From the time Wallabies legend John Eales first looked towering teenager Nathan Sharpe in the eye, he knew he had the makings of something special.
That feeling was proven right again on Thursday when 34-year-old Sharpe continued the amazing Indian summer of his revitalised career by winning a second John Eales Medal as the Wallabies’ players’ player.
“I don’t think anyone would have picked it to end the way it has, but it’s certainly very nice,” Sharpe said.
“I want to be a guy that blokes want to play with and that’s what that award means, I suppose.
“But I’d always take team success before individual success.”
Following a couple of postponements, Sharpe will finally draw the curtain on his career after captaining Australian on their four-match spring tour of Europe this month.
He will leave the game as Australia’s most-capped forward and with more Test appearances than any other lock in rugby history, though he didn’t discover the latter fact until Thursday’s medal presentation.
Sharpe and dual World Cup-winning lock Eales have between them dominated the Australian lineout over the past two decades, though they just missed out on playing a Test together.
They were teammates at Queensland, which Sharpe described as “pretty cool, pretty special”.
However, Eales retired from Test rugby in 2001 and Sharpe started his international career the following year.
From the first time he met Sharpe, Eales had no doubt he was destined to enjoy an illustrious career.
“I remember the first time I met Sharpey would have been at Southport School and I went to present an award,” Eales told AAP.
“He was a 15-year-old kid and I’d been playing Test rugby for a few years and there I was looking him in the eye thinking it wouldn’t be far away before he is out here.”
Sharpe also recalled that first meeting.
“I still have a photo of Ealesy presenting that jersey to me and I had a full head of hair,” joked the bald-headed Sharpe.
Injuries to experienced locks James Horwill and Dan Vickerman prompted Sharpe to twice extend an international career he originally planned to end last June.
“I think what he’s shown, which we all know to be a fact, is that age is not the relevant measure,” said Eales, who retired at 31.
“It’s your commitment, your ability to actually contribute in the team.
“Why has he been able to do that? He’s resilient, he’s persistent and he’s bright and that last point just can’t be over-emphasised.
“Its such an important point that a lot of people sort of wash over.
“He’s astute about the game and the way he prepares and the way he plays.”
OldManEmu
Guest
PB. Sometimes things get posted on this site that are so far from the mark that they are laughable and you just let them go through to the keeper. So I am laughing hard but I have to put you back over the sightscreen. I would put my mortgage on the fact that if you asked any of the AB locks over the past ten years whether they thought Sharpe was a tough opponent, physically and mentally, a great competitor and a great bloke off the field, your response would be unanimous. But if you need any evidence to show you what Sharpe has been worth to the Wallabies, have a look at a replay of the MCG 2007 Test when the Wallabies beat the All Blacks. Sharpe was okay that night my friend....
rl
Guest
PB, I'd gladly take your opinion on Sharpey over that of Victor Matfield (like Sharpey another soft, complete nobody, right?).
Billy Bob
Guest
It was a joke GWS. I also played on the wing and it was true. Sometimes other wingers made it easy to score. Speed is only one necessary quality. Mongrel also had its place. But let's keep it friendly here. Sharpe has had good games and not so good games. He has great skills and not so great skills. But in response to the 'soft' label from posters above. Well if he's been soft, he's done it over a hundred times in a gold jersey. Not to mention the other games he's played at provincial level. I don't think his captaincy has been anything but rock hard.
The Great G Nepia
Guest
PB I totally disagree. No one who has played 100 plus tests in the engine room of international rugby can be soft. It's simply not possible. If he had played 4 or 5 tests, I may have agreed with you. Playing 13 games in the AFL like Izzy and giving it up is soft. But you can't say Sharpe is soft. The fact is he has played more than 100 tests in the toughest position, and you don't stay in that position of lock in international rugby for so long if you are soft. In fact, its the complete opposite. The very fact he's played 100 tests in that position shows you he's one of the hardest bugger there can be. I don't think any of you guys who call him soft have actually played at lock, and know what it means to add your poundage to rucks and mauls and scrums, let alone on an international scale.
GWS
Guest
Don't think I'd like to get hit by digby. Or badger for that matter...
stainlesssteve
Guest
"wingers only score tries because they're marked by other wingers". (Mal Meninga) Hope the result of the recent Bledisloe test gives you lasting satisfaction, Sharpie, because it should.
Mick
Guest
As I have watched this forum become progressively more negative and hostile during the course of 2012, it's nice to see Sharpe's career provide such a "good news" focus. Congratulations on what has been a terrific career, time will show the enormous contribution he has made to our Wallaby history. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
PB
Guest
I'm not being derogatory, or bringing ABs fans into disrepute, Nepia. NS is soft in competitive spirit, an opinion I've formed watching him his whole career.
The Great G Nepia
Guest
What r u talking about pb? Im an ab supporter too, but for me sharpes the only aussie forward (including horwill when fit) who's hard, always giving 100%. Calling him soft is just plain wrong and disgusting. He is clearly the hardest aussie on the field
The Great G Nepia
Guest
What on earth are u talking about Red Block? You obviously played somewhere out in the backs with a tube of hair gel in your pocket. Lock forward is where it all begins and ends mate. Sharpe is a hero 4 me, the heart of the australian pack, just as sironen was in league, or eales was in his day. His performances this year have been nothing short of collosal. As a kiwi, sharpeys they only current australian player i respect for being hard. Those craetive 'airey fairey' backs you love so much wouldn't even last half a minute in the dark and dangerous places sharpey strides upon during a match.
Bruiser
Guest
As much as it pains me, I have to agree with you PB.
PB
Guest
I'm not trying to be mean, but it amazes me how these bubbles get blown around Wallaby players. Usually after only one good game. Or run. As an all blacks supporter, I've always seen Sharpe as soft and a patsy. He only stands up when there is absoultely no hope of winning/there's every excuse for losing. Naturally this season, with the Wallabies losing 23 players and he called being back like an aged lion, was his season to shine. nothing was expected of him. He's lucky to be associated with a winner like John Eales. The Wallabies of the Eales era achieved things. Sharpe's whole career the Wallabies achieved nothing. I'd compare Sharpe to Stephen Fleming for NZ Cricket, but at least NZ won the ICC champion's trophy. Heroes going cheap in Aus rugby right now. That's the real problem.
onside
Guest
Snap
Minz
Guest
Well, if he'd picked Sharpe, who was in great form as I recall, it would've been one less player letting him down. No idea what he saw in the player who he picked instead.
JohnB
Guest
If it was chosen the way the Brownlow or NRL award is chosen (where it's the ones with the ball in hand the most who win), it would always be a 9, 10, 7 or goalkicker, so little different. As Grimmace says, he's won it becaue it's a players' player award. Arguably that makes it a better award to win, but doesn't say anything about the respective sports.
garryowen
Guest
The Force were lucky to have Sharpe as their Captain from day one and they would probably be in a bigger mess than they are now without him as a leader. It's a pity that he stood down for his last seaon with them as an inducement for Pocock to stay; but he and the Force were let down when Pocock buggered off asap at season end. It's quite ironic that Sharpe was asked to Captain the Wallabies and has illustrated that loyalty helps a lot iwith team spirit when problems abound.. A lesson a number of current players with big heads should learn from . Good luck with his and the teams tour to Europe
Grimmace
Roar Pro
Its the Players Player, an awars voted for by the players out on the field. I spose it shows the difference, between the sprots. In Rugby you need to go forward before you can use it.
onside
Guest
Regardless of the accuracy or otherwise of your observation, it was the players that let Dean down in the RWC
onside
Guest
" I still have a photo of Ealesy presenting that jersey to me and I had a full head of hair,” joked the bald-headed Sharpe." Any chance of getting a copy of that photo posted on The Roar.
Crazy Horse
Guest
Red Block, as a retired winger I must say that in principle I of course agree with your sentiments that the 11 and 14 are the most important players on the ground, so therefore should win most awards. After all the rest of the team only exists to get the winger in position to score. However even though he is only a forward Sharpies award is well earned and thoroughly deserved. For playing brilliantly, exceptional Captaincy and most of all for putting his personal life on hold to answer his countries call in the current injury crisis. Sharpie is not just one of the great Wallabies, he is also a genuinely nice guy. Well done mate.