Blackshaw hopes the award will make NRL club scouts take notice.

If the award wasn’t enough, he plans on raising eyebrows in the remaining under-18s finals where he knows Wests Magpies scouts will be watching him.

Blackshaw has been picked at five-eighth, though he said he preferred the more physical position of lock.

“I didn’t really think I would get the award because there are some pretty good players in the competition,” he said.

“I want to play for an NRL club, but I haven’t been asked yet so I might have to do a bit more to get their attention.”

The 17-year-old has another year in the Group 6 under-18s competition, but he hopes next season’s focus will be on the coveted SG Ball competition, before switching back to club football for the Lions.

Blackshaw left Chevalier College recently to undertake a shop-fitting apprenticeship based at Minto.

He decided to finish school in Year 11 and hopes it will help him concentrate even more on football.

“I quite liked school but I would rather work and get money,” he said.

“I was looking at doing an apprenticeship anyway so I thought now was a good time.”

Blackshaw’s departure followed his part in the school’s first XV rugby union grand final win recently.

He played union because it was offered at the school but said his heart is well and truly set on rugby league.

The talented youngster is headed to Fiji in two weeks to play for a Country Rugby League side against the best Fijian football has to offer. He will play four matches on the week-long tour.

Other major award winners on the night included Camden’s Chris Browne (first grade player of the year), The Oaks’ Mark Georgiades (second grade player of the year) and Appin’s Jay O Mullane (third grade player of the year).