He's been there for the good time and bad, both on and off the field.

He's seen the footy club struggle to attract players and compete on the field, he knows how hard its been fielding sides due to so many players on shift work, and he's seen the affect of the ongoing drought has had on the town.

But through it all the Tigers have provided real joy for the community, and it continued again on Friday night when Neill was named the Whitney's Jewellers Group 11 Player of the Year for 2019.

Neill is the first Nyngan player to ever win the award, with his move to lock this season helping his game reach a new level.

"I just love playing for Nyngan," Neill said.

"There's a bit of uncertainty around with the drought and how it affects the community but hopefully our performances are giving them something to be proud of.

"I know that's what is driving me."

Neill admitted he was shocked to receive the award, highlighting the huge amount of talented players in the competition this year.

And while some of names' of his teammates and rivals may jump off the page more, no-one can say Neill isn't a worthy winner.

Having been a consistent performer for the Tigers for a number of years, his game went to a new level this year and he puts it down to the need to keep-up in a competition loaded with talent.

"With the calibre of players in the competition I didn't expect myself to be up there," Neill said of getting the award.

"I think sometimes there's a lot of negativity about bringing players in but I think it's a great thing.

"You want to be competing every week against guys like Travis Waddell, and Justin Carney, and the other guys from Newcastle at Wellington, and you look at a team like Forbes and they've got really good juniors.

"There's so much quality and to me, that's what you want. You want to go out and have to compete for the full 80 minutes every week.

"That's what has brought the best out in me this year."

Having finally made the full-time moved to lock this season after flirting with the position for a number years, Neill has given a new dimension to an already powerful forward pack at Nyngan.

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With the ball-playing skills from his days in the halves adding to his running game, Neill takes some of the pressure of halves Josh and Jai Merritt while keeping the Tigers forwards on the front foot.

"I was going to play there years ago but haven't rerally been able to get regular halves in first grade," Neill said.

"I had to play there and went to hooker and lock at times but we're lucky with Josh and Jai I can just play my natural game.

"I've definitely enjoyed it but it's been a challenge at times."

Neill winning the major award capped off a proud night for the Nyngan Tigers on Friday at the Dubbo RSL.

Matt Sheather collected the Mark Murphy Shield as reserve grade player of the year, while other winners also have a connection with the club.

The Maragret Kelly Shield winner as league tag player of the year was Dubbo CYMS star Alahna Ryan, someone who started at the Tigers, while another Tigers junior in Campbell Woolnough was a joint-winner of the juniors player of the year.

Woolnough has been a Forbes regular in recent years but started out at Nyngan and he shared Friday night's Jim Lang Shield win with Parkes captain and Western Rams teammate Ben Lovett.

"For Matt Sheather, that's totally deserved," Neill said.

"He trained really hard in pre-season and lost a lot of weight and has been a great leader with a good kicking game.

"I'm pretty proud of him and Alahna is a Nyngan girl as well so it's pretty rare.

"But a big wrap has to go to the committee, the work they do is great."

Dubbo CYMS also enjoyed success on the night, with Jarryn Powyer being named the Referee's Player of the Year, while the Fishies also won the club championship and the award for most tries across all grades.

Tireless Westside secretary Brooke Mallison was named the volunteer of the year while up-and-coming official Shanika Harpur was given the referee's award.