It’s a question that often generates fierce debate amongst opposition supporter groups, but who is the best pound-for-pound player in Group 9.
Ask anyone in Wagga, and Nathan Rose is a common and often quick reply, while in Tumut, it’s either Lachlan Bristow or Zac Masters, and then head across to Temora or Young, and Hamish Starr, Josh McCrone, and Nick Cornish are popular selections.
With the 2023 Group 9 season shaping as one of the strongest competitions in recent years, largely due to an influx of quality players, the Tumut and Adelong Times sought to find the answer.
Our Sports Editor Jeff Hanson surveyed a mixture of 32 Group 9 administrators, NSWRL and NRL officials, and Group 9 club representatives, coaches, players, and supporters, asking them for their ’top 10 Group 9 players leading into the 2023 season’.
The results were both enlightening and interesting.
Hard to split top spot
There were two key pieces of data to consider when determining the best player in the competition, which was essentially a two-horse race between reigning Weissel Medallist and Tumut hooker Lachlan Bristow and Gundagai’s 2022 Grand Final hero, John Hill Medallist, and new Wagga Kangaroos captain/coach Nathan Rose.
Overall, Nathan Rose polled more ‘first’ votes, meaning he was put on top of 13 lists, while in comparison, Lachlan Bristow only made top spot on 10 lists.
Yet, Bristow polled higher on average and across 32 lists, there was a maximum 320 points any one player could poll with 10 points allocated for first, 9 points for second, 8 points for third, and so on.
Overall, Bristow made the top three on 27 lists, while Rose only did 23 times.
In total, Bristow accrued 281 points, 13 points more than Rose on 268, confirming that based on the information in this survey, the Tumut hooker is regarded by his peers as the best player in the competition.
1 – Lachlan Bristow
Points: 281
Club: Tumut Blues
Position: Hooker
Summary: Lachlan Bristow is coming off his best year of rugby league, where he led an injury-riddled Tumut Blues to the 2022 finals, before steering them to a Group 9 preliminary final.
Bristow was named Group 9’s best when awarded the Weissel Medal, and there is no reason to think he will slow down in 2023.
With the likes of Michael Fenn and Michael Cullen joining a star-studded forward pack, Bristow is set to have a lot of go-forward this season and it’s no wonder he made the top of the list.
2 – Nathan Rose
Points: 268
Club: Wagga Kangaroos
Position: Five-eighth
Summary: Depending on how you look at this list, Rose can be considered somewhat unlucky not to make top spot.
As already mentioned, Rose polled at top spot the most times of any player (13) in this survey.
He’s a proven premiership winner, guiding South City (2) and Gundagai (1) to victory in recent years, and he now takes his talents to the Wagga Kangaroos in 2023, where he will look to make history by winning a premiership with a third Group 9 club. It will be a challenge for the 2022 John Hill Medal winner, with the Kangaroos looking to put a drought-breaking run behind them.
3 – Zac Masters
Points: 181
Club: Tumut Blues
Position: Front row
Summary: If it wasn’t for his 2022 season, Zac Masters would have likely polled higher, but he still managed one selection on top, and a credible 181 points.
The Tumut co-captain/coach is considered one of, if not the best front rower in country rugby league, and he has the resume to go with it, having been selected in multiple NSW Country teams.
2022 was a down year by his lofty standards, with a hand injury cruelling his momentum in the middle of the season, but he was still a class above most of his rivals.
The Tumut enforcer is looking fit and refreshed and if he can stay injury-free, he should be in for a big year.
4 – Royce Tout
Points: 138
Position: Front Row/Lock
Summary: Many people in Gundagai have said the Tigers went through the 2022 Group 9 season undefeated on the back of Royce Tout’s performances, and they wouldn’t be too far off the pace.
Tout was picked on top on one list, but consistently made top 10s, and that is because he was by far the best and most consistent forward in the 2022 Group 9 competition, and he has no doubt put his hat in the ring to be considered the competition’s best forward alongside Zac Masters.
Tout plays big minutes, and the way he goes about his work is undeniably tradesman like, and he continues to deliver high-quality performances.
Gundagai’s chances of recording a threepeat could again rest on his shoulders, but he does get some extra help in the engine room this season, with the likes of Noa Vanisi and Joe Bromage joining Gundagai.
5 – James Luff
Points: 125
Club: Gundagai Tigers
Position: Hooker
Summary: If there was one player that skewed the statistic in this survey, it was James Luff.
He was selected the third most time at number one (4), but he was left off 15 of the 32 lists, with some of those surveyed commenting that he wasn’t on their list as they don’t believe he will play.
Hesitance to have him on the list is fair, as there is still a shadow hanging over Luff’s future in the game.
He has suffered a series of nasty head knocks in recent seasons, causing the incumbent NSW Country hooker to spend a large chunk of 2022 on the sideline.
The talk out of Gundagai is that the veteran won’t play in 2023, although he has not gone on record to say anything yet, which does leave the door ajar for his return as the Gundagai Tigers chase a Group 9 threepeat.
If he does play, he is a top-three player any day of the week, and arguably the top pick in my opinion. He is a four-time premiership winner, and a playmaker that boasts attacking brilliance, sublime goalkicking skills, and a dogged work rate in defence.
6 – Latrell Siegwalt
Points: 95
Club: Wagga Kangaroos
Position: Fullback
Summary: Latrell Siegwalt is another player that somewhat skewed the outcome of this survey, as many supporters and Group 9 pundits don’t know where he will be playing in 2023.
The Gundagai Tigers premiership winning fullback has signed a two-year deal with the Wagga Kangaroos, but he was also trying his luck with the St George Illawarra Dragons late last year.
If Siegwalt does play in the 2023 competition, he will enter as the competition’s premier fullback. He was terrific for Gundagai in 2022, but he does deserve a crack at the higher level and only time will tell if he takes his talents elsewhere or turns out for the ‘Roos.
7 – Josh McCrone
Points: 83
Club: Temora Dragons
Position: Half
Summary: The former NRL star with the Canberra Raiders and St George Illawarra Dragons can be credited with turning the Temora Dragons into a Group 9 contender.
The wily veteran can slow a game down, and he has proven to be a level head in a strong, and local Temora outfit that continued to fight well above their weight in 2022.
McCrone boasts a terrific kicking game and organisational skills, and he will be a big part of Temora’s success heading into season 2023.
8 – Hamish Starr
Points: 66
Club: Temora Dragons
Position: Fullback
Summary: Hamish Starr is one of the most electric players in the competition and a genuine game-winner for Temora.
He can sniff out a try, and he is good on his feet, making the wiry fullback difficult to tackle at the best of times.
Starr is fearless in defence, and there were multiple occasions in 2022 where he put his body on the line to save a try.
He is only just behind Latrell Siegwalt when discussing the competition’s premier fullbacks, but he is still very young, and now that he has found his feet with Temora, 2023 could be a breakout year for the talented custodian.
9 – Justin Carney
Points: 62
Club: Albury Thunder
Position: Lock
Summary: Another former NRL star in Justin Carney makes this list, with the past Canberra Raider, Sydney Rooster and Super League player joining the Albury Thunder.
Carney last played for the Nyngan Tigers in the Group 11 competition in 2019, so he might take a while to find his feet, but his signature at Greenfield Park has led to a slew of Albury signings, suggesting that the border outfit will be more than competitive in 2023.
Carney, who made a name for himself as an outside back in the NRL, played lock for Nyngan, and he is expected to again turn out in the forwards for Albury.
10 – Nick Cornish
Points 61:
Club: Young Cherrypickers
Position: Fullback/Half
Summary: Nick Cornish proved to be one of the more interesting players in this survey.
While the Young captain/coach didn’t make any of the 32 lists as a top-three players, he featured in 18 lists, and most predominantly came in at eighth (six times) and ninth (five times).
Cornish proved to be a terrific attacking weapon in 2022, and he very nearly delivered Young a drought-breaking Group 9 premiership.
The versatile playmaker and outside back won’t have his brothers Mitch and Tyler to help him in 2023, but he is building an exciting and youthful list as the Cherrypickers look to go one better this season.
11 – Nic Hall
Points: 60
Club Young Cherrypickers
Position: Fullback
Summary: Nic Hall has been one of Group 9’s most consistent outside backs in recent seasons, and there’s no wonder why he had made the list.
Hall was selected on 15 of the 32 top-10 lists, and interestingly, he was the most selected player at the10th position (5).
A hamstring injury meant Hall missed out on Young’s 2022 Preliminary Final win over Tumut and Grand Final loss to Gundagai.
Hall will be motivated to help his club to a drought-breaking Group 9 title, and the quick fullback with a nose for the try line will be one of the premier attacking players in 2023
12 – Kyle McCarthy
Points: 34
Club: South City Bulls
Position: Half
Summary: Kyle McCarthy is a legend of the competition, and he still plays at a high level, often keeping South City in contests.
The Bulls are a shadow of their former selves as the club goes through a rebuild, but in 2022, McCarthy continued to toil way, with his kicking game and crafty play in and around the ruck just as good these days as it was during South City’s peak in the late 2010s.
The versatile playmaker is back for another run in 2023, and he will captain/coach a young side looking to make their mark in the Group 9 competition.
13 – Michael Fenn
Points: 31
Club: Tumut Blues
Position: Front row
Summary: Michael Fenn returns to the Tumut Blues after a stint playing for the North Sydney Bears in the NSW Cup competition.
Fenn made his mark in Group 9 during the Covid-shortened 2020 season, with the big man proving to be a damaging proposition both in the middle and on the edge for the Blues.
Fenn can take the tough carries or act as a ball-playing forward, making him a dangerous weapon.
14 – Noa Vanisi
Points: 30
Club: Gundagai Tigers
Position: Front row
Summary: Manu ‘Noa’ Vanisi is another player that makes this list on sheer reputation.
Vanisi, who featured in the 2021 Canberra Cup team of the year and 2021 and 2022 Monaro Colts outfits, joins the Gundagai Tigers from Canberra Cup premiers West Belconnen.
The barnstorming bookend brings with him the reputation of being one of the most devastating forwards in country rugby league and he is looking forward to the physicality of the Group 9 competition.
15 – Adam Pearce
Points: 25
Club: Tumut Blues
Position: Lock
Summary: Adam Pearce is the veteran forward in a stacked Tumut Blues engine room, and there is a good argument to suggest he is playing his best rugby league.
Pearce has been consistent since the Blues won their 2019 title, but his effectiveness since moving from the edge to the middle is noteworthy.
The lock-forward adds punch in defence and he takes the tough carries.
16 – Zac Starr
Points: 19
Club: Temora Dragons
Position: Front row
Summary: Zac Starr led by example for Temora in 2023, and in the last few rounds of the season, he was the premier front rower in Group 9.
Due to his career-best form for the Dragons, Starr was runner-up in the Weissel Medal counting, finishing only three points behind eventual winner Lachlan Bristow, but he somehow missed out on 2022 Group 9 team of the year honours.
Starr is Temora’s raging bull, and it’s almost as if the big man enjoys being the Dragons go-to guy when a big carry or strong tackle is needed.
He will be called upon again in 2023, with Temora looking to reaffirm their status as Group 9 contenders.
17 – Daniel Foley
Points: 18
Club: Junee Diesels
Position: Fullback
Summary: Holy Moly, it’s Daniel Foley. The Diesels’ custodian returns home to Junee in 2023 following a stint with the Wagga Kangaroos.
Arguably the quickest player in the competition, there isn’t a more dangerous player in open space than Foley.
He will have a big job when taking on a marquee role as Junee returns to first-grade in 2023, but if he is given the opportunity to shine, Foley will be scoring tries and creating a highlight reel for the ages.
18 – Luke Ingram
Points: 16
Club: Wagga Kangaroos
Position: Front row/Lock
Summary: Luke Ingram can be considered a little unlucky to be so far down this list, but with so many good forwards about, it’s hard to select everyone.
The former Albury Thunder bookend joined the Kangaroos in 2021, before he made the move to Queensland Cup outfit Mackay in 2022.
Ingram played five Queensland Cup games for the Cutters, and it is expected that he will return as one of the premier forwards in the competition when linking with ‘Roos.
The Wagga club should have some real guidance this season with Nathan Rose in charge, and Ingram will be the man leading their side forward in the middle.
19 – Jacob Mascini
Points: 15
Club: Wagga Kangaroos
Position: Centre/Fullback
Summary: Jacob Mascini is a real talent that is continuing to find his feet for the Wagga Kangaroos, who have used him in a variety of roles in recent seasons.
He is a playmaker, and he can make anything happen from nothing.
Depending on what happens with Latrell Siegwalt, Mascini could play fullback, centre, or somewhere in the spine, and it will be interesting to see how he benefits from playing alongside the likes of James Smart and Nathan Rose.
20 – Billy Reardon
Points: 14
Club: Temora Dragons
Position: Second row
Summary: Billy Reardon showed his worth in 2022, with the young second rower taking on the role of enforcer in Temora’s engine room.
Reardon was arguably the best defensive player in Group 9 last season, while he toiled away on the edge, taking tough carries when needed.
He will be a year older and wiser in 2023, and he has the chance to cement his position as the best back rower in Group 9.
Notable mentions: 21 through to 25 were Josh Ayers (Young) 13, Jayke Hogan (Young) 13, Tristan Eldridge (Gundagai) 12, Atu Tupou (Young) 12, and Jack Lyons (Gundagai) 11.
