This is the second major award he has picked up this year, having earlier won the Manning first grade cricketer of the year.

Rees is also the second successive Ratz player to win the gong following Sam Hartnett's success in 2014.

Rees is the Manning River Times-Iguana Sportstar of the Week, earning a $50 open order at Iguana.

But while personal awards are all well and good, Rees said he'd gladly swap it for a premiership.

He admits the Ratz disappointed in 2015 when bowing out in the final after losing heavily to Gloucester.

"After the first few games I honestly thought it was going to be our year,'' he said.

"There was a good feel about the side. But unfortunately it wasn't to be.''

He believes injuries played a part, with the Ratz going into the final minus some of their top personnel.

"I don't like to use that as an excuse, but we did get injuries to key players. Clint Walker is a former Country rugby league rep and Ricky Campbell had been one of our best this year.

"We got the injuries at the wrong time - at the end of the season.''

Rees, 24, played league when he was younger but has been in the rugby ranks for the past couple of seasons. He's represented the Mid North Coast and was asked if he was interested again this year, but bypassed the opportunity.

He believes the Ratz can recover from this season's tribulations, but with one proviso.

"We have to get a couple of bigger bodies in the forwards,'' he said.

He's now looking forward to the start of the cricket season next month. An opening bowler and hard hitting batsman, Rees has represented North Coast and NSW Country in the past.

He'll again be a lynchpin with the Old Bar side, beaten grand finalists last summer and is confident the Seasiders will be among the front runners again.

Rees said he has no particularly preference for rugby or cricket.

"I like them about the same,'' he said.