By Ron Wood

Shamrocks flanker Alex Crotti has capped off season 2024 by winning the IDRU Player of the Year Award, presented at the IDRU Grand Final dinner on Wednesday night. The very well attended Awards Dinner was held at the Master Builders Club, who have been confirmed as an ongoing Major Sponsor of Illawarra Rugby for 2025. 

Crotti has had an outstanding season for the northern suburbs club, for whom he has played for the last two years. He was also a prominent member of the Illawarriors Squad in 2024 who were just pipped in the Caldwell Cup Final. 

For an indication of Crotti’s achievement, you need only look who finished second in the points tally. Three talented players were equal runners up in the tally just behind Alex. Kiama and Illawarrior duo Frank Prodger and Jack Hobbs, along with outstanding Campbelltown Fullback Joseph Mar shared second place in the final tally as judged by the Illawarrior Referees throughout the season. 

Shoalhaven Coach Will Miller was named Coach of the Year, with Saturday's Grand Final Referee Steve Harriman getting the gong for Referee of the Year. Junior Referee of the Year was awarded to Bethany Whitnall. 

In the point scoring awards, Camden goal-kicking fullback Patrick Reynolds was leading points scorer with 132 points and Campbelltown fly-half Norwin Latu, took the Try Scoring Award with 16 tries for the year.   

The Senior Volunteer Award went to the very well-respected Vaughan Judd from Shamrocks while the Junior Volunteer Award went to Vikings Lois Fisher. 

The Representative Players of the Year were also announced. Shoalhaven and Illawarriors Captain George Miller took the Senior award, with the Under-20 gong going to Loelusalua Tanielu from Camden. After a welcome return of the Illawarrior Women’s team to the Country Championships, Malama Leatigaga from Campbelltown received the Women’s award. 

Mementos were also presented to the Illawarra’s NSW Country Reps for 2024. Senior Illawarriors Jack Hobbs (Kiama) and Eli Sinoti (Tech Waratahs) were recognised, as was Under 20’s Country Reps from the Camden club in Riley Reynolds and Loelusalua Tanielu. Malama Leatigaga was also rewarded for her achievement of being selected for the Women’s Country Corellas Squad.

The IDRU Club Trophies for the year were shared by Shoalhaven and Bowral. Shoalhaven took home First Grade Minor Premiers Cup, The Club Championship Shield, The Halfway Cup, the John Hayne Interclub Shield, and the Host Club of the Year Award. Bowral left with the Second Grade Minor Premiership Cup and the Visiting Club of the Year Award.  

The last Trophies for the year will be decided on Saturday in the IDRU Grand Finals at Collegians Sportsground when Shoalhaven take on Kiama in First Grade and Bowral take on Shoalhaven in Second Grade. The day gets underway with the Second Grade decider at 1PM followed by First Grade at 3PM.