This year's Roma and District Junior Rugby League finals attendees observed a minute's silence for Williki Talbot (also known as Williki Collins), a 15-year-old St George player who lost his life in a vehicle accident on the way home from a recent senior match.
A fitting tribute was held, featuring players in all age groups and all clubs present on grand final day, with some players and coaching staff from other teams even donning the St George colours.
The recent Brisbane Broncos Western 9s event was cancelled out of respect to Williki's friends and family, and he was also honoured with a minute's silence before the RDRL senior grand finals.
Newspaper articles have remembered Williki as a proud Kamilaroi boy who excelled in storytelling and dance, along with his passion for rugby league.
In total, six people were transported to hospital following the crash on the Carnarvon Highway, around 40km south of Surat late last month.
It made for an emotional Under 14s grand final in particular, with the town of St George represented against the Western Ringers.
Although St George went down in a 40-18 result, both teams showed tremendous spirit and dedication to rugby league.
The Western Ringers travelled a 930km round trip, while St George travelled 400km, giving youth from both towns a chance to exhibit their skills.
Western Ringers 40 (Tries; Masion Dobbin 3, Blake Mills 2, Bailey Dobbin, Thaile Briggs. Goals; Maison Dobbin 5) def St George 18 (Tries; Jackson Kadel, Preston Thurston, Laith Webster. Goals Jackson Kadel.)
At the end of the day awards were presented to the winning teams, as well the best players selected from each of the grand finals.
The big award for the day was the Bruton Family Player of the Finals, which was won by Maison Dobbin from the U14 Western Ringers.
Knights Smash Repairs Champion Club – Roma Saints
Under 12 Premiers Sharp Engineering - Winners Roma Saints Maroon
Best Back – Harry Waldron – Roma Saints Maroon
Best Forward – Cooper Jukes – Roma Saints White
Best & Fairest – Noah Rogers – Roma Saints Maroon
U14 Royal On 99 - Winners Western Ringers
Best Back – Jackson Kadel - St George
Best Forward – Blake Mills- Western Ringers
Best & Fairest – Bayley Dobbin - Western Ringers
Representative Trophies 2018
U10 – Bart Worland Most Improved – Charlie Bergman
U10 – Penrose Family Player of the Year – Harry Green
U11 – BJ McGuire Player of the year – Matt Ahern
U12 – Joe Flynn Memorial Player of the Year – Noah Rogers
U12 – Maranoa Magic Female Player of the Year – Emmy-Lou Everingham
U13 – Coomber Bros Player of the Year – Connor Lacey
U14 – Coonan/Ferry/Bartley Player of the Year – Marcus Maunder
