Hooper favourite for second John Eales Medal

I have no bias towards any State, so I will approach this as objectively as I can. Hooper does not always perform the core duties of a prototypical 7. It seems to me that is because he is asked to do other things than just be at every break down. He has a wider skill set than simply just being over the ball. If you watch him, he really does a little bit of everything. They balance his play by asking the 6 and 8 to be more involved in the breakdown. Having Hooper over the ball at every breakdown would waste his other talents. It would be like telling Quade Cooper to play Morne Steyn's style of fly half. I think he is a fantastic player, but there will definitely be some competition at 7 once everyone is healthy. Pocock and Gill could provide great competition for the 7 jersey when fit, but I have a feeling he will be the 7 going into the RWC.

The problem with these sorts of people Chivas, is that they are unable to comprehend that their world view which the the source of their self righteous drivel is based on unsubstantiated assumptions about what happened and who said and did what. I think they mistake their assumptions for self evident truths. In this case, can this guy actually articulate exactly why Hooper is gutless without relying on assumptions about what happened, on the plane in particular. He is linking the texts and the open player revolt after the flight to Argentina, where they were supporting Beale BEFORE the texts were leaked to the public. How about considering the possibility they are separate incidents fellas?

Backstory has to be before something. Texts (the issue that is the subject of the code of conduct hearing) happened in June. Nothing after that is backstory. So no, that isn't enough. Learn to use a calendar.

You are once again confusing issues. This code of conduct hearing is about the text messages. Things that happened after that have no bearing on it. None. You are busy slinging accusations and blame at anyone and everyone even close to the issue to try and distract from the issue, which is the text messages in June. An alleged approach on the bench in September = not relevant to this hearing, Beale's conduct in June, or his punishment. An altercation on a plane in October = not relevant to this hearing, Beale's conduct in June, or his punishment. How Patston got her job = not relevant to this hearing, Beale's conduct in June, or his punishment.

Give them to me along with Hodgson's please.

RK,..............Beale was a goose to send those texts, no risk! A goose! Not a cancer on Oz rugby, not even a bad person. Cartainly not someone to be considered toxic, which is why Slipper and Higgenbotham stood up for him as well as his captain and the other vice captain. Patston, the manager?, the psychologist?, the personal assistant?, call her what you will, accepted Beale's grovelling apology, (which at least showed he knew what he had to do) back in June. Should've been end of story. We have Beale's story (reported) that Patson fronted him while he was on the bench waiting to go on in a test match, wanting to discuss his hotel bill ! Hard to believe? If this is true you have a suggestion of a back story which is needed to explain away the (unproven?) accusations against Patston and Mckenzie, and the behaviour of both of them on the plane when an apparently trivial incident was allowed to escalate by coach McKenzie to the point where HE was forced to resign. This goes to the press assertions that Patston was the barrier to anyone wanting McKenzie's ear, that she told one player she wanted to 'get inside his head', and another that his 'body language was bad' and she could 'help him correct it!' I find all this incredible but so is McKenzie's behaviour as coach, the ARU not checking Patston's credentials, and her contention that a dumb 23 year old's lewd text had her crying on her bed! The action of a manager? a psychologist? a perspnal assistant? If that isn't enough of a back story to distract you from your campaign against our captain, and against one of our best players [albeit one prone to 'daft' errors of judgement (- thanks Robbie)] then you're more irrational than I already believe in matters concerning anyone from big bad NSW.

completely agree. as i said by his own standards he was a little quiet in the RC but i think half his problem is he set the bar so bloody high that if he doesnt score a double we think he's quiet.

He didn't get tries in TRC sure jutsie but he still beat defenders and made metres every carry, I wouldn't have said he was quiet. Maybe a little out of position on defence still, and he needs to learn to kick, but he's great on attack.

i will humbly say i was wrong earlier in the year when i called for AAC to be at 13. great year in gold for CK.

Hooper second, Slipper third, Kuridrani fourth

haha good call. he did have a really big NH tour even if he was quiet (by his own standards) during the RC.

Izzy with 314 (!!!) votes wins the John Eales Medal. Already seeing a couple of #keephiminrugby conspiracy posts I am surprised, but can't disagree, he has been good for the Wallabies.

Sean McMahon got U20s player, NRC player and Super Rugby rookie awards.

Twitter feed :D

btw thanks for the updates, where are you getting it from? its not on foxtel is it?

folau, moore and hooper were the clear standouts in the NH tour. in the french series folau killed it in the first test and although he had a few bad plays in the third test he did kill it in the stats with most carries/meters/offloads as well as scoring a couple. I didnt think he'd dominate by so much but def thought hed be up there.

Carter as rookie (no surprise)

Wrong as usual bennalong, try reading my comments for once

You'll be spitting chips if Hooper gets it RK! What will you tell your queensland mates Oh! I got it! It's a NSW conspiracy. Of course.

Hooper wins fans' choice