Western News: December 11, 2018

WESTERN NEWS Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Tuesday December 11 2018 17
axendale’s chance to cap off big year
Ten Cantabrians nominated for NZ Rugby League Awards
• By Gordon Findlater
HORNBY PANTHERS and
Canterbury Bulls captain James
Baxendale is one of three finalists
vying for the country’s top
domestic rugby league award.
Ten Cantabrians have been
nominated in several categories
of the New Zealand Rugby
League Awards.
Baxendale, 32, is up for premier
player of the year following a
standout season that saw him
almost guide the Panthers to the
Pat Smith Trophy.
“It was a huge surprise to be
honest. It’s a pretty big award, so
to be nominated is a nice reward
for a pretty good season,” said
Baxendale.
The second-rower has never
won the award before, but was a
finalist in 2011. However, he feels
like a different player compared
to when he last got the nomination.
“I’m probably more of a
leader within those teams now.
I’ve got a few more words in the
changing sheds and I just try and
lead with my actions on the field
now,” said Baxendale.
He was recently named Canterbury
Bulls sportsman of the
year at the Canterbury Rugby
League Awards. The Bulls narrowly
missed out on a spot in the
national premiership grand-final
this year, due to points differential.
Baxendale has now turned his
focus to the Hornby Panthers
campaign next year, in which he’s
hoping to win his first title with
the club since 2013.
“What happened this year was
pretty disappointing. But everyone’s
coming back next year and
there’s a real belief that we can
get over the line,” said Baxendale.
At international level, Brisbane
Broncos winger Jamayne Isaako
has been short-listed for Kiwis
rookie of the year, while Sui
Pauaraisa – who is also a rugby
union international for Samoa –
is up for Kiwi Ferns rookie of the
year.
Referees Gary
Smallridge and Owen
Harvey have been recognised
with nominations in a
four-strong field for match
official of the year. Debbie
Neylon-Kennedy, Michelle
Harding and Hana Kakoi are in
the running for female volunteer
of the year. David Field and Tony
Grenfell have been nominated for
male volunteer of the year, which
Hornby legend Jack Newson
won last year. Meanwhile, the
Rolleston Warriors are one of
seven finalists for grassroots club
of the year.
FINALIST: James Baxendale is up for New Zealand Rugby
League’s biggest domestic award. ​
Canterbury finalists
•James Baxendale –
premier player of the year
•Jamayne Isaako – Kiwis
rookie of the year
•Sui Pauaraisa – Kiwi Ferns
rookie of the year
•Debbie Neylon-Kennedy
– female volunteer of the
year
•Michelle Hardon – female
volunteer of the year
•Hana Kakoi – female
volunteer of the year
•David Field – male
volunteer of the year
•Tony Grenfell – male
volunteer of the year
•Rolleston Warriors –
grassroots club of the year
•Gary Smallridge – match
official of the year
•Owen Harvey – match
official of the year
League prospects get a taste of NRL
TWO BRIGHT rugby league
prospects, Jaedon Wellington
and Callum Donaldson, are this
week getting a unique taste of the
NRL during a week-long camp at
the Manly Sea Eagles.
The invitation to come to
Manly’s training base on
Sydney’s northern beaches is
the direct result of the club’s
commitment to play an annual
home match in Christchurch
and to build a strong relationship
with the local rugby league
community.
The Sea Eagles will play their
second annual home match at
Christchurch Stadium on March
30.
Jaedon captained the under-15
South Island team at the national
SPORTS
championships last month and
was named in the New Zealand
Merit team.
The young Hornby Panthers
prop was joined by Callum
from Greymouth, who was
also part of the same under-15
South Island team. Talent scout
Jeff Whittaker says that the two
players are among the best
young talents to come out of
the South Island and says the
NRL is taking notice of the
South Island as a talent breeding
ground.
Whittaker took Jamayne
Isaako from the Aranui Eagles
to the Cronulla youth team
five years ago and last season
the Brisbane Broncos star was
named NRL rookie of the year.
“Every year the South
Island produces three or four
youngsters who are good enough
to have a crack at the NRL, so
the scouts come out in force,”
Whittaker said.
TALENT: Manly prop Toff
Sipley meets Callum
Donaldson and Jaedon
Wellington at the Sea Eagles
training in Narrabeen, Sydney.
PHOTO: SEAN O’SULLIVAN ​
The revolution
in heat pumps
is here now!
The revolution in heat pumps is here now!
The Fujitsu e3series
The brilliant
heat pumps from Fujitsu
e1 : efficiency
e2 : environment
e3 : economy
Website: www.pshc.co.nz
Free
wiFi
with E3
series
heat
pumps
for a limited
time only.
The brilliant e3 series
heat pumps from Fujitsu
e1 : efficiency
e2 : environment
e3 : economy
Installed from
$1,990 incl GST
FREE consultation from your local
Accredited Heat Pump Expert
Phone today: 03 381 6950
INSERT DEALER DETAILS HERE
Email: info@pshc.co.nz