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The Queensland Reds flyer, and former Australian Schoolboy, Under 21 and Sevens player, Peter Hynes was a surprise selection in many people’s eyes in Robbie Deans’ first ever Wallabies squad.
They were even more surprised when Deans selected him to start on the wing against Ireland for the Men of Gold’s first Test in 2008.
But the 26-year-old did not disappoint, putting in Man of the Match performances in his first two Tests and scoring his first Test try against France on his home ground, Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
Hynes went on to have a golden first season, becoming the only member of the backline, apart from Matt Giteau, to start in all nine of the Wallabies Tests to date in 2008, scoring two tries along the way.
Clearly Wallabies fans were impressed with Hynes polling a stunning 45.5% of the vote (7845 votes) to pick up the award for Your Rookie of Year.
In second place was his Reds team mate Berrick Barnes with 21.3% (3673 votes), who technically is not a 2008 Rookie as he made his Test debut in the Rugby World Cup at the end of 2007.
Close behind Berrick was versatile NSW loose forward Dean Mumm with 19.7% (3397 votes), another surprise selection by Deans which also turned in to a master stroke.
Next up came Mumm’s Waratah team-mate, livewire scrumhalf Luke Burgess (8.9%) with classy Western Force centre Ryan Cross next with 4.7%.
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Originally Posted by TOCC
