As every orchestra needs a maestro, this year's resurrection of The People's Choice Group 10 Team Of The Year continues with the halfback.
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All charged with directing traffic for their respective sides this season, this group was as tough to narrow down for the Central Western Daily's experts as any, and will be tough to split for the voters.
Who makes the final team? You decide.
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1 DOUG HEWITT (Bathurst Panthers)
It's tough to deny Hewitt's claim to this spot considering he masterminded Panthers' second straight premiership and nailed an extra-time field-goal to seal it.
Having a pack of Panthers' standard does make Hewitt's job easier, of course, but he still had to execute and he did that in a big way in 2019, and in particularly he kicked magnificently all year.
For us, this shouldn't really be a contest, but it's not up to us, is it?
2 TIM CONDON (Mudgee Dragons)
Returned to the Dragons' No.7 jersey after missing last season and although he battled injury he went a long way to recapturing his form from 2016's premiership season, organising his edge in a typically-composed way.
But because Jack Littlejohn was largely pulling the strings from five-eighth Condon had more freedom to play what was in front of him rather than direct too much traffic, which ended up playing into the wily half's hands.
Proved his toughness too, reportedly played the grand final with a torn hamstring.
3 MATT RANSE (Oberon Tigers)
After leading Blackheath's 2018 New Era Cup title win from lock Ranse linked with Oberon to return to the top division this season and was promptly plonked back in the No.7 jersey at Oberon.
How did he handle the jump back up along with the pressure of being Oberon's main man?
While he wasn't completely mesmerising for the Tigers he was strong in his Group 10 comeback particularly considering he was playing in an injury-hit side.
He shone on the rep scene though, orchestrating Group 10's comeback win over Group 11 and being named man-of-the-match for his effort.
4 MATT BOSS (Orange Hawks)
With Willie Heta taking control as the focal point of Hawks' attacking movements and particularly when they had front foot ball, Boss played his role as a calming, organised influence to perfection.
That did also free him up to inject himself when he saw an opportunity and did so with aplomb, particularly when he took his chances to attack the line, which often caught sides off guard and turned into overlaps for his outside men to take advantage of.
5 JOEY BUGG (Cowra Magpies)
Bugg's unpredictable and enigmatic and while prodigiously talented his decision-making has left a little to be desired in past seasons.
After losing Josh Rainbow to forced retirement and being without Jeremy Gordon for the early stages of the season he had to cut those errors out because Cowra couldn't afford them without those two, and for the most part he did.
While halves partner Claude Gordon missed a few games here and there Bugg was a constant for the Magpies, fronting up for all but one of their 2019 games and eventually helping them sneak into the top five.
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