Wests Tigers honour Award winners, Collis re-signs

Outstanding young hooker Robbie Farah has won the Wests Tigers player of the year award for 2006.

Farah received the honour at the annual Wests Tigers grand final luncheon at Le Montage Function Centre at Leichhardt on Friday, September 29.

More than 950 people attended the luncheon hosted by Channel Nine commentator Andrew Voss.

The luncheon had a 60s theme to it with Western Suburbs Magpies and Balmain Tigers players from that era honoured on the day.

Farah had a superb season for the Wests Tigers, playing 20 games for the club and breaking through for his first representative jersey with City Origin.

He was unable to accept the award at the luncheon as he was in Port Moresby representing the Prime Minister’s XIII team against Papua New Guinea.

Second-rower Chris Heighington was named the Wests Tigers defensive player. The workhorse played 21 games in 2006.

Heighington was also the recipient of the inaugural Wests Tigers Community Award in recognition of his good work off the field. The award was presented by double amputee and the first Wests Tigers lifetime member in David McArdle.

The Ironmen awards for playing all 24 games for Wests Tigers in 2006 went to centre Dean Collis, half-back Scott Prince, and props Todd Payten and John Skandalis.

The rookie of the year award went to rising young full-back Shannon McDonnell who showed plenty of potential in his 14 games.

Captain Brett Hodgson was a popular winner of the supporters award.

Apart from the awards, a big sports auction was held with 2UE commentator John Gibbs the auctioneer. The honour of the number one badge holder for the Wests Tigers again went to Peter Binet from Binet Homes.

Entertainment was provided by the C91.3FM Kittens, 60s cover act Super Supremes, and comedian Peter Dean.

A special presentation was made by departing prop John Skandalis to Wests Tigers chief executive officer Steve Noyce.

In praising and thanking Noyce for his support of his career, Skandalis presented him with his final Wests Tigers jersey worn in the game against South Sydney at Leichhardt Oval.

Meanwhile, in other news; Exciting young centre Dean Collis has extended his contract with the Wests Tigers for a further two years.

Collis said he was very happy to remain with the 2005 premiers until the end of the 2009 season. He was contracted until the end of the 2007 season.

“Wests Tigers is a great club and I am looking forward to being part of this exciting, young team in the next few years,” Collis said.

“My football has improved immensely under coach Tim Sheens and I want to further develop my skills under him. There are plenty of good times ahead for this club and it is great to know that I will be a part of it.”

Collis was one of four Wests Tigers players to play all 24 games in 2006, scoring nine tries and further enhancing his reputation as a fine young player in his first full season in the top grade.

He has now scored 10 tries in 32 career games for Wests Tigers.