After leading Queensland to an unlikely State of Origin series win over NSW, the 2020 season just got better for Daly Cherry-Evans who was named the Sea Eagles’ top player on Wednesday.
Half-back Cherry-Evans won the Roy Bull ‘Best and Fairest’ gong at the club’s awards evening which coincided with their 75th anniversary season launch.
The Roy Bull award is named after Manly’s first international player who played 22 Tests for Australia and 177 club games.
The Manly skipper was a rare spark in a disappointing season for the Sea Eagles, who failed to make the finals and finished a lowly 13th in the 16-team NRL competition.
Jake Trbojevic was a popular winner of the NRL Players’ Player Award.
The respected vice-captain again got through a mountain of work in his 20 matches last season.
Tevita Funa was the Sea Eagles’ top rookie.
Nat
Roar Guru
I'll carry the bags today for free beers and a feed.
Tony
Roar Guru
Not as bad as "clubman of the year" which I won at cricket about 30 years ago. I think it was because I didn't complain too loudly when I got dropped two grades during the season, and turned up nearly every week for the free beers and BBQ.
Tony
Roar Guru
Funnily enough, the more he drank the more he swore, and we could understand that ok.
Paul
Roar Guru
especially after a few beers
Tony
Roar Guru
Yep. And well deserved - came from the Barrow club in the UK. No one could understand a word he said.
Paul
Roar Guru
Headbutt, great nickname :happy:
Nat
Roar Guru
A night to watch the coach's son clean up. At my last one (mid 30s by then) the boys stitched me up with an Encouragement Award! Fk em, I retired. :crying:
Tony
Roar Guru
Yes, the best thing about the awards nights, when you knew you weren't required to on stage at any point, was that you didn't have to hold back on the beers, particularly while it was being paid for by the club. I do recall one incident though when our first grade captain, a front rower whose nickname was, appropriately, "headbutt"), was called up totally unexpectedly to present an award to one of our retiring players. Needless to say, the incredibly inebriated captain stuffed it up big time, and nothing he said was even close to being repeatable in mixed company. I only wish that mobile phones and YouTube were invented back then. Somehow, he was made captain again the following year.
Paul
Roar Guru
I think at NRL Club level, they're unnecessary, though we seem to have developed a love affair for the Dally M, NRL team of the year, etc. I used to love going to the awards night with my Clubs, mostly for the beer, prawns and mateship. They were great nights and nobody really cared who won what - except for Clubman of the Year, which very often went to a lady!
Tony
Roar Guru
I always thought awards were unnecessary. After all, it's a team game. Maybe that's why I never looked like winning one :unhappy:
Tony
Roar Guru
Redraw
Paul
Roar Guru
I vaguely recall Manly saying they didn't want to hold their award ceremony last year, given the restrictions on crowd numbers and I think they've used the 75th anniversary as a reason to hold it in March 2021. I'm not sure about you, but when I was playing footy, we didn't take too much notice of awards, other than premierships. These only of interest once I'd given it away. I'm sure those that left already would not be fussed one way or another. No doubt their team amtes would have recognised their efforts.
Nat
Roar Guru
Seems an odd time to have it though. What happens to the guys that left already?
Paul
Roar Guru
A nice way to kick off the new season.