2009 South Sydney Player Awards
George Piggins Medal for Best and Fairest player - John Sutton
South Sydney junior and Rabbitohs five-eighth John Sutton has been awarded the George Piggins Medal for Best and Fairest player in 2009. Sutton had a stellar season for the Rabbitohs, and is widely recognised as one of the players around which to build this Club for the years to come. Sutton’s silky skills coupled with his brute strength created many highlights for the Rabbitohs in 2009. His two-try performance against the Panthers dragged the Rabbitohs out of their five-game losing streak, setting them on path of six-out-of-nine wins to finish the season and a chance of reaching the NRL Finals. But it wasn’t his try-scoring ability that electrified the Rabbitohs’ faithful in 2009, it was his ability to set up his outside men through deft passes or simply not letting himself die with the ball, that had all connected to the Rabbitohs excited about Sutton. He led the NRL in try assists (27), charge downs (4), second in the NRL in line break assists (22) and third in the competition in offloads (53). Sutton is part of the Australian Kangaroos’ train-on squad for the end-of-season Four Nations tournament, and he certainly wouldn’t look out of place in a green and gold jersey. Sutton represented City Origin in 2009, his second appointment for City in consecutive years.
Jack Rayner Players’ Player - Luke Stuart
Rabbitohs stand-in captain Luke Stuart has taken on the Jack Rayner Players’ Player Award for the second year running, after the live count of the season votes was tallied at the Red and Green Ball tonight (Friday). The Rabbitohs NRL team cast their vote after each game throughout the season, with the Stuart edging out fullback Nathan Merritt by one vote for the award. Stuart racked up 37 votes for the season, ahead of Nathan Merritt on 36 votes and Craig Wing on 31 votes. Stuart had another outstanding year, playing in all 24 of the Rabbitohs matches including the final four matches of the season as captain in the absence of the injured Roy Asotasi.
Members’ Choice Award - Nathan Merritt
Rabbitohs junior and try scoring freak Nathan Merritt has been judged the Members’ Choice for 2009. Over 1000 Members of the South Sydney Football Club logged in to Rabbitohs.com.au to cast their vote over the past fortnight, with Merritt edging out team mates John Sutton and Luke Stuart for the award with 28% of the total vote. Merritt has been one of the Members’ favourite performers for many seasons, and this year has been rewarded with the Members’ Choice Award. Merritt played 23 games for the Rabbitohs in 2009, racking up his 100th NRL game in the red and green colours in the Club’s eighth round clash with the Gold Coast Titans. In those 23 games, Merritt scored 19 tries for the season finishing in equal fourth position on the NRL tally behind the Morris twins and Taniela Tuiaki. Merritt, of course, gave the Rabbitohs Members one of their greatest memories from the 2009 season when he kicked the game winning field goal to sink the Wests Tigers in the final second so of the match at the Sydney Cricket Ground in round ten, the NRL’s Heritage Round.
Bob McCarthy Clubman of the Year - Scott Geddes
Rabbitohs front-rower Scott Geddes has been named the Bob McCarthy Clubman of the Year for 2009. Geddes is one of two current Rabbitohs’ players who has been with the Club since it was re-instated to the NRL competition in 2002. He fought back from a number of injuries to claim a spot in the Rabbitohs top squad in 2009, playing 16 first grade games this year including his 100th NRL game in the final round against the Sharks. Of course all of Geddes NRL matches have been in the red and green jerseys of the Rabbitohs, and what better way could he have celebrated than by scoring the winning try to snatch victory from the Sharks in the final eight second of the match. Geddes has become a leader at the Club, captaining the South Sydney side in the historic Return to Redfern match in February against the Wests Tigers. Geddes is a South Sydney man, and highly deserving of the 2009 Bob McCarthy Clubman of the Year award.
Souths Cares Contribution to the Community Award - Jamie Simpson
Jamie Simpson has won the Souths Cares Award for Contribution to the Community for 2009, the second year running that Jamie has been presented with this award. Jamie has completed an extraordinary amount of community work this season competing with a very full training schedule with the NRL squad. Jamie has completed over 100 hours of community work for Souths Cares and the Football Club this season not to mention additional work with the charities he supports and NRL’s One Community. Jamie’s story is an amazing one. A young man that has overcome adversity, being diagnosed with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma as a teenager, to fight his way back and defeat cancer twice, then to make his way into the NRL side at the Rabbitohs. It’s Jamie’s story, and his resolve to battle against the odds to achieve his dream, that makes his presence and his efforts so powerful and meaningful. Jamie is heavily involved with the Souths Cares Teachers Aide program, attending La Perouse Public School and Matraville High School. Jamie has made several visits to the Sydney Children’s Hospital this season, brightening up the days of the sick kids that need a lift whilst going through difficult times. Jamie is an ambassador for Cure Our Kids, a charity aimed at improving the quality of life for kids with cancer and their families at Westmead Children’s Hospital. During the off-season Jamie will be undergoing training courses with the Australian Red Cross ‘Save-a-mate’ program aiming to reduce the harm associated with substance abuse with young people. Jamie is also an ambassador and spokesperson for Lymphoma Australia, a charitable not-for-profit organisation that provides information for Lymphoma patients and their carers. Jamie has also been a visitor to Alexandria Park Community School for mentoring programs and has attended junior clinics during the season demonstrating skills to younger up and coming footballers. Jamie has also visited Matt Davidson from the Wests Tigers and has been in phone contact with Luke Turner from the Bulldogs, both Toyota Cup players who were diagnosed with cancer over the past two seasons. Jamie has also been instrumental in getting other players behind the Community programs at the Club. As a result of Jamie’s involvement in the many programs, other players have heard of his story and commitment and have asked to be involved. He has truly become a leader over the last year and has earned the respect of his peers and the Club. He has been a major catalyst in driving Souths Cares’ Community programs at the Club. He is involved in fund raising for a number of charities; conducting numeracy, literacy, healthy and active lifestyles programs as part of the Teachers Aide work; as well as speaking at ‘aspiration building sessions’ for indigenous and non indigenous youth at Coffs Harbour and Sydney. These messages involved setting goals, identifying and building positive support networks, coping with peer pressure and valuing education. The feedback Souths Cares has received throughout the year has been nothing but very positive. Our Club has witnessed firsthand the impact he has had when speaking to people about cancer or making the most of what you have (aspiration building) and he has done this at numerous hospitals, schools and functions both in Sydney and Coffs Harbour. Jamie is also the Club’s nominee for the 2009 Ken Stephen Medal.
Albert Clift Most Outstanding Contribution to the Club - Arvind Naidu
Rabbitohs sponsor and supporter Arvind Naidu has won the Albert Clift Most Outstanding Contribution to the Club Award for the 2009 season. Mr Naidu travels everywhere to follow the Rabbitohs, as well as supporting the Club through a corporate partnership by his company Marrickville Retravision. Mr Naidu is one of the Club’s greatest supporters, with no request too much to ask for one of the Club’s good guys.
John Sattler Rookie of the Year - Dave Tyrrell
Rampaging Rabbitohs back-rower Dave Tyrrell was awarded the 2009 NAB John Sattler Rookie of the Year award at tonight’s (Friday) Red and Green Ball at the AJC Royal Randwick Racecourse. Tyrrell burst on to the NRL scene in round 18 this year against the Panthers, saving possibly his most blockbusting game for the Broncos in front of home town crowd at Suncorp Stadium. Tyrrell played seven top grade games in 2009, scoring a try against the Broncos, but impressing most with his defensive displays. He is quickly earning cult status at the Rabbitohs for his long locks, earning himself the nickname ‘Caveman’.
NYC Best and Fairest Award - Jason Clark
Jason Clark has taken out the NYC Best and Fairest Award for the season past. Clark, who also made his NRL debut in 2009, led the entire Toyota Cup competition in one-on-one tackles, and played in 24 of the under 20s side’s 25 games this season (the only one he missed was when he played first grade.) Clark scored 12 tries for the season, racking up 48 points in the Toyota Cup in 2009.
NYC Players’ Player Award - Jason Clark
Rabbitohs Toyota Cup captain Jason Clark has won the 2009 NYC Players’ Player Award for the second year running. Clark, in his second year of Toyota Cup football as captain, was voted the player of the year his team mates throughout the season. The under 20s side had a great year, led by Clark, reaching the qualifying finals stage of the 2009 competition.