MVP Medal – NNA Tri-Series Championship:  LOIS & NOLA GREEN MEDAL

 

This award is provided to the MVP of the Championship Grade who has displayed consistent outstanding performances throughout the season.

 

Teams in the NNA Tri-Series Championship competition select a player from the opposing team each week during preliminary rounds.

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Background to naming of medal: Lois Green was the Hunter region’s first Australian Representative Player.  Lola was inducted into the Netball NSW Hall of Fame in 2009.  Following their retirement from playing Nola and Lois devoted their time to NNA as Executive Committee members for over 20 years.

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Nola Green was a member of NNA for over 45 years.  She was a natural at netball and represented NNA for over two decades.  Nola was selected in the Australia Netball Team that toured New Zealand in 1965. Nola was inducted into the Hunter Region Sporting Hall of Fame In 2002 and the Netball NSW Hall of Fame in 2008.

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Past Winners 

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2023 - Melanie Coleman (Waratah) and Caitlin Lobston (Nova)

2022 - ​Rachel Gardner (Kotara)

2021 - Arrin Starratt Black (Junction Stella)

2020 - Claudia Rodwell (BNC)

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MVP Medal – NNA Tri-Series Opens: BRENDA GONTARSKI MEDAL

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This award is provided to the MVP of the Open Grade who has displayed consistent outstanding performances throughout the season.

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Teams in the NNA Tri-Series Opens competition select a player from the opposing team each weak during the preliminary rounds.

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Background to naming of medal:  Brenda Gontarski joined NNA in 1997 and was awarded Life Membership in 2008.  Brenda was well known to all Senior Teams, always willing to help out when they required assistance.  She served on many Committees over her time with NNA and was always available for carnival or gala days held at National Park courts.

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Past Winners

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2023 - Renee Smith (University), Tahlia Henry (Nova) and Maddison Tolhurst (Kotara)

2022 - Leah Dove (Souths)

2021 - Amity Peterson (Nova Storm)

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MVP Medal – NNA Tri-Series 23s:  SAM POOLMAN MEDAL

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This award is provided to the MVP of the 23s Grade who has displayed consistent outstanding performances throughout the season.

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Teams in the NNA Tri-Series 23s competition select a player from the opposing team each week during preliminary rounds.

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Background to naming of medal:  Sam Poolman started her netball career at the age of 7 with West Leagues Netball Club and at the age of 16 was invited to join the Hunter Jaegars as a training partner.

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Sam represented NNA at State Titles and was awarded scholarships to the Hunter Academy of Sport, the New South Wales Institute of Sport and the Australian Institute of Sport.  Between 2010 and 2015 she played for NNSW Blues, NNSW Waratahs and Southern Force in the Australian Netball Leagues.  Between 2013 and 2016 she played for Adelaide Thunderbirds in the ANZ Championships.

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In 2017 she joined the Giants Netball Team as a founding member in the Suncorp Super Netball Competition and in 2021 Poolman was named Newcastle’s Young Citizen of the Year. Sam retired from the Suncorp Super Netball Competition at the end of the 2021 Season and continues to inspire the young players of the Hunter Region through her Aspire Netball Program.

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Past Winners

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2023 - Erin Dalzell (Junction), Isabelle Groves (University), Ellie Stacey (University) and Olivia Cullen (Nova)

2022 - Kayla Stokes (Nova)

​2021 - Lauren Donoghue (Inner Glow Waratah)

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