NSW Rugby Media Release

Monday 10 August, 2015

After an outstanding season for Randwick, fly-half David Horwitz has been awarded the 2015 Catchpole Medal for Player of the Year at the awards ceremony held in Sydney tonight.

Horwitz earned 22 votes in his 15 games over the course of the season, narrowly beating Warringah’s Hamish Angus (21 votes in 18 games) and Northern Suburbs’ Will Miller (21 votes in 18 games). A prodigious goal-kicker, Horwitz scored 29 goals and five tries in his 86 point haul for 2015.

The Catchpole Medal, named in honour of Randwick, Waratah and Wallaby star Ken Catchpole was presented by Brendan O’Farrell, CEO of Intrust Super; major sponsor of the Intrust Super Shute Shield at the awards evening held at The Rugby Club in Sydney’s CBD.
The Dave Brockhoff Medal for Coach of the Year, as voted by Intrust Super Shute Shield coaches, was awarded to Simon Cron from Northern Suburbs, whose team finished eighth on the ladder after a very positive season overall.

West Harbour second-rower Kelly Meafua was named the Intrust Super Shute Shield Rookie of the Year, as voted for by NSW Waratahs High Performance Unit coaches. He finished the regular season with the outstanding record of 139 ball carries and 151 tackles made.

Meanwhile the Dick Byres Medal for Referee of the Year, as voted by Intrust Super Shute Shield coaches, was awarded to Ian Smith.

Catchpole Medal for Player of the Year Finallists:

• David Horwitz      Randwick - 22 votes
• Hamish Angus     Warringah - 21 votes
• Will Miller            Northern Suburbs - 21 votes
• David Hickey        Sydney Uni - 18 votes
• Terry Preston       Gordon - 18 votes
• Ben Volavola        Southern Districts - 18 votes
• Ben Batger           Eastwood - 15 votes
• Matt Lucas           Manly - 15 votes
• Jai Ayoub              Eastwood - 14 votes
• Jed Hollaway        Southern Districts - 12 votes 

• Damien Cummins               Manly
• John Manenti                      Eastwood
• Matt Barr                            Southern Districts
• Simon Cron                        Northern Suburbs

• Andrew Lees
• Ian Smith
• James Leckie
• Tim Wills

• Josh Kay                              Northern Suburbs
• Kelly Meafua                        West Harbour
• Reece Hodge                       Manly
• Will Munro                            Randwick