And with the final game of the 2015 season looming, there's no better time to reflect on what has been a stunning winter of rugby league in the region.

Who were the best players to watch?

Here's the 13 Central Western Daily sport journos Nick McGrath and Matt Findlay think are deserving members of a Group 10 premier league team of the year for 2015.

1 CODY ROBBINS (Orange Hawks)

Hawks' best this season - by the length of Summer Street - and arguably the best custodian throughout the 2015 Group 10 season.

Was stunning with the ball, scoring four tries in a cracking two blues win over Bathurst Panthers mid-year, and if it weren't for Robbins, there's a massive chance Hawks' flagging campaign would have been in a much more serious state had the fleet-of-foot fullback not been there.

A must in our No.1 jersey, and if Hawks have any ambition of climbing back up the table Robbins is the first player they need to lock up.

2 SEMISI KATOA (Orange CYMS)

For all of the talk about CYMS' pack being up against it against the likes of Lithgow and Mudgee, there has been one ace up the green and golds' sleeve size-wise in 2015.

It comes in the form of Katoa.

In the mould of a Wendell Sailor for CYMS, Katoa's ability to get his side on the front foot early in any set of six has been key for the minor premiers.

The fact he's an out-and-out hit man in defence ensures his work on both sides of the ball is hugely valuable for player-coach Mick Sullivan.

3 NATHAN ORR (Mudgee Dragons)

Corin Smith who?

To be fair to Smith, that's probably a stretch given the Mudgee sensation is on the cusp of an NRL deal, but Orr has been every bit the strike weapon for the Dragons in Smith's absence this season.

Crossing for 15 tries this year to sit equal top of the try-scoring lists alongside Lithgow giant Brendon Van Veen, Orr has proven he's more than just a capable three-quarter and will surely push for representative honours come the 2016 season.

4 JONO VAN VEEN (Lithgow Workies)

Love him or hate him, you have to admire the work Van Veen has done for Workies this season.

A colossus with the ball, the backrower-come-centre has been at his rampaging best after a year-long stint on the sidelines and, remarkably, led the Group 10 player of the year count mid-season.

Not afraid of playing with fire, Van Veen may have been burnt at the wrong time of year for Lithgow, with the devastating ball runner sent off in last weekend's preliminary final and facing suspension ahead of the biggest game of the season.

His 13 tries in 11 games will be missed.

5 ADAM MORTON (Bathurst St Pat's)

Arguably the fastest man in Group 10, he makes fast people look ... not fast.

Morton crossed for 12 tries in 13 games for the defending premiers, with his lightening acceleration the main ingredient in all of his dozen four-pointers.

6 BEN McALPINE (Orange CYMS)

Prodigious.

Still the most influential player in the Group, McAlpine's ability to break a game open was on full display in the opening 40 minutes against Workies in the major semi-final.

He waltzed through for the game's opening four-pointer - his 12th try of the season - and was on song as the green and golds booked a grand final berth.

A centre for CYMS, his ball playing skills are underrated and in this team, wouldn't look out of place in the No.6 jumper.

His goal goal kicking has been on point in 2015 too, nailing 58 goals and scoring 164 points to lead both categories.

7 TERRY BROWN (Blayney Bears)

Brown has come of age in 2015, and should have been the Western Division halfback if politics didn't play a part in selections (the Rams incumbent No.7 ended the year on the wing for his club side, strange?).

His kicking game is brilliant, and his running game sublime.

Thirteen tries for Blayney and a motza of try assists, Brown's importance to the Bears is unmeasurable, and he must be in their halves in 2016 if the club wants to push for a premiership.

POLL: Have your say on who has been the best player in Group 10 in 2015:

8 SIMON OSBORNE (Orange CYMS)

An out-and-out brute with and without the ball.

A winner of the award way back in 2003, Osborne proved old fashioned footy is still cool in Group 10 when he ended the year second on the player of the year count, just a point behind eventual winner Benjamin John.

At 35, how long Osborne can continue to punish both opponents and himself with such a physical onslaught is unknown.

CYMS will be banking on at least one more game though.

9 BENJAMIN JOHN (Bathurst St Pat's)

The best player in the competition, John was a stand-out in an otherwise lacklustre premiership defence by the blue and whites.

His scheming out of acting half was the catalyst for most, if not all of St Pat's best footy this winter and John, a former Kumul, was a more than worthy recipient of this year's Group 10 player of the year gong.

10 BRENDAN WEST (Lithgow Workies)

Unheralded, but West's sheer size makes him more than a handful for every forward in the Group.

A tearaway as a youngster, the behemoth prop's maturing in 2015 has been his best asset, and as an integral cog in the biggest pack in Group 10 West's contributions have been vital as Workies charge towards the 2015 premiership.

Played the most games of any Lithgow player this season.

11 DANE HOWARTH (Blayney Bears)

Injury has always held Howarth back from fulfilling his full potential, and while an abdominal tear meant the Bears captain-coach sat out some of 2015, his influence on the side has still be unquestionable.

As hard a running wide forward as there is in the competition, Howarth transformed his game late in 2015, moving to lock and grizzling around in the middle third of the field.

A Blayney junior to boot, as long as Howarth is there the Bears' future is bright.

12 BRENDON VAN VEEN (Lithgow Workies)

The consistency in which Brendon Van Veen goes about his work is metronomic.

Has led the competition in tries throughout 2015, landing 15 four-pointers to sit alongside Orr, and for a forward to do so is something to behold.

Proving he's more than just a battering ram, Ven Veen threw a Benji Marshall-like flick pass in the major semi-final to set up his brother Jono for Lithgow's first try.

He's the complete package.

13 TIM MORTIMER (Orange CYMS)

A revelation with CYMS in 2015, his ACL tear and fractured femur is the saddest story of the season.

With an influence as big as his, should have polled higher in the Group 10 player of the year award count, and coach Mick Sullivan is already lamenting the loss of his key lock as the biggest game of the season approaches.

While John was sublime for St Pat's, Mortimer was our pick for player of the year.

BENCH:

14 JOSH RAINBOW (Blayney Bears)

15 TERAWHITI COOPER (Blayney Bears)

16 DEMETRIUS AINUU (Mudgee Dragons)

17 KIERAN CROFT (Lithgow Workies)

18 BEN STEWART (Lithgow Workies)