THERE will still premierships, representative firsts and juniors impressing this season, but COVID-19 made 2020 a league season like no other.
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While Group 10 cancelled its premier league, first division and senior league tag competitions as a result of the pandemic, other competitions went ahead and there were plenty of highlights. Here's a look at the year that was from A to Z.
THE impact of COVID-19 was felt by all league players this season, but those in Group 10 senior competitions were impacted most.
Group 10 was forced to make the unprecedented call to abandon its premier league, first division and senior league tag competitions for 2020.
The call came on June 9, almost three months after COVID-19 had forced the initial postponement of Group 10 and other competitions across the state on March 18.
It was the first time since the competition's inaugural season in 1946 that no Group 10 top grade premiership had been contested.
Chairman Linore Zamparini described the decision as the toughest he's made in over a decade running the game.
"These are certainly uncharted times. We've never been in this situation as a country, let alone a Group," Zamparini said.
"The amount of fans, players, people involved in the game that have been saying 'when, when, how, what do you think' ... we can only let it go on for so long. The decision had to be made and we've done that."
AT the start of the season Dallas Booth joked that he would "well and truly be the fattest back in the comp", but he was more than just a man who was able to make fun of himself.
Booth was the president of the Mid West League - the only senior rugby league competition in the Western region which went ahead in 2020 - and was also the coach of the Oberon Tigers and he led them to their first first senior men's premiership in 17 years, beating CSU 23-10 on grand final day.
"Look it's amazing, it's been 17 years since we won one and no-one who played for us on Saturday has actually won one for Oberon," Booth said.
"A couple of blokes have won senior grand finals for other clubs, but everyone on the field, that was the first senior grand final they'd won for Oberon.
"Dropping back from Group 10 there was always going to be that added pressure, when you come from a more prestigious comp back down into a second division comp there was always going to be pressure on us.
"So while I was happy, it was more of a relief than anything. I said to a couple of the guys, it was like a pimple that you've had for 18 years and you finally got to pop it."
HE had another bumper season for the St Pat's under 18s and was named the best and fairest player in the Western Youth League, but arguably Tyler Colley's biggest moment of 2020 came away from the field.
It was the moment he signed for the Cronulla Sharks until the end of 2021. It fuelled him with the desire to be part of their SG Ball side next season.
"It's good and really humbling," he said. "It's pretty rewarding for my hard work too. I've put in a lot of hard work, so it's good to get something out of it.
"I went down last November to try and get into the [SG Ball Cup] squad and I got into the top 25, but I didn't get a run in the top 18.
"Last season was something new. I didn't know what to expect but now that I've been down there for that year, I want to probably go back down again and put in a bit more of an effort and get the most out of myself.
"I want to get into the SG Ball squad and run the ball more and have a good impact on the team."
THIS season marked the first time that the Western Women's Rugby League competition had run a 'development league' division for under 13s.
Kurt Hancock, a man with an impressive resume as both a player and a coach, guided the Panorama Platypi.
"They are a great bunch of young girls and it's a good concept and I hope it continues," he said.
"The skill level is getting there so I'll be trying to do a bit more of this stuff throughout the year so when it comes to the comp next year, they'll be a bit more ready again."
BRONTE Emanuel had been a key player in St Pat's brilliant run of Group 10 league tag premierships, but in 2020 she helped CSU to title success.
Emanuel was named best on ground for the CSU Mungals after they defeated the Cargo Heelers 22-20 in an extra-time grand final thriller.
Not only did the star playmaker score their opening try in the decider, it was her pressure conversion that clinched CSU its sixth consecutive Mid West League women's league tag title.
BEFORE 2020 Shannon Foley had never coached a league tag side, but she put her hand up to guide the Oberon Tigers in the Mid West League.
While Oberon had struggled for players in the past when in Group 10 and had to settle for the wooden spoon, this season Foley and her assistant Lourie Bailey guided the side to their first finals campaign.
SEASON 2020 may not have been a premiership winning year for coach Kevin Grimshaw, but he still proved himself as one of the best mentors in the region.
He guided the St Pat's under 18s to the finals of the Western Youth League competition and after taking on the role of Panorama Platypi open women's coach for the first time, helped them make the semi-finals.
THERE were plenty of good performances from number nines in 2020, but Panorama Platypi under 18s hooker Madison Marmion probably had the biggest.
She'd never played league before but went on to be named the named the joint Western Women's Rugby League best and fairest for her age group.
"I've wanted to play for years but I wasn't allowed until now," she said.
"I was happy to have a chance to play, I knew it was going to be tough and it was tougher than I thought, but it was good experience.
"I did like the tackling because it kept me doing something and I liked the running when we had a chance to do that too.
"I loved it. I was not at all intimidated, it was the best sport I have played so far."
A FINAL quarter comeback, a pressure conversion to force extra-time and a stunning solo try to seal the deal - St Pat's win in the Group 10 under 11 league tag grand final was certainly intense.
Saints completed a memorable 24-20 fightback win at Jack Arrow Oval with a try in the second half of extra-time to player-of-the-match Jamie Powley.
Their coach Teejay Isbister was ecstatic with the way the team responded to the challenge in the last quarter.
"It was hard for a while there but the girls pulled it together to get the game into golden point. Taking the game to a second half of golden point is a good way to give yourself a heart attack but they did really well," he said.
"They played a good game in the wet weather. It's only the second time they've done that this year. Once they stuck to the short passes and ran the ball wide they killed it."
WHILE Group 10 senior competitions were unable to go ahead in 2020, Group 10 Junior Rugby League went ahead with its tackle and league tag premierships.
They staged an 'explosive' eight rounds then launched into a top four finals series.
Both the semi-finals and grand finals were played at Bathurst's Jack Arrow Oval.
LAST season he made his NRL debut, this season Will Kennedy made the fullback role at the Cronulla Sharks his.
He played 17 games this year, including his first NRL final when the Sharks met the Raiders, scored three tries and set up 11 others. It was an effort which saw him given a contract extension.
"I've been here a while now and I love the playing group we have here and love the club, so I'm really happy to be staying," Kennedy said.
"I've enjoyed the opportunities I've had so far, I want to just keep improving and hope to be a part of something special here at the Sharks."
LEADING by example in the front row with his work rate and toughness - it is something that earned Luke Christie-Johnston the best and fairest award this season for the premiership winning Oberon Tigers.
He was also made a life member for his efforts across 17 seasons for the club.
"Certainly opposition teams know how good he is too, we'd be a lot less of a team without him. He hits hard, tackles hard, runs hard, he's the kind of player that everyone needs," coach Dallas Booth said of Christie-Johnston.
"He's the kind of guy that, if everyone is feeling a bit down, he'll pull off a big hit and inspire the guys to rev up. He's the number one guys who does that."
The Tigers' forward pack was one of their real strengths in 2020 and helped them to an undefeated minor premiership. Christie Johnston played a key role in that with his countless carries and crunching tackles.
There was also another reason the coach liked having him on the field.
"It's not a bad effort for a 35-year-old. I like that he's still playing so I'm not the only old bastard out there," Booth quipped.
THIS season saw Claudia McLaren return to be a CSU Mungal and boy were her team-mates glad she made that decision.
It was her try in extra-time which helped them to a thrilling 22-20 win over the Cargo Heelers in the grand final.
NORTH Sydney returned to Bathurst 107 years after they first played in the city.
The Bears took on the Western Rams in the new Presidents Cup competition and while the hosts tried hard, it was the Jason Taylor coached outfit which posted a 42-26 victory.
On April 26, 1913, Sydney clubs Souths and Norths played the first ever game of rugby league in the city at Bathurst Sportsground.
Souths won the exhibition match 23-19, with Bathurst's National Advocate reporting 1,500 spectators attended the contest which was 'keenly contested' and 'brilliant'.
THE Oberon Tigers copped plenty of criticism when they stepped down from the higher-tier Group 10 premier league competition, but as it worked out the Mid West League was a perfect fit for them.
A club which was at one stage struggling to form one team had one of its best seasons in close to two decades.
The men went on to win the grand final - making it the Tigers' first senior men's premiership in 17 years - while the league tag outfit experienced finals for the first time.
Just as importantly, the Oberon community rallied behind their Tigers.
In the opinion of men's coach Dallas Booth, the return to the Mid West League was exactly what the Tigers needed. It kept rugby league in Oberon alive.
"After coming back into this second division and winning the comp, and it was a competitive competition, having footy on a Saturday afternoon and that barbecue and beers after footy that you don't have in first grade that often, that got a lot of people excited," Booth said.
"The junior kids started watching on a Saturday afternoon too and they were getting excited for it. Hopefully that will lead to us getting our junior base up and going again."
HE won a premiership as a player with CSU and Rhys Power very nearly got to celebrate another this season as a coach.
The Power coached Mungoes were first into the Mid West League Cup grand final as they became the first side to beat Oberon. They fought hard in the decider against the Tigers, but went down 23-10.
"We gave it a crack and that's all could ask of the boys. That Oberon side is very good. We probably gave them too many chances and we just couldn't run them down in the end," Power said.
"They scored off the second set of the game and we were just on the back foot from that point on. We picked a few bad options when attacking their line and things didn't come off for us.
"But the fact that we were even able to play a grand final this year is a credit to everyone running the competition. Six months ago not many people thought we would be playing football."
WHILE waiting for the start of the football season, which was delayed due to COVID-19, CSU kept players and supporters engaged by asking them to vote on teams of the decade.
Both a men's and a women's league tag team were revealed.
HE had intended to play for Bathurst Panthers this season, but after Group 10's premier league season was cancelled he went to play for the Oberon Tigers.
The Oberon native was one of the star performers in the premiership winning side. Rivett was named man of the match in the grand final for his performance at fullback while his seven points also saw him end up as the leading points scorer for the 2020 competition.
BATHURST league talent Harry Siejka had long dreamed of playing for the Western Rams and in 2020 he finally got his chance.
Siejka skippered the senior Rams outfit in the new Presidents Cup competition.
"I guess when I was younger I never thought I'd get to where I got to in football, so I'm really lucky in that regard. But for me, I always sort of wanted to play first grade for Panthers and play Group 10, Western Division and make the Country team and all that sort of stuff," he said.
"So now I'm back and to tick that off is pretty special for me. The area gave me so much as well, so it's good to do something like this.
"I never played senior footy back here, I sort of left when I was 14. I played Group 10, I think that came in at under 13s, so I played 13s and 14s and then went up to Sydney, that's all I got to play rep-wise around here, that and a bit of schoolboys stuff."
BATHURST Panthers' Tallis Tobin was named best on ground in the under 16s Group 10 Junior Rugby League grand final for his inspirational effort in the front row against Bloomfield Tigers. His side won 34-10.
The energy he put into his hit-ups helped Panthers get out of their half when Bloomfield pressured, they drove his side closer to the try line and they certainly inspired.
Often he took multiple carries in a set and while there were times Tobin was sucking in the air after an effort, he stayed on the field and he'd back up his offensive runs with some big hits in defence.
He was rewarded for hitting the line hard with a try in the first half, but after full-time came even bigger moments.
He got to celebrate a grand final success with a bunch of mates he has played with since under 10s and he was named best on ground.
"It feels awesome, it's been a long time, we've been put away the last couple of years in the grand final, so it feels awesome to win my last junior game," he said.
"To win with these guys is awesome, there'e no better bunch of guys to do it.
"Best on ground, yeah, it's awesome, it's the best feeling in the world I think."
U IS FOR UNDEFEATED
The 16s beat long-time rivals Bloomfield Tigers 34-10 in decider at Jack Arrow Oval, making it a very memorable way to end their time in the Group 10 Junior Rugby League ranks.
For the under 11s it took plenty of heart in defence and some great vision in attack, but they beat a brave Cowra Magpies 30-18 in their Group 10 Junior Rugby League grand final to be crowned undefeated premiers.
V IS FOR VIRUS
CORONA virus. They are two words we all wished we didn't hear in 2020. Let's hope we're not talking about it forcing league to be cancelled or postponed next year.
The Western Rams senior side, featuring the best from Group 10 and Group 11, competed in the new Presidents Cup.
The cup featured those clubs, from both the city and country, who remained keen to play despite their own competitions being cancelled.
"The Presidents Cup will help unify the state through rugby league in what has been a tough year for everyone connected with the game," Western Region manager Peter Clarke said at the time.
"It's great to see our players will get some game time in over this nine-week period rather playing no footy at all in 2020.
"Teams from our region have been part of the NSW Challenge Cup in previous years and have enjoyed the challenge so I'm sure the Presidents Cup will be no different."
THERE are many players worthy of an X-factor tag, but we're giving ours to Bathurst Panthers under 11s captain Riley Carter.
He was creative in attack - his short kicking game a feature - and inspirational in defence.
Carter was named best on ground in Panthers 30-18 grand final win against Cowra and paid tribute to both his team-mates and the beaten Magpies for their efforts.
"I am very proud of the boys we went good, to be undefeated is pretty good," he said.
"They were pretty hard Cowra, yeah, but I thought we could win. I was nervous yeah, but when we were winning by two tries that's when I thought we could do it."
WHILE the Group 10 senior competitions were cancelled, the under 18s from Bathurst Panthers and St Pat's still got to compete in a Western Youth League competition.
Teams were split into three pools to lessen the burden of travel, with Panthers and Pat's grouped with Orange Hawks, Orange CYMS and Lithgow Workies.
The Saints topped the pool and beat Wellington in the first week of sudden-death finals before being eliminated by Forbes.
ZAC Merritt did not get to lead St Pat's in Group 10 this season, but he did pull on a Western jumper first the first time to help out the younger Rams.
He played his first game of football since the Group 10 pre-season knockout, when he made his senior Rams debut at Carrington Park against the North Sydney Bears.
It was the excitement of doing all of that which saw Merritt agree to join the Rams campaign when asked by Western Region manager Peter Clarke despite lacking match fitness.
"I thought they [Rams] were taking a bit more an approach of bringing the younger guys through. So when Clarkey approached me I was excited, but I hadn't been training real hard," Merritt said.
"I was a little bit 'Ahh I don't know mate' but I'm definitely excited to play, especially playing alongside people like Harry [Siejka] and those types of guys who have NRL experience. It will be good to have a run around with players like that."
