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Player of the Year Benn Campagnolo with Brad Chiesa (representative of the Moretto, Chiesa & Fletcher families) Photos credited: Donna Macarone
By Peter Reitano
The Herbert River Crushers held their Presentation Night last week at their clubhouse. A good crowd gathered to relive the season & award the players that stood out amongst their peers. In A-Grade back Benn Campagnolo, who had originally come to Ingham from the Townsville Blackhawks in 2025, was named the A-Grade Player of the Year, following on from his Player’s Player award that he had sealed earlier in the evening for the second year in a row.
Other awards went to Kyle Stewart (Best Back), who even though he is still young, is one of the senior leaders in the team; Jaia Poppi (Best Forward), who could not be present due to being away preparing for a Boxing Tournament, and Shaun Devietti (Rookie of the Year), who was playing his first full season of Senior league after turning 17 at the end of 2025.
In Reserve Grade, five-eighth Tremayne Priestley won the Peter Seri, Graeme & Debbie Gibson Player of the Year medal. The equally talented centre Jerrmaine Nean was named Most Consistent; back Riley Dickson (Coaches Award); Hezekiah Nona, who often backed up from Under 19s, was named Most Improved; and hooker Keith Kyle, who alternated a bit between the backs and forwards, was named Best Forward.
In the Under 19s, lock Connor Matsen was named the Mark Cockburn & Billy Johnson Under 19s Medallist. Halfback Hezekiah Nona was named Player’s Player, with this being his first award of the night before receiving an award in Reserve Grade. Winger Rawiri Bartlem was named Most Improved, Utility Riley Morris received the Coaches Award, while hooker Aiden Steadman was named Most Consistent.
Special Awards went to A-Grade Captain Dylan Gaggiano (most points), Tremayne Priestley (Most Tries) and Benn Campagnolo (Dennis Quagliotto Representative Player of the Year). Josh Macarone and Kyle Stewart co-jointly received the Martha Wilkie Spirit of the Club Award. Tracey Chinotti also received a gift of flowers as a thank you for all that she did on the ladies' side for the year.
Club Legend, stalwart, backbone and President Matthew Chiesa, stated that his mentor, Joe Pennisi, was named Club Person of the Year. Joe spends endless hours at the grounds getting them prepared for games, is there on Game Days and travelling away with the teams.
The Crushers President and Coaches thanked all Players, Committee, Sponsors and Supporters for their involvement in the club in 2026. The club is now starting to prepare for the 2027 season.
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