Giteau surprised as he takes out the John Eales medal
By Samantha Broun, 23 Oct 2009 Samantha Broun is a Roar Rookie
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- Chris Latham, Matt Giteau, Rugby Union, wallabies
Matt Giteau of Australia, right, is tackled during the rugby union international match between England and Australia at Twickenham stadium, London, England, Saturday Nov. 15, 2008. AP Photo/Matt Dunham
Wallabies flyhalf Matt Giteau has received a timely tonic for recent woes, winning the John Eales Medal, Australian rugby’s highest individual annual award.
Giteau became only the second back to win the honour in its eight-year history, replicating former Test fullback Chris Latham’s success in 2006.
The star playmaker has admitted disappointment at being overlooked by coach Robbie Deans for the Wallabies vice-captaincy and is also believed to be under pressure to keep his prized No.10 jersey with new vice-captain Berrick Barnes in consideration.
Giteau was surprised he took out the award.
“I didn’t expect it. I was actually a little bit surprised to be nominated in the top five,” he said.
“Huge honour, very happy with it.
“As a player you are always your harshest critic. To be fair I thought I didn’t have one of my strongest Tri-Nations but lucky the boys gave me some points.”
Being voted the Wallabies best player of the past year by his teammates should be a handy boost for the 72-Test star’s frame of mind heading into next week’s Bledisloe Cup Test in Tokyo then the grand slam quest in Europe.
Giteau received 190 votes, well ahead of injured lock Nathan Sharpe who was second (162), while last year’s winner George Smith (161) was third, ahead of form prop Benn Robinson (132) and utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper (106).
The medal was voted on by Wallabies players on a 3-2-1 basis after each Test from the start of the 2008 Spring Tour to Europe through to the end of the 2009 Tri Nations series last month.
Notably Robinson, a favourite to take out the John Eales Medal, was rewarded for an outstanding season by being crowned Wallaby of the Year.
The front-rower won the public vote after fans selected online their top performing player out of a nominated top five.
Unsurprisingly, Wallabies young gun James O’Connor was named Rookie of the Year following his meteoric rise to the Test ranks during last year’s Spring Tour.
Adam Ashley Cooper, who provided the most exciting moment as the Wallabies struggled to a 1-5 record in the Tri-Nations, was awarded Try of the Year for his effort against the Springboks in Cape Town.
The 1991 World Cup winning captain Nick Farr-Jones was recognised for his services to the game with the Joe French Award.
Under 20s Player of the Year went to prop James Slipper and Stuart Dickinson was recognised as Referee of the Year.
Australian women’s team star Debby Hodgkinson was a dual winner, taking out the Sevens Player of the Year and the Women’s Player of the Year awards.
The Sevens Player of the Year award was introduced this year and named in honour of Shawn Mackay, the former Australian Sevens captain who was tragically killed after being struck by a car while on tour with the Brumbies in South Africa during the 2009 Super Rugby season.
The award was presented to Hodgkinson on Thursday night by Mackay’s father John.
© AAP 2012Australian Rugby Awards 2009
John Eales Medal: MATT GITEAU
Australia’s Choice – Wallaby of the Year: BENN ROBINSON
Joe French Award: NICK FARR-JONES
Rookie of the Year: JAMES O’CONNOR
Try of the Year: ADAM ASHLEY-COOPER
Women’s Player of the Year: DEBBY HODGKINSON
Sevens Player of the Year – Shawn Mackay Award: DEBBY HODGKINSON
Volunteer of the Year: STEVE GANN
Under 20s Player of the Year: JAMES SLIPPER
Referee of the Year: STUART DICKINSON
The 2009 Hall of Fame inductees – JON WHITE, the late Dr ALEC ROSS and the late TONY MILLER.Previous winners of the John Eales Medal
2002 – George Smith
2003 – Phil Waugh
2004 – David Lyons
2005 – Jeremy Paul
2006 – Chris Latham
2007 – Nathan Sharpe
2008 – George Smith
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stillmissit said | October 23rd 2009 @ 7:03am | Report comment
Well we have all had a dig at Gits and yes he shouldn’t be playing 5/8th But……….
He is a great player and one of the first picked in the team I would suggest. If he ends up back at I/C this tour I expect him to ‘carve em up’ again and rekindle the respect and gratitude we once gave him so freely.
Benny said | October 23rd 2009 @ 7:06am | Report comment
I guess it helps when you are the most popular player on the team…
J.Gray said | October 23rd 2009 @ 7:12am | Report comment
It just goes to show the callibre of the voting when Nathan Sharpe came in second, He & Palu would have to tie as the 2 worse performing forwards this year, yet he comes 2nd????????
TB said | October 23rd 2009 @ 3:01pm | Report comment
Yes, what would the players know
Cattledog said | October 23rd 2009 @ 3:43pm | Report comment
Precisely!
fox said | October 23rd 2009 @ 7:28am | Report comment
Yeah Benny it sure smells like a popularity contest to me too. That the team doesn’t even recognise their greatest asset this year was Benn Robinson is just ridiculous. It’s no wonder they lost 5 matches – they were obviously not watching the games they were playing.
mudskipper said | October 23rd 2009 @ 8:04am | Report comment
Its a well-timed note of respect from the Wallabies players… Giteau has been their go to guy from some time now. All the other international teams pay great respect to Matt Giteau’s creative potency… Giteau has score the most international points, made countless line breaks and try assists, he is the player who makes it happen for the Wallabies on the field. Well over due in my view… This should lift his spirits; it’s a great honor.
Congratulations Gits and well done… your’re a champ…. good luck on the spring tour…
Hammer said | October 23rd 2009 @ 8:54am | Report comment
This has to be a joke surely
Jameswm said | October 23rd 2009 @ 8:57am | Report comment
Yes mudman that’s one take on it.
Here’s another
A major criticism of the Wallabies is the remaining negative “Brumby” influence, that of looking after yourselves and the existing senior players, not supporting change, not pushing yourself too hard, thinking you are more important than the coach etc. How else do you explain the players voting for two underperforming players ahead of Benn Robbo, AAC and TPN, who have been the standouts? And Berrrick Barnes as well.
To me it suggests the public knows what’s going on with the team better than the players themselves do.
Gudfala said | October 23rd 2009 @ 9:27am | Report comment
Yeah that’s right – the Brumbies won two titles by ‘not pushing themselves too hard’.
And somehow the award is purely the result of the malignant influence of Giteau, Smith and Mortlock – nothing at all to do with how the team views Giteau’s contribution.
mudskipper said | October 23rd 2009 @ 12:58pm | Report comment
A Waratah player will always win the peoples choice award. They have the voting numbers and to be fair Ben Robinson had a good year.
However to win the illustrious John Eales Medal a player really needs to be consistent and play all of the tests to collect the points. Hence the award is given annually. Giteau was the player of the year especially prior to the 3N this year. He has earned the reward.
However for all you Brumby bashing rugger despots from another province personally… I’m looking forward to the start of a new Brumbies golden era in 2010…. furthermore it will only be of greater assistance for the Wallabies RWC campaign.
Working Class Rugger said | October 23rd 2009 @ 1:06pm | Report comment
Mudskipper
You have to be consistent to win the John Eales Medal. Hmmm. Okay. Giteau and Sharpe were consistent this season. Consistently average. Benn Robinson and Berrick Barnes were far better than either of those pair in every game this season. Hell, I’d even agree if AAC had won it. But Giteau and Sharpe.
Patrick said | October 23rd 2009 @ 8:58am | Report comment
I’m with Benny and fox on this one – popularity contest. I seriously think this highlights what is wrong with the old heads at the moment – that “Australian rugby’s highest individual annual award” boils down to a popularity contest among the players. There is no real credentials behind this award – and as such I fail to see how Giteau winning it has awarded him any merit.
Vented Relief said | October 23rd 2009 @ 9:14am | Report comment
Congrats to Giteau. Despite having the ‘wrong attitude’ and ‘not supporting change’ (how Roarers would know this I have no idea – they must speak to him, his teammates and the ARU staff more than I do I guess), he has still played better on average than every other back (remembering this is a 12 month award – not just an award for who played the best (or least worst) in the only game anyone remembers at the moment – the debacle in wellington).
Stash said | October 23rd 2009 @ 9:29am | Report comment
Good work Gits. He is a quality player…. I think many teams would want him on their squad.
Not a good year for him though – he seems to have lost a bit of his mojo and lost some of that slippery intimidation. So a bit of a surprise that he won this.
Gits used to fit into world 15 squads, but I think that Dan Carter has probably cemented that role
Dean Pantio said | October 24th 2009 @ 12:58am | Report comment
Don’t be daft. Giteau has never been better than Carter.