It is set to be a busy a few months for Gunnedah Bulldog Matt Hassan after scooping four big awards at the club’s season presentation as well as a lucrative trial with the Newcastle Knights Under 20s pre-season training squad.

“Yeah I can’t wait,” said young Hassan, who starts with the NRL club early next month.

The front-rower was last weekend named Bulldogs’ Under 18 Player’s Player, U18’s Player of the Year and Best Club Forward at the club presentations.

He was also presented the prestigious Ethan Stevens ‘Rising Star’ Award – a trophy dedicated in memory of the promising Bulldogs star killed in a car crash in 2011.

It was an award which held special significance for Hassan. 

“It’s a big honour and a tribute to all the fellas in the team,” he said.

“Especially the Ethan Stevens award.

“Everyone knew the guy, he was a big part of the club, my brother was mates with him.”

The club gongs are addition to his naming as the 2014 Group 4 U18 Player of the Year a few weeks ago.

He was also the Bulldogs’ U18 Player’s Player last season where he spent much of his time on the wing.

Hassan felt his positional change into the forwards this year was a good one.

“It’s the first year I’ve played front-row but I like it... it’s more physical,” he said.

The Bulldogs U18s were closing on nearly a decade of successive premierships after finishing the this year’s regular season as minor premiers.

However a loss to Narrabri followed by another to North Tamworth (Farrer) in the elimination final brought an abrupt end to their season hopes.

It was a pain that is still raw for Hassan knowing what they were capable of.

“I think we had a strong season but we didn’t play to our potential,” he said.

“We took it (the final) too lightly; we needed to put the effort in a bit more.

“I know we could have played better but there’s nothing we can do about it now.”

From the glitz and glamour of the Bulldogs awards ceremony to a school desk and pencil, Hassan walked straight into the start of his HSC exams this week.

When the NVI caught up with him on Wednesday, he just finished his PDHPE examination and still had another three exams to go.

Looking ahead, Hassan considers a potential more permanent position with the Knights as the ultimate.

It would also tie in well with his academic intentions of studying at the University of Newcastle and living nearby with brother, Tom.

But for now, the football plans are on hold.

Showing maturity beyond his years, Hassan has admirably put rugby league on the back-burner so he can pin all his attention on his HSC exams.

“I’d love to make the NRL but I can’t put it all on that,” he said.

“I just want to focus on my schooling at the moment and get the best possible score I can.”

Another popular winner at the Bulldogs presentation was first grade pivot, Robert Briggs. 

He received the GRLFC Quiet Achiever Award ‘David Day’ to resounding applause from the crowd.

Meanwhile first grade captain Trent Hilton capped off his Group 4 Player of the Year honour with another three on the weekend including First Grade Player’s Player, GRLFC First Grade Player of the Year and GRLFC Club Player of the Year.