Hooper wins record fourth John Eales Medal, says he's bounced back from Covid

Wallabies captain Michael Hooper will miss the first two rounds of Super Rugby as he recuperates from a foot injury, but says he has bounced back without issue from contracting Covid at New Year.

Hooper on Sunday became the first player to win the John Eales Medal four times, just reward for his outstanding year at the helm of the team.

Hooper, who also won the John Eales Medal in 2013, 2016 and 2020, said he was proud of the achievement, which carried extra weight as “you get the realisation you’re closer to the end than you are to the start.”

Hooper has been working with Wallabies strength and conditioning staff or rehab his foot injury and bring his fitness back towards peak level in time to make an impact for the Waratahs.

“It’s a slow one and we just avoided surgery there,” Hopper told a news conference on Sunday.

“I had Covid over New Year, then on the way back we had some time in the house, so not walking on the foot. It’s slow but better than the alternative which was an operation.

He said his reaction to Covid was, “ok. I don’t want to offend anyone when I say this but it was mild for myself. It made for a quiet New Year.

“I’ve pushed myself and it seems fine. I’ve been able to start surfing, get on the assault bikes, so not too bad.”

Hooper says the injury might have helped his freshness, forcing him to take a proper break from the game and it’s clear he’s workig himself up for a long 18 month run in to the 2023 World Cup.

“We improved from 2020,” Hooper said of last season’s Wallabies campaign. “Some of the things we were doing on the park we spoke about in 2020 and started to lay out there particularly in some back to back wins at the end of the Rugby Championship.

“But again we finished around 50 percent [win rate] and we need to get that up. You look at our trajectory now through to the the next World Cup – 2020 was a scrappy year, 2021 we improved and got better as a team. The expectation is that again this year.

“That’s got to look like more wins, getting some silverware, then the year after that you improve again and put yourself in with a cracking shot to be peaking the right time come that World Cup.

“The hope is that with this Super Rugby season all of us kick on from last year and it rolls on into Test rugby this season, there’s no drop at any point and it’s looking like that direction the next 18 months.

“We got some exposure to some big Tests overseas and big crowds and different styles of rugby. Coming into Super Rugby this year, players kicking on with form is really crucial.”

The 30-year-old broke World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee George Gregan’s record of most matches as Wallabies captain last year, an honour Hooper has now had 65 times in his 118-Test career.

Hooper layed nearly every minute of the Wallabies’ 2021 campaign before injury struck in their penultimate fixture against England at Twickenham in November.

And he led Australia on a five-game winning streak for the first time since 2015 and was also nominated for the 2021 World Rugby Player of the Year.

“It’s extremely humbling to be awarded the John Eales Medal in a year where there were so many stand out performances across the squad,” he said.

“Players certainly don’t play the game for individual awards but there’s no doubt it’s special to be recognised by your teammates in this way.

“As a group we made some good strides last year but there’s still plenty to improve on and I’m looking forward to doing that with the Waratahs and the Wallabies this season.”

Eales described Hooper was “an incredible pillar of consistency in the Wallabies team”.

“His performances as a captain and as a player, week in week out, season in season out, set the perfect example for his team.

“In the history of rugby, there haven’t been many players as consistent as Michael Hooper.

“His influence on this Wallabies team, and rugby in Australia, has been profound so he’s an easy guy for Wallabies supporters and former players to feel proud of.”

In the other awards announced during the week, Henry Hutchison and Charlotte Caslick collected the men’s and women’s sevens player of the year awards, Maraika Koroibete’s touchdown against South Africa was named try of the year, Andrew Kelleway won the rookie gong with Nic Berry (referee), James O’Connor (Super Rugby player) and Lucy Lockhart (Super W player) recognised for their efforts while Chares Crittle and Rob Heming were inducted in the Wallaby Hall of Fame.