Dundee Dragons star Michael Mellon has made history by becoming the first ScotlandRL player to win the same player of the year award three times – and he has done it in three successive years. Mellon has retained the Graeme Stewart Award for Scotland Wheelchair RL Player of the Year for the second time to complete his hat-trick. Former RAF member and rugby union player Michael became involved in wheelchair sports at Dundee Dragons after losing his leg. As wheel as rugby league, Aberdeen-born Mellon also throws the javelin.
“Michael has won the award for his exemplary performance on and off the court,” said Scotland Wheelchair RL regional development co-ordinator Peter Lowis. “On the court he is tough, determined and has the will and desire to win. When things aren’t going well, he is always encouraging and trying to motivate his colleagues while others might become frustrated with them. Off the court he’s the guy that volunteers to tow the trailer wherever we are going – he towed it all the way to Medway last year, to Blackpool and Bradford, he also towed it to Rochdale for the Four Nations.”
The only other Scottish player to win three player of the year awards is Batley Bulldogs full-back Dave Scott, who was Under-16 player of the year in 2009, Under-18 in 2011 and senior player of the year last year. The 2016 Scotland senior Player of the Year Award will be announced later this week.
Previous winners are listed below.
Graeme Stewart Award – Scotland Wheelchair Player of the Year
2015 Michael Mellon
2014 Michael Mellon
2013 Graeme Stewart