IT feels like only yesterday I was writing my Group Seven season preview, full of fearless predictions about the upcoming 2019 season.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But just like that, 18 rounds have now passed and five teams remain in the hunt for the Artie Smith Cup.
Before Shellharbour, Jamberoo, Gerringong, Kiama and Warilla-Lake South duke it out for the chance to lift the premiership trophy at the Collegians Sporting Complex, let's have a look which 17 players stood out the most in my annual 'Group Seven Team of the Year'.
1. Luke Patten (Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles)
When it was first announced the 'General' was coming to Group Seven, there was a buzz around the South Coast to see how the 282-NRL game veteran would cope, having not played for six years.
But as he said in a recent podcast "it's like riding a bike".
So after shaking off what little rust he had, the Eagles custodian produced week in, week out - constantly being a danger for Gary Breakspear's men.
With numerous halves throughout the season, the one constant threat in the Eagles' line-up in 2019 was Patten and if not for him missing a handful of games with pneumonia in the middle of the season, he could have helped the Park sneak into the top five - his impact was that big.
2. Deejay Harris (Shellharbour Sharks)
After a number of injury-riddled years away from the Sharks, Harris returned to the club at the start of 2019.
Those who have been around Group Seven for a number of years know the quality Harris possesses, which made all fans of the Ron Costello Oval club excited about his signature.
Despite a slow start to the year, playing on the wing and in the centres, Harris hit his straps in a big way in the second half of the season, scoring 10 of his 12 four-pointers in the final six games of the season.
The dynamic ball-runner, who is a combination of speed and strength, has once again proven to be one of the competition's best outside backs and will be key is helping the Sharks defend their title.
3. Matt Winchester (Gerringong Lions)
After beginning his career with the Lions at fullback in 2018, Winchester shifted to the centres this season - a move which returned great dividends for Michael Cronin's side.
Through his 16 matches this season, Winchester scored 22 tries, including a four-try haul against Albion Park-Oak Flats on June 22.
His damaging runs on the left edge and combination with Joel Doosey (who had nine tries himself), were instrumental in helping the Lions secure a top-three spot - with him appearing key to the club's title aspirations in 2019.
4. Kayne Brennan (Warilla-Lake South Gorillas)
Brennan signed with the Gorillas with big raps from Illawarra and quickly lived up to the hype, thanks to his damaging runs, especially out of dummy-half, and powerful tackles.
At times, the Gorillas appeared rudderless in attack but Brennan (and Daniel Burke) grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and got their team over the line.
He scored seven tries this season and set up many more - which he will have to do if Warilla are going to make a deep run in the finals.
5. Jayme Mcelhone (Shellharbour Sharks)
Arguably the quickest player in Group Seven, this speedster - who has 12 tries to his name in 2019 - can cut a game open like few others on the South Coast.
Through his 11 breakout games this season, Mcelhone has proven a handful for all opponents and will play a large role in helping the Sharks defend the title.
6. Jono Dallas (Jamberoo Superoos)
Arguably the best game organiser in the competition, Dallas is the puppeteer for everything that happens at Kevin Walsh Oval.
He helped the Roos end 43 years of heartache in 2017 and his team, which may been even better this season, finished in equal first placed with Shellharbour - with only 23 points being the difference in the for and against column - after only dropping three matches all season.
His organisation skills, passing, kicking and ability to straighten up the opposition's defence allows dangerous players such as Mark Asquith, Dylan Capaan, Kurt Field and Dean Watling room to attack.
If the Roos are to claim their second premiership in three years, I'm sure Dallas will be one of the main reasons why.
Note: One of the harder selections to make, as it came down to Dallas and the competition's leading point-scorer Matt Carroll for the last halves position - but I went with the former as I thought he had more of an impact on his team's success.
7. Cam Vazzoler (Kiama Knights)
The heartbeat of Matt Clarke's side, Vazzoler is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the whole competition - with speed, evasiveness, ball-playing and kicking all up his sleeve, defenders are regularly left flat footed by the way he floats across the field.
At 21 years of age, Vazzoler is easily one of the top half prospects to take Group Seven by storm
The reigning Michael Cronin Medallist has 155 points (11 tries, 55 goals and one field goal) through his 16 games this season and appears crucial for the Knights' chances of ending their 34-year premiership drought.
8. Juvilee Samiu (Shellharbour Sharks)
Samiu is another player who returned to Group Seven with high expectations on his shoulders, after a number of years in town with the Dragons set-up.
Brought to the Ron Costello Oval based club to replace some of the muscle left by the likes of Harold Snell and James Ralphs, Samiu has done that and more.
His ability to get the Sharks' sets going forward regularly cannot be underestimated, being a large reason why his team finished on top of the ladder.
Samiu's combination of size, speed and strength is unlike many other middle forwards in the combination and he is key to the Sharks' title aspirations in 2019.
9. Nathan Ford (Gerringong Lions)
At the start of 2019, I picked Ford to finally break through for his maiden Cronin Medal - after being the bridesmaid on a handful of occasions, which highlights how consistent he has been over the past decade.
The courageous hooker typifies everything there is to know about Gerringong; tough, smart, plays above their weight and never takes a backwards step.
His ability to make those 'eyes up plays' - catching the opposition's defence napping - is nearly impossible to stop, even though everypne knows it's coming.
If not for his exceptional play as one of the pillars of the Lions' side, along with Rixon Russell, Toby Gumley-Quine and Matt Winchester, they wouldn't have been able to secure a top-three and with bucketloads of finals experience in the side, the Lions are one side no team wants to face.
Note: The second hardest exclusion in the team was Kiran Tranter, who's easily become on of the hardest working and tireless hookers in the game.
10. Jack Kavanagh (Shellharbour Sharks)
This man-mountain took the group by storm last season, quickly becoming one of the most feared forwards in the competition.
Since moving into Harold Snell's 13 jersey, the middle forward has taken his game to another level - regularly playing 80 minutes, which is incredible for a guy at his size.
His exceptional work rate, ball-playing ability - especially offloads, and tough nature make Kavanagh one of the first players picked in this team.
11. Tom Angel (Kiama Knights)
Hasn't missed a beat in his return to the red, black and white after two season with the Dragons under 20s side.
Angel has revolutionised the Knights' left-edge attack, scoring 12 tries of his own, while playing a huge hand in plenty of others.
The stocky backrower, with a handy offload and quick feet, continues to prove a handful for all opponents and he, along with Luke Chalker, have added extra grunt to the Knights side, which was missing in last year's grand final loss to Shellharbour.
12. Dylan Farrell (Nowra-Bomaderry Jets)
After an up and down debut season with the Jets in 2018 - largely due to his fitness - Farrell took the competition by storm in 2019, showing everyone why he played 90 NRL games in his career.
Despite sharing himself between backrow and the halves (out of necessity), one thing constant with Farrell was how important he was to their team.
He scored seven tries, kicked 48 goals and laid the platform for his team to succeed in 2019, through his powerful runs, sharp offloads and leadership.
And if not for an hamstring injury in his side's final round match against Gerringong, the Jets might be playing finals for the first time since 2015.
Put simply, he was the heart and soul of the Jets and at times, one of the most unstoppable players in the competition.
13. Luke Asquith (Jamberoo Superoos)
Rounding out the starting side for my team of the year is hardworking lock Luke Asquith, who, in my eyes, is now the favourite to win the Cronin Medal - after finishing in the top five last year.
Asquith is the glue of the Roos' pack.
He's the one Dallas calls on if they need a big hit-up or someone to make a big tackle.
He constantly plays above his size and has this season established himself as one of the premier forwards on the South Coast.
14. Ryan James (Nowra-Bomaderry Jets)
Very unlucky to not make the starting side but, as David Hall and I allude to in our podcast, centre was probably the most hotly contested position in the whole group - with Ethan Ford, Donte Efaraimo, Jake Clarke and Simon Maslanka all having strong cases too.
On his day, James in absolutely unstoppable, with his combination of leg speed, strength and ability to score a try our of nothing - where he scored 11 in 16 matches.
His combination with Farrell and Tyson Simpson made the Jets' right-edge one of the most feared in the competition.
15. Jake Taylor (Gerringong Lions)
With the way Gerringong set up this season, they have one primary playmaker (Rixon Russell) and two five-eighths, being Corey Mulhall and Taylor.
So not only does Taylor get through a mountain of work in the middle of the park, he creates chances out his outside men, such as Winchester, Gumley-Quine and Joel Doosey, and kicks goals - landing 67 this season.
With a depleted forward pack, Taylor and Judd Collyer have been two real shining lights for Michael Cronin's side.
16. Daniel Burke (Warilla-Lake South Gorillas)
Started the season as the Gorillas number six but was quickly moved into his natural position of lock, where he flourished.
Burke was one of, if not the best, Gorillas player every time he played this season and the few games he didn't play - like against the Jets at the Nowra Showground - the side appeared rudderless.
He offered direction to side that desperately needed it, while also getting through a mountain of work in the centre of the park, despite giving up significant size to many of his direct opponents.
Definitely lived up to the hype coming from the Illawarra competition.
17. Kyle Stone (Jamberoo Superoos)
After getting a taste of first grade last season with the Gorillas, Stone made the move to Kevin Walsh Oval, where he has been nothing short of incredible.
To finish the season in second on the try-scoring list (14) is a testament to how hard the backrow - and at times prop - runs the ball.
If you want proof, look no further than the video below (from 4.29) where he gathers a ball on his five metre line, bumps off a couple of defenders and runs the length of the field to score.
Has been one of the big improvers this season and has established himself as one of the best up and coming forwards in Group Seven.
Near misses: Jake Clarke (Jamberoo Superoos), Matt Carroll (Shellharbour Sharks), Kiran Tranter (Shellharbour Sharks), Luke Chalker (Kiama Knights), Donte Efaraimo (Shellharbour Sharks), Josh Sainsbury (Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles) and Mark Asquith (Jamberoo Superoos).
My 2019 Group Seven team of the year: 1. Luke Patten, 2. Deejay Harris, 3. Matt Winchester, 4. Kayne Brennan, 5. Jayme Mcelhone, 6. Jono Dallas, 7. Cam Vazzoler, 8. Juvilee Samiu, 9. Nathan Ford, 10. Jack Kavanagh, 11. Tom Angel, 12. Dylan Farrell, 13. Luke Asquith, 14. Ryan James, 15. Jake Taylor, 16. Daniel Burke and 17. Kyle Stone.