![The Illawarra rugby's best players week-in, week-out revealed The Illawarra rugby's best players week-in, week-out revealed](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/GJZ5TVpAk84wrTzsQfLQRB/3e9ea359-80ac-40d0-9406-b8e6e317796e.png/r0_0_1200_675_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Shoalhaven beat allcomers to win their second straight Illawarra District Rugby Union minor premiership on Saturday.
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Now heading into the finals starting this weekend the history-making Shoals, who have won all their 16 regular season games, are favourites to be crowned Illawarra rugby champions for a second straight year.
It is little surprise then that any list of Illawarra rugby's best players this season would include a number of players from the all-conquering reigning premiers.
This columnist has got a little help from club coaches and players to compose this list.
It must be mentioned this reporter didn't get the opportunity to watch some teams as much as others, notably Campbelltown Harlequins and Camden. Though Harlequins coach Adam Choice is one of those coaches who volunteered his selections for Illawarra rugby's best players this season.
Choice did, however, qualify his response saying since he's had a period away from the game, his focus this season was on guiding Campbelttown to success.
And he has done a tremendous job, guiding the Harlequins to their first first-grade finals appearance since 2015.
Campbelltown front-rower Alex Sherwin has led from the front and it's little surprise the experienced forward is considered among the competition's best players by opposing coaches, including Kiama coach James Patrick.
Patrick also couldn't go past the Brandon brothers, Steven, Mark and Keiran, and their Shoalhaven team-mates Will and George Miller.
He was also a big fan of Avondale's powerful No.8 Tevita Vea.
This view was shared by Choice, who added Tech Waratahs gun back Eli Sinoti in his list.
"I've played with and against Eli, he is definitely one of the best players in the competition," he said.
Kiama captain Paul Asquith was also a big fan of Illawarra representative Sinoti.
His top seven players were:
- Will Miller (Shoalhaven)
- George Miller (Shoalhaven)
- Tevita Vea (Avondale)
- Jesse Parahi (Shamrocks)
- Steve Brandon (Shoalhaven)
- Eli Sinoti (Tech Waratahs)
- Jack Hobbs (Kiama)
Tech Waratahs coach Matt Evans said Eli Sinoti was one of the few players in this competition with the talent to represent an international team.
"Eli steps off of both feet, is lightning quick and has one of the best fends you will see," he said.
"At the end of his career now, Eli is one of the most devastating backline footballers around.
"Most comfortable at wing or centre, he can also cover 10 or 15.
"Like all great footballers, his decision making is two steps ahead of everyone else, and he averages 60- 110 run metres."
Evans' top seven players are:
- Eli Sinoti (Tech Waratahs)
- Will Miller (Shoalhaven)
- George Miller (Shoalhaven)
- Brandon Faavaeli (Campbelltown)
- Jesse Parahi (Shamrocks)
- Tu'u Taanoa (Avondale)
- Keeran McCourt (Camden).
Shamrocks coach Damien Trevillion's picks:
- Jesse Parahi (Shamrocks)
- Will Miller (Shoalhaven)
- George Miller (Shoalhaven)
- Steven Brandon (Shoalhaven)
- Mark Brandon (Shoalhaven)
- Keiran Brandon (Shoalhaven)
- Heath Robinson (Shamrocks)
Shoalhaven player-coach Will Miller's selections:
- Jesse Parahi (Shamrocks)
- Paul Asquith (Kiama)
- Eli Sinoti (Tech Waratahs)
- Tavite Amone (Avondale)
- Tevita Vea (Avondale)
- Brett Wellington (Avondale)
- Andre Itula (Avondale)
- Taufonua Alone (Avondale)
![Shamrocks gun Jesse Parahi is one of the best ball carriers in rugby. Picture by Wesley Lonergan Shamrocks gun Jesse Parahi is one of the best ball carriers in rugby. Picture by Wesley Lonergan](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/kZL4qV6yTxfrWZJxKQxjSN/cc730550-5975-4d46-a16b-15d0d2455334.jpg/r0_179_3500_2155_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Taking into account the view of the above experts, this columnist has come up with his own list:
- Mark Brandon - The Shoalhaven winger is the competition's leading pointscorer and tryscorer. He not only scores tries for fun, he is one of the best goalkickers in the comp. The rare times Shoalhaven are in trouble, Brandon comes up with a big play or try.
- Steven Brandon - His brother might get all the accolades but the eldest Brandon brother is the brains of the operation. The silky fullback controls everything from the back and often starts all the attacking raids.
- Will Miller - His brother George may be the captain but its Shoalhaven player-coach Will who is the spiritual leader of the club. Considering all the work he gets through during a match it's no surprise to see Miller more often than not bloodied and bruised after every game.
- George Miller - The Shoalhaven captain is the model of consistency, producing the goods week in-week out. He is also a big-game player, as shown in his man-of-the-match showing in last year's grand final.
- Eli Sinoti - The Tech Waratahs superstar is without doubt the most dynamic ball carrier in the comp. Will Miller is not alone in thinking Sinoti can change games single-handedly.
- Jesse Parahi - The Shamrocks gun doesn't play as often as he used to but when he does, he is still one of the best ball carriers in the competition. His presence also motivationally adds a lot to the young Shammies side.
- Tevita Vea - The barnstorming Avondale No 8 is without doubt one of the best in the game. He has an excellent work rate and is tremendous ball carrier.
- Paul Asquith - The Kiama captain has probably lost a bit of his speed and power but Will Miller is right in saying he is one of the competition's smartest players. Asquith controls everything his team does and can create something out of nothing.
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