Three of the region's players and one local referee were rewarded at the Country Rugby League's 2019 awards presentation, held recently at the Ivy, Sydney

Kiama Knights' Cameron Vazzoler and Takilele Katoa picked up the prestigious CRL player of the year and women's representative player of the year award respectively.

Vazzoler was a dominant figure for the victorious Illawarra South Coast Dragons at the Under-23s Country Championship.

The halfback also guided the Kiama Knights to their first Group Seven first grade premiership in 34 years last month.

However, Vazzoler, 21, was quick to praise his Dragons and Knights team mates for their on-field efforts.

"Individual performances are based on team performances and I had a great team around me," he said.

"We had good, strong forward packs which made it a lot easier for us backs."

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Katoa's 2019 highlights included representing NSW Country at the Women's National Championships, leading North Tamworth to the Group Four Clayton Cup and playing in the Dragons NRLW's forward pack.

"I'm pretty shocked with everything that's happened footy wise this year," she said.

"I'm just so grateful and happy with the outcomes. I'm pretty proud and very excited to win [the award], I had no idea I was getting it."

Warilla-Lake South's Tyrone Roberts, 17, received the Tom Nelson Medal as the CRL's under-18s player of the year.

Group Seven product Kara-Lee Nolan, 25, was also named the organisation's top senior referee.

She's widely tipped to graduate to the NRL ranks in coming years.