ALL Australian schoolboy middle Zeke Hay was one of several elite touch football prospects recognised at the recent Nelson Bay Neptunes Junior Representative Awards night.
The Year 10 Tomaree High student, who gained selection in last year’s All Australian Under 15s Merit Team after helping the all conquering NSW Combined High Schools outfit win a national title, received the Players’ Player Award for his stand-out performances with the Neptunes Under 16 Boys squad at this year’s Junior State Cup (JSC) Northern Conference championships in Dubbo.
Zeke’s talented Under 16 teammates Charlie Simonds, Ashton Holliday and Jack Costello also collected awards after strong representative campaigns.
Simonds received the Peter Wilson Memorial Cup (PWMC) Players’ Player Award and Holliday the Coaches Award, with the sharp running Costello earning the JSC Coaches medal for his top displays at the Junior State Cup.
Nelson Bay’s rising junior talent were honoured for their sterling efforts at this year’s annual Peter Wilson Memorial Cup and Junior State Cup tournaments during the presentation event, staged at Soldiers Point Bowling Club.
Nine-year-old Nixon Read collected both the JSC Players’ Player and Coaches Awards after stand-out displays for the Neptunes Under 10 Boys squad.
Cooper Kovalevsky took out the PWMC Players’ Player Award and Nate Lui the PWMC Coaches trophy.
Four promising juniors – Evie Preston, Joy Schneider, Vally Jenkins and Ari Daniels – picked up awards in the Under 10 Girls rep team.
Evie and Joy received the PWMC and JSC Players’ Player awards respectively, while Vally and Ari were presented with the Coaches Awards.
Exciting prospects Jake Maybury (Under 12 Boys) and Ryan Poole (Under 14 Boys) received the Don Green Coaches Award for their respective age groups.
Nelson Bay Touch Football co-ordinator Nicole Mitchell saluted the efforts of all Neptunes representatives, as well as the young coaches and managers, on a successful 2025-26 campaign.
“We are so fortunate to have such a dedicated group of young, passionate individuals who generously give up their time, share their knowledge and give back to our touch football community,” she told News Of The Area.
“Their commitment and enthusiasm is truly impressive and makes such a difference for our players and teams.”
Other award recipients included:
UNDER 12 Girls: PWMC Players Player, Luna Kniepp; PWMC Coaches Award, Isla Trayling; JSC Players Player, Faith Earl and JSC Coaches Award, Zoe Peters.
UNDER 12 Boys: Don Green Coaches Award, Jake Maybury; PWMC Players Player, Tal Rolston; PWMC Coaches Award, Kylen Crossing; JSC Players Player, Hunter McCallum and JSC Coaches Award, Josh Murphy.
UNDER 14 Girls: PWMC Players Player, Mia Gambrill; PWMC Coaches Award, Bonnie Sproule; JSC Players Player, Fern Cullimore and JSC Coaches Award, Abi Olatunde.
UNDER 14 Boys: Don Green Coaches Award, Ryan Poole; PWMC Players Player, Jed Hay; PWMC Coaches Award, Danny Doherty; JSC Players Player, Oscar Green and JSC Coaches Award, Anthony West.
UNDER 16 Girls: PWMC Players Player, Khloey Barrett; PWMC Coaches Award, Mia McDonald; JSC Players Player, Bowey Manning and JSC Coaches Award, Piper Mullins.
UNDER 18 Girls: PWMC Players Player, Lexi Manning; PWMC Coaches Award, Layla Gambrel; JSC Players Player, Amelia Nicholas and JSC Coaches Award, Heidi Gibson.
By Chris KARAS
You can help your local paper.
Make a small once-off, or (if you can) a regular donation.
We are an independent family owned business and our newspapers are free to collect and our news stories are free online.
Help support us into the future.
