15. Doug Smith (Maniototo). Exciting attacking fullback and useful goalkicker who had a major influence on Maniototo making it to the semifinals.
14. Conner Hamlin (Wakatipu). Speedy, classy winger, who can also handle the fullback role. Scored eight tries.
13. Tyler Ford (Alexandra). A major contributor in getting Alexandra to the grand final again. Nothing he can’t handle — captaincy, goalkicking, try-scoring. Sadly, missed the final with a serious knee injury.
12. Oliver Stirling (Upper Clutha). Co-captain of the champion team who scored 80 tries in the season. Stirling scored or helped create many of those.
11. Tomas Jarman (Upper Clutha). Long-legged speedster from Mid Wales scored a staggering 16 tries from 14 outings. Sadly, heading back to Wales in February.
10. Rhys Harrold (Cromwell). Class act at first-five and reliable goalkicker. Not his fault Cromwell missed out on the semifinals.
9. Brady Kingan (Upper Clutha). Played two-thirds of the season at first-five, then sharpened up the Upper Clutha backline when switched to halfback. Deadly accurate goalkicker who amassed 169 points.
8. Anton Huisman (Wakatipu). One of the exciting finds of the season. Powerful, strong runner who created try-scoring opportunities.
7. James Dobson (Alexandra). One of the main reasons Alexandra reached the semifinals again was the talent of the loose forward set. Dobson, who threw to the lineouts, was the finest of them, and arguably the competition’s best tackler.
6. Taura Wilson (Alexandra). Another of the Armadillos’ loose forward aces. Rarely missed a tackle, while opponents found him difficult to bring down.
5. Lachlan Garrick (Upper Clutha). There existed no more talented or valuable forward in the competition. Inspirational captain who was never bettered at lineout time.
4. Stefan Blakeborough (Cromwell). Like Garrick, invaluable as a leader and lineout ace. Scored seven tries.
3. William Holdom (Alexandra). Key member of a powerful scrum, who could also double as a lock.
2. Jackson Clark (Cromwell). Classy hooker with many of the skills of a proven back. Scored seven tries. The Cromwell front row was among the most respected in the competition.
1. Ben McKeich (Upper Clutha). One of the competition’s superstars. Rare for a prop to score 11 tries in a season, but Big Ben managed it.
Reserves: Jake Burtenshaw (Upper Clutha), Tom Ria (Wakatipu), Toby Higgins (Wakatipu), Alex Chubb (Cromwell), Ryan Egerton (Arrowtown), Rube Peina (Wakatipu), James Valentine (Wakatipu).
