While Johnathan Thurston was the obvious talk of the league world tonight after winning his fourth Dally M Medal, the Aquis Gold Coast Titans have had a successful evening with three of next year’s squad winning awards.
Luke Douglas has walked away with the Ken Stephen Medal (see separate story), James Roberts the Dally M centre of the year award and recruit from Brisbane Broncos, Ashley Taylor, the National Youth League player of the year award.
Taylor follows in the footsteps of fellow halfback Kane Elgey who won the NYC award last year before having such an impressive debut season in the Titans NRL side that he was nominated for the rookie of the year award which tonight went to Cronulla’s Jack Bird.
Roberts has had a sensational first full season in the NRL, playing every match in 2015 and scoring 16 tries which equalled David Mead’s record of 2011.
He was also chosen for City Origin in the annual clash against Country and at the Titans awards night won the Members’ Player of the Year award as well as the XXXX Try of the Year award.
Taylor, the goalkicking halfback who signed a two-year deal with the Titans and will join Elgey vying for a halves position with newcomer from Newcastle Tyrone Roberts, had a magnificent season with the Broncos under-20s and was the competition’s highest points-scorer.
The talented youngster was also chosen in the Junior Kangaroos team that beat the Junior Kiwis earlier this year.
Foundation Titans hooker Nathan Friend, who is returning to the club from the Warriors next season, also won the Peter Frilingos Memorial Award for the 'headline moment' of the season for his incredible acrobatic leap and pass that led to a Warriors try - which went viral world wide on social media.
