The 34-year-old also won the award while playing for the Port City Breakers last season. He is also the first player since Wauchope's Rob Trembath (2010/2011) to win back-to-back awards.

It was a memorable night for the 2019 premiership winner, as his son Cuban received the Player of the Year honours for the Under-18.5s.

Cuban plays fullback for the Breakers and helped lead them to a third place finish this season.

"No father and son have ever won the Player of the Year awards so it's pretty special," Piper told the Argus.

"It was a very proud moment for me and I am very happy for Cuban."

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Piper has made a name for himself as one of the toughest forwards in the competition and he proved why this season as he pushed through numerous injuries and only missed one game.

"It was an up and down season for me but it has obviously ended on a massive high," Piper said.

"I battled a few niggling injuries the whole year. I did my groin early in the year and that kept playing up, I hurt my back, my thumbs and had a hairline fracture on my ribs.

"But I played through the pain because I didn't want to let my teammates down."

The backrower credited the contribution from his teammates for his success.

"I wouldn't have been playing in Kempsey if it wasn't for Russell and Richie, those two helped me so much throughout the year," Piper said.

"The younger guys were also great too. I am so grateful to have been able to play alongside them this year.

"When I head on the field, I do all I can and play my best to try and win for my team and if that gets recongised by others and I get awards like this then that's just a bonus."

Piper admitted the 2019 season will most likely be his last as he plans to hang the boots up. However, he would love to play one more game to tick a box off the bucket list.

"It would be great to play one more game alongside my son, but then it's retirement for me," he said.

Piper concedes he went into the season with low expectations.

"I didn't think it was possible to go from where the club was in 2018 to be able to win a minor premiership, the grand final and have this much success," he said.

"We all stuck together, fought for each other and pulled it off."

Three Macleay players were named in the Group Three team of the year - Piper, wingers Owen Blair and prop Richie Roberts.

Russell Lardner was awarded Coach of the Year, Conrad Lardner Rookie of the Year and Kaine Parkinson was the leading try scorer and top points scorer.

Check in with the Argus over the next few days to read more stories on the Mustangs' Group Three awards night successes and plans for the 2020 season.

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