Costin Rises to the Top

VETERAN Brandon Costin has taken out the prestigious Courier-Mail Best and Fairest title, rugby league's longest-running player award.

Polling 19 votes, the Souths Logan Magpies spearhead ousted Redcliffe's Michael Roberts by a slender three-vote margin.

Easts Tigers pair Luke Branighan and Matt Lockyer were tied third on 15 votes when the tally was revealed at a black tie function at Suncorp Stadium's Paddington Room.

The triumph for 34-year-old Costin presented a stunning contrast with last year's recipient of the $5000 cheque, teenage phenomenon Greg Inglis.

Costin led voting for almost the entire season, although Roberts closed in fast, earning four times as many votes in the second half of the season as in the first half.

Other award winners from the gala South East Division awards night included the Men of League Coach of the Year Anthony Griffin (Redcliffe) and Carbine Club Colt of the Year David Tyrrell (Easts).

Michael Wise was named Referee of the Year, while Michael Roberts made up for missing the major prize by winning the BMD Representative Player of the Year.

Fan favourite, the diminutive Steve West (Ipswich) was named FOGS Cup Player of the Year, with Harry Witt (Tweed Heads) winning the same award in the FOGS Colts Challenge.

Three special presentations were made for service to the game, awarded to Ken Cooper of Easts, David Jones of Valleys Juniors and junior league stalwart Bob Brown.

Competition newcomer Tweed Heads had its victory in the Spotless Club Championship recognised to rousing applause.

WINNERS

Courier-Mail Best and Fairest - Brandon Costin (Souths Logan) Men of League Coach of the Year - Anthony Griffin (Redcliffe) BMD Representative Player of the Year - Michael Roberts (Redcliffe) Brisbane Referee of the Year - Michael Wise Carbine Club Colt of the Year - David Tyrrell (Easts) Outstanding Service Award - Ken Cooper (Easts) Junior Presentation - Bob Brown Brisbane Second Division Presentation - David Jones (Valleys) FOGS Cup Player of the Year - Steve West (Ipswich) FOGS Colts Challenge Player of the Year - Harry Witt (Tweed Heads) Spotless Club Championship - Tweed Heads

Source: qrl.com.au