout year with the Ken Catchpole Medal

Eastwood breakaway Michael Icely was awarded the competition's highest individual honour last week, taking home the Ken Catchpole Medal after a stellar Shute Shield season.

Icely led the medal count ahead of young Marlin Zac Barnabas and Shoreman Jude Gibbs, racking up 23 votes throughout the home and away season.

It is the Woodies first Catchpole Medal winner since fellow breakaway, Hugh Perrett, took home the honour in 2013 and marks the club's ninth award since its inception in 1981.

Coming up through the Eastwood Colt and Grade system over the past eight seasons, Icely’s strength and agility in the back row have earnt the Eastwood star representative honours in both Super Rugby and Australian Sevens competitions in the past two seasons.

Icely has been instrumental in Eastwood’s run to yet another Shute Shield Finals series in 2023, finishing the season placed third behind frontrunners Norths and Randwick.

The St Joseph’s graduate is now set to guide his beloved Woodies toward another Shute Shield Grand Final, in what would become the club's sixth Final since 2010.

In the evening's other big awards, young Marlin star Zac Barnabas backed up his impressive Catchpole Medal tally with Rookie of the Year, while new Shoremen Jude Gibbs won the Roscoe Fay Trophy for top point scorer.

West Harbour’s Cam Treloar was awarded the David Brockhoff Medal for Coach of the Year after guiding the Pirates to six wins and 40 points in 2023.

The Wildfires’ Andrew Tuala took home the Highest Try Scorer award following an impressive sixteen tries throughout the season, whilst Richard Manchee was named the Dick Byres Medalist for referee of the year.

Following a stellar year across all grades, Randwick Rugby Club were awarded Gregor George Cup for Club Champions. It marks the first time in 20 years that the Wicks have held the Gregor George Cup, and just the second time since 2004 that Sydney University haven’t taken home the honour.

In this weekend's Shute Shield Semi-Finals, Norths host Manly and Randwick clash with the Woodies in a massive doubleheader at North Sydney Oval. The winner of each will earn a ticket to the 2023 Shute Shield Grand Final, hosted at Leichhardt Oval on 26 August.

FINAL CATCHPOLE RANKINGS