Wallabies and NSW Waratahs flanker Michael Hooper has won Australia’s Super Rugby player of the year award.
The awards on Thursday provided some consolation for the Waratahs – who missed the finals after finishing behind the Brumbies and Queensland Reds – as their fullback Israel Folau crowned a spectacular debut season in the code with the rookie of the year award.
Brumbies coach Jake White was named coach of the year after taking his team to the final.
Hooper was a clear winner of the major gong, attracting 21 votes, four more than his two nearest challengers – veteran Brumbies flanker George Smith and Reds halfback Will Genia.
Wallabies utility back James O’Connor finished fourth before being cut by the Melbourne Rebels, with Folau fifth in the overall count.
Hooper is the first Waratah to claim the coveted award since former NSW captain and fellow openside flanker Phil Waugh in 2001.
The 21-year-old, who joined the Waratahs from the Brumbies at the start of 2013, polled votes in nine rounds of the competition, including four man-of-the-match performances.
Trailing Smith into the final rounds of the season, Hooper polled maximum points against the Brumbies in round 14 to pull one point behind before overtaking his back-row rival with another man-of-the-match display against the Crusaders in round 16.
Hooper secured the title his with a two-point performance in the final round of the season against the Reds.
The comeback fairytale of the season, Smith was runner-up after delivering five man-of-the-match performances for the Brumbies.
Folau was a revelation in his first season of Super Rugby, after switching codes for a second time after two years in the AFL and a hugely successful rugby league career.
The 24-year-old polled votes in six matches, including three man-of-the-match performances, was also NSW’s leading tryscorer and became a dual international with Wallabies selection for the series against the British and Irish Lions.
White is a worthy coach of the year after transforming the Brumbies from competition also-rans to title contenders in the space of two seasons.
Queensland winger Rod Davies was awarded the try of the year on behalf of the Reds after finishing off an incredible length-of-the-field effort in their round 10 match against the Sharks at Suncorp Stadium.
Experienced international Steve Walsh won his second Australian Super Rugby referee of the year award.
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Player of the Year Recipients |
Coach and Team of the Year Recipients |
Rookie of the Year Recipients |
Referee of the Year Recipients |
| 2013 – Michael Hooper
2012 – Will Genia 2011 – Will Genia 2010 – Quade Cooper 2009 – George Smith 2008 – George Smith 2007 – George Smith 2006 – George Smith 2005 – Chris Latham 2004 – Chris Latham 2003 – Joe Roff & Chris Latham 2002 – Stirling Mortlock 2001 – Phil Waugh 2000 – Chris Latham 1999 – Joe Roff 1998 – Stephen Larkham & John Eales |
2013 – Jake White (Brumbies)
2012 – Ewen McKenzie (Reds) 2011 – Ewen McKenzie (Reds) 2010 – Chris Hickey (Waratahs) 2009 – Chris Hickey (Waratahs) 2008 – Ewen McKenzie (Waratahs) 2007 – Laurie Fisher (Brumbies) 2006 – Ewen McKenzie (Waratahs) 2005 – Ewen McKenzie (Waratahs) 2004 – David Nucifora (Brumbies) 2003 – David Nucifora (Brumbies) 2002 – David Nucifora (Brumbies) 2001 – Eddie Jones (Brumbies) 2000 – Eddie Jones (Brumbies) 1999 – John Connolly (Reds) 1998 – John Connolly (Reds)
|
2013 – Israel Folau
2012 – Joseph Tomane 2011 – Nick Phipps 2010 – Pat McCabe 2009 – Laurie Weeks 2008 – Tyrone Smith 2007 – Lachie Turner 2006 – Benn Robinson 2005 – Peter Hewat 2004 – Nic Henderson & Drew Mitchell 2003 – Matt Giteau 2002 – Van Humphries 2001 – David Croft 2000 – Phil Waugh 1999 – Nathan Sharpe 1998 – Chris Whitaker |
2013 – Steve Walsh
2012 – Steve Walsh 2011 – Stuart Dickinson 2010 – Stuart Dickinson 2009 – Stuart Dickinson 2008 – Stuart Dickinson 2007 – Stuart Dickinson 2006 – Scott Young 2005 – Andrew Cole 2004 – Andrew Cole 2003 – Peter Marshall 2002 – Stuart Dickinson 2001 – Peter Marshall 2000 – Wayne Erickson 1999 – Stuart Dickinson 1998 – Scott Young |
More to follow.
jeznez
Roar Guru
We are on the same page, I was clumsily trying to say the same thing above that he must have out performed his teammates in intra-conference games and all players in inter-conference matches. Despite being on the losing side quite a bit more than his opponents in the inter games.
Brett McKay
Expert
Garry, there was more to O'Connor's season than just getting speed-humped by Rene Ranger..
Brett McKay
Expert
But it wouldn't just be the losing games, Jez, the intra-conference games that Aust teams won would've earned points too, if I understand the system. In fact, it's better to star in the intra-conference games, as the competition for points is lower than Aust conference games, as you say. Don't get me wrong, I was surprised Hooper took it out, but it's not inconceivable. I was surprised when we collated the ESPNscrum Team of the Year that Hooper finished ahead of other opensides, too. And that WAS a hot field, let me assure you!
jeznez
Roar Guru
Brett, he didn't just take points off Tahs though. He also had to take them off opposition Aussie teams. The Brumbies are helped in their numbers by their highly successful year, if you total the Brumbies points up in that list it comes to 65, Reds total 55, Tahs 42, Rebels 41 and Force 32. You'll only pick up points in a losing side when it is against NZ or SA teams, other wise the points will largely be going to the side that won in the Aussie derby games. The point allocation process is flawed but it isn't as simple as just saying Hooper didn't have as many team mates competing for points, since he was competing for a smaller pool of points given the large number of losses the Tahs still had. I will say that Hooper was very consistent through the whole year, the game against Ardie Savea for the Canes was probably the only time he got really shown up. Was he the best Aussie player this year, highly subjective and debatable call. Did he hold a consistently high standard across the whole tournament? Absolutely.
Jen
Guest
Hooper is on a Path that very few have dreamt of. In the last 2 year 2011 U20 player of the year 2012 brumbies forward of the year 2012 2nd brumbies players player. 2012 Australian rookie of the year 2012 3rd JE medal 2012 wallabies player player 4 times and motm award in only 9 starts 2013 Super Rugby Player of the year Good luck to an outstanding young man
Fuji
Guest
Agree 100% hooper was a standout, how impressive is this young guy
George
Guest
Amazing that hooper won by so much with folau also in the top 5
George
Guest
Doesn't surprise me at all hooper stats kill any other backrower in the comp. hooper also has an X factor that non of the other 7's have. In 10 years time we will compare him with smith
Minz
Guest
With the coaching change, they were uniformly awful early in the year - quite enjoyed watching them play for much of the back end of the season though.
Franky
Guest
Hooper was superb, if you watched him you would know.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Mitchell was pretty good and you cant judge McCabe or Tomane yet.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Yeah thats it. However it helps JOC that his team hasnt got Genia, Horwill and Cooper in his team if you know what I mean. Its a lot easier to stand out amoungst a whole lot of new players or, all due respect to the Rebels, if the players around you are not Wallaby level. His super season was OK but there is no way he was 4th best in Aust or that Hooper was the best imo. Hooper just stood out more in his games than other players did that had a better season than him. Just my opinion.
Garry Edwards
Guest
Hey Brett, can't say that I agree with you on the homeless boy being a dominant player (I must be carefull in expression or I'll be required to "moderate" again, my honesty is brutal) seems to me no one saw Ranger Steamroll him -absolute classic that, or took too much notice of his actual involvement and the total number of games played. Based on that the system needs rejigging.
jutsie
Guest
white tried to convert vaea into a 7 and hooper had basically bang the door down with some great performances before white started him at 7. Still i dont think the brums felt his loss that greatly considering they recruited pocock and had g smith replace him when he went down. not to mention colby faiingaa on the bench
frisky
Guest
Hooper is a great loss to the Brumbies. I wonder if he had any regrets when watching the final instead of playing in it. I have wondered if not being picked for some of the big games by White (e.g.the loss to the Reds/Blues ?? I forget which ones but I remeber being surprised by his omission) had a bearing on his decision to leave. White seemed to have the usual SA preference for bulk over speed/finesse.
Markus
Guest
Perhaps the rest of the Waratahs squad were caught off guard by suddenly having a player with a positive attitude in their ranks?
Markus
Guest
As great a player as Latham was, I suspect that this contributed heavily toward his impressive tally of player of the year awards too. Being the best player for your team week in week out is made a lot easier if most of the team is regularly not delivering.
Minz
Guest
Funny, I thought Hooper had a bit of an off year!
Brett McKay
Expert
Tane, I think (but don't know for sure) that the vote ae given in ANY game featuring Australan teams, nt just the intra-conference games. So when the Rebels played NZ or SA teams, it's not at all inconceivable that JOC was the dominant player in the voting...
TembaVJ
Guest
Agree, Smith with 5 moms should have taken it.