GUNDAGAI back Dane O'Hehir capped a perfect return to Tigers colours after he secured the top two awards at the club's presentation night on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The coronavirus pandemic prompted the 26-year-old to return home from England, where he played for Hammersmith Hills Hoists.
It proved a wise decision after he backed up playing a pivotal role in Gundagai's march to the premiership with the best and fairest and players' player awards.
The accomplishment is more impressive given he is normally a fullback, but played centre to accommodate James Smart in the no.1 jersey.
"Probably the hardest thing to adapt to was sticking to the one edge. The thing I like best about fullback is being able to roam wherever you like," he said.
"But I was pretty lucky with our five-eighth Tyron (Gorman) doing a good job of getting us backs some early ball. I enjoyed it.
"I didn't think I'd be in Gundagai this time last year, I thought I'd still be in London. But I've got a premiership and a couple of awards to cap it off, so it's been a really good decision to come home."
O'Hehir said he was pleasantly shocked to get the nod for the main award.
"It was a bit surprising to be honest. I thought there was some other blokes that probably deserved it more than me," he said.
"It makes it a lot easier when you have a team like we did this year, we had quality players across the park and that makes my job a lot easier when the forwards are doing their thing.
"It's nice to get the award but I probably have to thank my teammates for that."
O'Hehir said he's virtually certain to return in the orange and black jersey next year, and is confident the Tigers can give another premiership a shake.
The Tigers set up a 40-18 grand final win over arch rivals Tumut with a superb first half display.
"We knew we had a good enough team. We said at the start of the year anything less than a premiership we'd consider a failure," he said.
"It was about putting together a performance when it mattered and we were lucky enough to do that in the grand final.
"It was easily our best display of the year."
Other first grade award winners were Royce Tout (best forward), Matt Lyons (best back), Jake Elphick (coach's award); Charlie Barton (most improved) and Derek Hay (best non-contracted player).
The reserve grade player of the year was won by Chris Rose, Laci Bower claimed the ladies league tag gone, Jack Lloyd was judged the under-18s best and William Murray in under-16s.
Jack Elphick was rookie of the year, Peter Stevens won clubperson of the year and Monique Luff claimd the Peter Britt Memorial Trophy.
READ MORE
