From Shootings to Superstardom; Jared Hayne – Player of the Year
By CHRIS SANDS
Tuesday September 8 saw the National Rugby Leagues most prestigious individual award go to the in-form player of the competition, Parramatta Eel fullback, Jared Hayne.
The 27th annual Dally M Awards were held at Sydney’s State Theatre on Tuesday night drawing the games superstars and a variety of Australian A-List celebrities.
With the Parramatta Eels returning to form on the back end of the season winning six consecutive games, the 21 year olds contribution to this hot streak led to an unprecedented six man-of-the-match awards in a row securing the player of the year award.
When Prime Minister Kevin Rudd presented the young star with the award he dedicated the award to his mother Jodie, his performance in last year’s Rugby League World Cup and his devout faith.
‘I feel like crying,’ an overwhelmed Hayne said.
‘This is the best thing that has ever happened to me,
‘My Mum, my rock, the Fijian World Cup team; if I’m not in that team, I’m not here.’
Hayne became only the second fullback ever to take out the prestigious award on Monday night and the first Parramatta Eel since halfback Peter Sterling 22 years ago.
The Dally M Medal for Player of the Year is based on a 3, 2, 1 point system each round which is undisclosed to the public from Round 16 onwards. Hayne stood three points clear of second place, Thurston, a two-time winner of the medal, after the completion of Round 26.
The Bulldogs’ successful 2009 turnaround saw them come from receiving the 2008 wooden spoon to second position on the 2009 table, after losing the minor premiership to the Dragons due to for and against.
This was heavily rewarded when the team scored nine Dally M awards, including: Coach of the Year, Kevin Moore, Captain of the Year, Andrew Ryan, Rookie of the Year, Jamal Indris, and Top Point Scored, Hazem el Masri.
The St-George Illawarra Dragons won their first Minor Premiership this season since the clubs merge 11 years ago due to some brilliant individual performances which were rewarded on the night.
Dragons number six, Jamie Soward, won both the Dally M five-eighth of the year and Provan-Summons Medal as the people’s choice for player of the year after receiving 235,000 votes on a weekly basis from members of ‘MyNRL.com’.
As always judges for the competition collectively came from both the media and ex-players; the panel consisted of: Andrew Johns, Gordon Tallis, Michael Hagan, Laurie Daley, Wayne Pearce, Greg Alexander and journalists from the Daily Telegraph Rugby League section.
A complete list of the Dally M winners from the night is as follows:
Fullback: Jarryd Hayne (Eels)
Winger: Taniela Tuiaki (Wests Tigers)
Centre: Josh Morris (Bulldogs)
Five-eighth: Jamie Soward (Dragons)
Halfback: Johnathan Thurston (Cowboys)
Lock: David Stagg (Bulldogs)
Second Row: Anthony Watmough (Sea Eagles)
Prop: Ben Hannant (Bulldogs)
Hooker: Michael Ennis (Bulldogs)
Captain: Andrew Ryan (Bulldogs)
Coach: Kevin Moore (Bulldogs)
Rep Player: Greg Inglis (Storm)
Rookie: Jamal Idris (Bulldogs)
Provan-Summons People’s Choice: Jamie Soward (Dragons)
Peter Frilingos Memorial Award: Nathan Merritt (Rabbitohs)
Top Point-scorer: Hazem El Masri (Bulldogs)
Top Try-scorer: Brett Morris (Dragons)
Toyota Cup Player of the Year: Beau Henry (Dragons)
