Freak fullback Callum Gromek seals Player of the Year award in rookie Illawarra Cup season

In a memorable rookie campaign, freakish Collegians fullback Callum Gromek has sealed the Paul McGregor Medal for the league’s best player. See the full list of award winners for 2023.

Kevin Merrigan

3 min read

September 12, 2023 - 11:21AM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

Callum Gromek is your 2023 Paul McGregor Medallist. Picture: Thomas Lisson

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Superstar fullback Callum Gromek has capped off a terrific breakout season in the Mojo Homes Illawarra Cup with the Paul McGregor Medal.

The medal is awarded to the top performing player of the season as determined through votes cast after every game of the regular season.

The top five players for the season that the medal was contested between consisted of Gromek, Sam McCann, Eli Levido, Jackson Stewart, Levi Pascoe and Lachlan Hurst, with 22-year-old Gromek emerging victorious.

“He’s the type of kid who just fit in seamlessly,” said Collegians head coach Peter Hooper.

“He put in a lot of hard work over the summer after coming out of the Flegg system.

Callum Gromek shows the ball to the line. Picture: Thomas Lisson.

“He’s a really talented kid, a real team player, not selfish at all.

“Obviously we want him to be around at the club next year, but we’re not going to stop him going further if he want to, that’s not the Collegians way.”

Gromek finished the season on 15 tries, second in the league only to teammate Sam McCann.

Gromek is affectionately known by the Collegians fanbase as ‘Winx’, which tells you all you need to know about the energy he brings to the no. 1 jersey week in week out.

Gromek is wrapped up in defence. Picture: Thomas Lisson.

Gromek had the Thirroul defence clutching at thin air in the Illawarra Cup grand final as he raced away for a pair of tries, undoubtedly one of the best performers on the park despite not getting the result.

“He’s the real deal, really brings the full package for us,” Hooper said.

Gromek is a former fullback for the Dragons in Jersey Flegg. Picture: NRL Imagery

“He defends well at the back, organises our defensive structures, he’s got the pass, he’s got the speed, I could go on.

“It wasn’t always the same thing either, in round one he scored a couple of individual tries and set up another, then in round two he was saving a try or two with his defence.

Callum Gromek looking to weave his way through the line. Picture: Thomas Lisson

“He really grew as a player and did special things all year, we got glimpses of it every week.”

In a testament to Collegians’ terrific campaign which fell just short at the last hurdle, Sam McCann was runner-up to his teammate Gromek in the overall standings for the Paul McGregor medal.

McCann scored a whopping 19 tries over the campaign which includes three hat-tricks.

Sam McCann ended the season as leading try scorer. Picture: Steve Montgomery

“Sam’s always had that in him, we just didn’t get to see it as much last year with his knee injury,” Hooper said.

“He’s an exceptional footballer, his back-of-field work is ridiculous, it’s like we have another front rower in the backline.

“He‘s a strong man who’s not afraid to get stuck in, and his aerial ability is exceptional.”

Levi Pascoe of Wests Devils received the Best Forward award for the season. Picture: Denis Ivaneza

Gromek also took out the Frank Smith Trophy for Best Back in the competition, while Western Suburbs’ Levi Pascoe took out the George Grofus Trophy for Best Forward.

Collegians’ stellar evening continued down to the U18s where young gun Eden Hodges took out Alex Jack Memorial Trophy for U18s Player of the Year.