Nathan Potts has become the first Orange Hawks player to win a Group 10 player of the year award, and he pipped another one of his teammates to snatch the little piece of two blues history.
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The tireless lock polled 24 points throughout the 2019 regular season with Hawks captain-coach Willie Heta securing 23 votes, completing a one-two for the club.
It's the second year Heta has finished second in the count after Josh Rainbow edged out Heta in 2018 too.
The award's history spans back to 1984 and no Hawks player has been crowned the Group 10 player of the year in that time.
GROUP 10 TEAM LISTS | Hawks switch it up with grand final spot on the line
Potts became the first at the Group 10 presentation night on Friday at Bathurst Panthers.
Lithgow's Jake Gale took out the first division player of the year gong on the back of Workies impressive, unbeaten season in reserve grade.
Blayney's NSW Country under 18s prop Liam Henry topped off his stunning 2019 with the juniors' player of the year award while Erin Naden took out the league tag competition's top honour.
Premiership-winning Panthers coach Doug Hewitt took out the Group 10 coach of the year after guiding Panthers throughout a terrific 2019 campaign.
Jimmy Reinhardt (Lithgow), Kevin Grimshaw (St Pat's) and Marty Lyden (Hawks) took out the first division, under 18s and league tag coach awards respectively.
Wright also topped the point-scorer's list with 177.
Erin Naden finished the year with the most amount of tries of any player in seniors, with 23 tries.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2019 TOP 10
1 Nathan Potts (Orange Hawks) 24 votes
2 Willie Heta (Orange Hawks) 23
3 Greg Alderson (Lithgow Workies) 19
4 Lee McClintock (Cowra Magpies) 16
5 Jack Beasley (Mudgee Dragons) 15
6 Blake Laweson (Bathurst Panthers) 14
7 Brent Seager (Bathurst Panthers) 14
8 Michael Hawkings (Bathurst St Pat's) 14
9 Jack Littlejohn (Mudgee Dragons) 13
10 Willie Wright (Bathurst Panthers) 12
HONOUR BOARD - THE LAST 10 YEARS
2010 Mick Sullivan (Orange CYMS)
2011 Brendan Van Veen (Lithgow Workies)
2012 Tim Bassmann (Orange CYMS)
2013 Ben McAlpine (Orange CYMS)
2014 Jack Afamasaga (Mudgee Dragons)
2015 Benjamin John (Bathurst St Pat's)
2016 Jeremy Gordon (Bathurst Panthers)
2017 Chris Bamford (Orange CYMS)
2018 Josh Rainbow (Cowra Magpies)
2019 Nathan Potts (Orange Hawks)
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Nick McGrath
Editor, Central Western Daily
Editor, Central Western Daily
