He was joint winner of the First Grade Most Improved Award (with Wingham’s Joe Southwell) and subsequently named on the The Group 3 Senior Player Squad.

This was just reward for Wynter who has toiled all season and grown in confidence proving to be one of the best in the competition by the end of the season.

A large contingent of Hawks talent made it into the squad along with Wynter including Dean Basham, Daniel Benson, Matt Hill, Jared Wynter and Matt Hammond.

Skilful Centre Matt Hill is looking forward to mentoring young Matt Hammond into the senior representative ranks in the trials planned for 2009.

The Group 3 Rugby League Awards, held on Saturday featured John Peard and Malcolm Reilly as special guests and in all, 12 Hawks players from across the three grades were invited to attend.

Another local first grade player Daniel Benson was also on the honours list on the weekend taking out the Group’s Highest Point Scorer Award amassing 192 points consisting of tries and goals.

In the Under 18s Simon Fokes was awarded the Most Improved Player for that grade. Simon has developed into an outstanding footballer with his tough defence and ability to run lines and get through the opponents’ first line of defence. Under 18 Matt Hammond finished second on the point score ladder for the season.

In the Under 18 Player of the Year Award, Natt Watts and James Handford polled well with breakers Ben Hyde running out the winner.

In reserve grade Kyle Carmody polled well as did captain/coach Russell Burton in the reserve grade Player of the Year. Burton finished third overall with Jeff Babecule from Wingham the eventual winner.

In the Senior Team of the Year Award the Hawks polled well with Daniel Benson picking up five-eight of the year.

Front rower Dean Basham was narrowly edged out by Wauchope’s Tim Coombes. Matt Finlayson got pipped by Wauchope’s Justin Laurie for lock. Both the Hawks’ centres Matt Hill and Des Donnelly were in contention for the centre position.

The NBN Player of the Year had a number of Hawks in contention with Daniel Benson finishing a narrow runner-up to Wauchope’s Tim Coombes by one point in the final tally.

The Group 3 Under 18s Squad was also named on the night with Hawks again featuring well with Simon Fokes, Kyle MacGregor, Blake Holden, Mark Amato, Taylor Kerrison and Luke Barry being named. The squad has four spots left vacant for some late inclusions.