sharpe wins john eales medal

[tdevil]

Sharpe takes top Wallaby award
Monday Jul 23 23:03 AEST
Shaven-headed lock Nathan Sharpe's all-round game and consistency has seen him win the Wallabies' best player award named after his childhood hero.

Sharpe finished as runner-up to fullback Chris Latham in 2006, but went one better this year to take out his first John Eales Medal.

The 29-year-old Western Force skipper was a comfortable victor, polling 170 votes to win from No.8 Wycliff Palu (134) and prop Guy Shepherdson (131).

Sharpe started in all but one of the 11 Tests played over the voting period, missing only the June 9 Test against Fiji in Perth when he was rested.




The 3-2-1 votes that determine the John Eales Medallist were taken from every member of the Wallabies' match 22 after every Test dating back to last year's Spring Tour.

Sharpe is the fifth forward to win Australian rugby's top honour and joins Latham, Jeremy Paul, David Lyons, Phil Waugh and George Smith as John Eales Medallists.

Brumbies fullback Julian Huxley capped the best 12 months of his up-and-down rugby career by being recognised as the 2007 Wallabies' rookie of the year.

Unwanted by Queensland after last season's Super 14, Huxley gained his Test debut in June against Wales and started in six straight Tests before missing Saturday's Bledisloe Cup/Tri-Nations decider with a thigh injury.

The 27-year-old is the oldest of the four debutants to have won Test honours in the past year and is also the oldest recipient of the award.

Skipper Stirling Mortlock won the try of the year award for his match-winning midfield break and run to send Scott Staniforth over for a 20-15 victory over the All Blacks at the MCG on June 29.

Receiving the ball near half-way from a Stephen Larkham cut-out pass, Mortlock stepped Luke McAlister, broke out of a Richie McCaw tackle and then drew three defenders before delivering an over-the-top pass to Staniforth.

[travelling_gerry]

a vote by your peers....nothing better....

WELL DONE SHARPIE

[Ecky]

As for Huxley......what about our own Ryan Cross? I reckon he had a good year for his first Super season.

Well it's probably something to do with the awards being for Wallabies' rookie, not S14 rookie...

[Burgs]

Well deserved Sharpey
Huxley was a no brainer as he was in virtually every match this season compared to the rest who were occasional starters.
Baring Squad injuries I can't see him getting much time either in France or from then on.
The next generation of 19-25 year olds will force him out.

[RuckNMaul]

well done sharpie and huxley, both with years and years left to play.

goodluck to the both of you in the future

[JediKnight]

Good point, Ecky. I understand now.

One other question, how did Mortlock get try of the year when Staniforth was the one who actually scored it? It was an excellent break by Mortlock and he certainly 'made' the try but in the annals of history, it will show that Staniforth scored the try.

Or is this how Eastern States media portrayed the team effort?

[travelling_gerry]

When the award was read out they said it was awarded to the player "deemed most responsible for the try of the year"

[shasta]

One other question, how did Mortlock get try of the year when Staniforth was the one who actually scored it?

The award was for the person deemed most responsible for the try.

EDIT: Oops

How's Latho's performance though? He was still among the top half dozen or so after missing more than half the test season

[chook]

What a crock of shizer. All Sharpie ever does is lie on the ground before every second lineout and receive attention from the physio's. If there is an award for that then he certainly should get it. Aussie Dan is a much better choice. AAC's try was better than Spanners.
These awards are rigged for sure.

[shasta]

These awards are rigged for sure.

No doubt you're right. The whole Wallaby team is corrupt and goes right along with the vote fixing just so's a Force player wins.

[chook]

You are so right, I'm glad I have your support in this matter Shasta! Stand united everyone against this travesty!!

[Happy]

nibble nibble shasta???

[shasta]

Possibly.

Damn straight FT, nothing is more frustrating than seeing Nathan bloody Sharpe going down 'injured' before every second lineout and he still thinks he is a bloody winger trapped in slow, tall, ponderous body.

[RuckNMaul]

hey chook,
first you bag the man then say that aac's try was better?
who passed him the ball????

[Thequeerone]

A well deserved win by Sharpie - he has played out of his skin this season - hope he continues like this for many more years to come - even if it is rigged he still deserves it for putting up with ungrateful fans such as above - haven't seen him far from the action all season and unlike the odd Tah Wallaby he's not in and out of the team for disciplinary reasons ! Western Force Fans have much to be grateful for