Andrew wins top accolade

FORMER Dalby boy Andrew McCullough has taken out the Brisbane Broncos' highest honour.

McCullough was awarded the Paul Morgan Medal for Broncos Player of the Year on Friday, as well as being named Players' Player, as voted by his team mates.

The 22-year-old follows in the footsteps of previous Paul Morgan Medal winners including last year's winner Darren Lockyer.

Speaking to the Dalby Herald, McCullough said the accolade was not one he had been expecting.

"Definitely not, there are a lot of boys who really put their hands up - Peter Wallace, Josh McGuire did a great job around Origin," he said.

"It was great to even be mentioned as a possibility.

"Certainly I was aiming to improve. I set a goal at the start of year to be more consistent. I managed to do that a lot better."

It was a hard-hitting year for the number nine, who clocked up more than 1000 tackles and played all 26 games.

McCullough said getting into a routine each week was what had made the difference, but he wouldn't be resting on his laurels.

"It just gives you a bit of confidence, but you want to meet the standard that's been set," he said.

"Plenty of players just have one good season, so there's plenty of work left."

He will spend the off-season recovering from a shoulder surgery, but said he would make it out to Dalby for some school presentation nights later in the year.

McCullough's father, local artist Graeme McCullough, said his family was thrilled with Andrew's success.

"We're extremely proud. My wife and I, we're over the moon," he said.

"We went and watched him on the live feed. His speech went over well."