He’s taken little time to rise to the top of the Intrust Super Premiership NSW ranks – and with that made official at last night’s Brad Fittler Medal, Cameron Cullen knows his first season was a successful one.
Having steered the Burleigh Bears to Intrust Super Cup glory in 2016, Cullen caught the eyes of the Manly Sea Eagles and was lured south in 2017, where he was given five NRL appearances and 17 for the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles. Blacktown’s first season in partnership with Manly failed to deliver finals football, but Cullen was a standout in taking out the 2017 Intrust Super Premiership NSW Player of the Year Award.
“Very honoured to get this award – I’ve had a really enjoyable season,” Cullen told NSWRL.com.au. “I think the environment at Manly and also out at Blacktown with our coach Steve Hales was a really enjoyable environment for me and it really helped me on the field.”
At 24 years of age, Cullen is yet to secure a regular NRL spot but the move to the Sea Eagles was a vital step in the halfback’s maturity.
“I’d seen the opportunity to be with halves like Daly Cherry-Evans and Blake Green and obviously under Trent Barrett, who I used to watch as a kid,” Cullen said. “It was a really good opportunity for me as a half to come down and I just decided it was the best thing for me.
“I’m really happy I made that decision because personally it’s been a really enjoyable year – and obviously to get an award like this, I’m pretty happy with that.”
Watch the full interview with Cameron Cullen in the video above and view the list of Brad Fittler Medal award winners here.
The NSWRL senior competitions’ finals series, covered like never before on NSWRL.com.au and the NSWRL Facebook page, culminate on Grand Final Day at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday 24 September. Be there to witness history, with tickets just $10 for adults and children under 12 free.
