10th October 2014
Sam Burgess George Piggins Medal
Rabbitohs lock-forward, Sam Burgess, has been rewarded for an outstanding season by being named George Piggins Medallist by Head Coach Michael Maguire as the Club’s best and fairest player at tonight’s Red and Green Ball in addition to four other awards. In what was his last season in the red and green, Burgess was a man on a mission in 2014 and never was that fact more apparent than in Sunday’s Grand Final, when Burgess played the entire match with multiple fractures to his cheek-bone and eye-socket, etching his name into Rabbitohs Premiership history for his heroics as a result. Burgess’s Grand Final performance would also earn him the coveted Clive Churchill Medal as man of the match in the decider, to become the first Rabbitoh to win the medal named in honour of the South Sydney legend and immortal. Burgess enjoyed what many would agree was his best season yet in 2014 – being recognised as the Dally M Lock of the Year before going on to claim Premiership success and his Clive Churchill medal. In his 26 appearances this year, ‘Slammin’ Sam scored 10 tries for 40 points, averaging 35.2 tackles and a whopping 178.4 metres per game. Add in 66 tackle breaks, 13 line-breaks and 61 offloads, and Burgess was without doubt one of the side’s hardest working players in season 2014. The Best and Fairest award at the Rabbitohs is named after Club legend George Piggins. Piggins was not only a premiership-winning and international player, he was also a celebrated coach and official with the Club over a 40-year period. He was also one of the leading figures in the Club’s fight for re-instatement to the elite Rugby League competition in the early 2000s. Congratulations to Sam Burgess on being the George Piggins Medallist for season 2014.
Previous Winners: 2003 – Bryan Fletcher 2004 – Ashley Harrison 2005 – Peter Cusack 2006 – David Fa’alogo 2007 – Roy Asotasi 2008 – Luke Stuart 2009 – John Sutton 2010 – Issac Luke 2011 – Nathan Merritt 2012 – John Sutton 2013 – Greg Inglis and John Sutton
Sam Burgess Jack Rayner Players Player Award
Rabbitohs forward Sam Burgess has been judged by his fellow team mates as the best player of season 2014, taking out the 2014 Jack Rayner Players’ Player Award for the third time in his career. Rabbitohs players all cast their votes after each game, with Burgess finishing atop the season 2014 tally. In his 26 appearances this year, ‘Slammin’ Sam scored 10 tries for 40 points, averaging 35.2 tackles and a whopping 178.4 metres per game. Add in 66 tackle breaks, 13 line-breaks and 61 offloads, and Burgess was without doubt one of the side’s hardest working players in season 2014. Burgess was one of the forward leaders in the Rabbitohs pack throughout the 2014 season in what many pundits described as the Englishman’s best season yet. The Players’ Player award is named after legendary Rabbitohs player and coach, Jack Rayner. Rayner won five premierships with South Sydney in six seasons in the Club’s golden era between 1950 and 1955, as both a captain and captain/coach. His legacy at the Rabbitohs lives on to this day, remembered as an honest, tough, hardworking forward during the days when some of the most brutal Rugby League was played. Rabbitohs CEO Shane Richardson presented the Players’ Player award to Sam on behalf of the Rayner family.
Previous Winners: 2003 – Luke Stuart 2004 – Ashley Harrison 2005 – Peter Cusack 2006 – Nathan Merritt 2007 – Roy Asotasi 2008 – Luke Stuart and Nathan Merritt 2009 – Luke Stuart 2010 – Sam Burgess 2011 – Chris Sandow 2012 – Greg Inglis 2013 - Sam Burgess
Sam Burgess Bob McCarthy Clubman Award
Rabbitohs lock-forward Sam Burgess has been awarded the 2014 Bob McCarthy Clubman of the Year award for his efforts both on and off the field throughout 2014. Burgess, who has now played his last game for the Rabbitohs, has been an integral and much-loved part of the Club since arriving at Redfern in 2010, becoming one of the team’s and the Club’s true leaders. The Clubman of the Year award is named after one of the Rabbitohs greatest players of all time, Bob McCarthy. McCarthy was part of the Rabbitohs’ golden era in the 1960s and early 1970s, playing 211 first grade games in the cardinal and myrtle. He is a multiple premiership-winning legend of the Club. Sam was presented with the Clubman of the Year award by none other than the man after whom the award is named, Bob McCarthy. Congratulations to Sam Burgess on winning the 2014 Bob McCarthy Clubman of the Year award.
Previous Winners: 2003 – Jason Death 2004 – Ashley Harrison 2005 – Luke Stuart 2006 – Peter Cusack 2007 – Luke Stuart 2008 – Beau Champion 2009 – Scott Geddes 2010 – Sam Burgess 2011 – Michael Crocker 2012 – Sam Burgess and Michael Crocker 2013 – Matt King
Alex Johnston John Sattler Rookie of The Year Award
Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston has been judged as the best first-year player at South Sydney in 2014, taking out the John Sattler Rookie of the Year award for his debut season. Johnston started the season in the Holden Cup side, before quickly progressing through the NSW Cup competition to make his NRL debut in a round 8 blockbuster against the Broncos on ANZAC Day – scoring a try on debut. In just 18 appearances, the Rabbitohs’ speedster became the Clubs’ top try-scorer with 21 to his name (eight more than any other Rabbitoh) for a personal first season haul of 84 points. In a season of many highlights for the La Perouse product, Johnston managed a hat-trick of four-pointers against the Newcastle Knights in round 21 in Cairns, before having the honour of becoming the first Rabbitoh to score a try in a Grand Final in 43 years. The South Sydney Junior averaged 104.4 metres per match with the ball in hand, made 35 tackle breaks, 21 line breaks, six offloads and two try-assists. The Rookie of the Year award is named after one of the Rabbitohs most inspirational players of all time, the legendary John Sattler. Sattler captained the Rabbitohs to four premiership victories in five years from 1967 to 1971, including the famous 1970 Grand Final in which he played for 77 minutes of the game with a jaw broken in three places. Alex was presented with the John Sattler Rookie of the Year award by the President of South Sydney Juniors, Keith McCraw, on behalf of John Sattler. Congratulations to Alex on winning the 2013 John Sattler Rookie of the Year award.
Previous Winners: 2003 – Mark Minichiello 2004 – Joe Williams 2005 – Manase Manuokafoa and Yileen Gordon 2006 – Germaine Paulson 2007 – Issac Luke 2008 – Chris Sandow 2009 – David Tyrrell 2010 – Dylan Farrell 2011 – Nathan Peats 2012 – Adam Reynolds 2013 – Dylan Walker
Sam Burgess Burrow Appreciation Award
Rabbitohs supporters group, The Burrow, have recognised the efforts of South Sydney hooker lock-forward Sam Burgess, by awarding him with The Burrow Appreciation Award for 2014 at tonight’s Red and Green Ball. Sam Burgess has been a crowd favourite since making his debut for the Club in round one of the 2010 season, going on to find his way into the hearts of Rabbitohs everywhere as much for his deeds on the field as for his aura and persona off it. The award was presented to Sam by Michelle Booth from The Burrow at the Red and Green Ball. Congratulations to Sam Burgess on winning The Burrow Appreciation Award for 2014.
Previous Winners: 2007 – Paul Mellor 2008 – Luke Stuart 2009 – Nathan Merritt 2010 – Chris Sandow 2011 – Michael Crocker 2012 – Adam Reynolds 2013 – Issac Luke
Sam Burgess Roy Asotasi Members Choice Award
Rabbitohs lock-forward Sam Burgess has been voted by the Members as the 2014 Roy Asotasi Members’ Choice Award Player of the Year Award. In what was his last season in the red and green, Burgess was a man on a mission in 2014 and never was that fact more apparent than in Sunday’s Grand Final, when Burgess played the entire match with multiple fractures to his cheek-bone and eye-socket, etching his name into Rabbitohs Premiership history for his heroics as a result. Burgess enjoyed what many would agree was his best season yet in 2014 – being recognised as the Dally M Lock of the Year before going on to claim Premiership success and his Clive Churchill medal. In his 26 appearances this year, ‘Slammin’ Sam scored 10 tries for 40 points, averaging 35.2 tackles and a whopping 178.4 metres per game. Add in 66 tackle breaks, 13 line-breaks and 61 offloads, and Burgess was without doubt one of the side’s hardest working players in season 2014. Roy Asotasi was an integral member of the Rabbitohs playing group and Club both as a Captain and a damaging front row forward after arriving at Redfern in 2007. Regarded by many as one of the first marquee signings of the Rabbitohs’ new era, Asotasi brought with him a wealth of experience as a leader, a seasoned campaigner and a Premiership winner, helping to create an exciting culture at the Rabbitohs built on his own unique brand of hard work, coupled with an unrivalled level of professionalism. Sam was presented with the Members’ Choice Award by Club Chairman, Nick Pappas. Previous Winners: 2003 – Justin Smith 2004 – Mark Minichiello 2005 – John Sutton 2006 – Nathan Merritt 2007 – Roy Asotasi 2008 – Luke Stuart 2009 – Nathan Merritt 2010 – Issac Luke 2011 – Michael Crocker 2012 – Adam Reynolds 2013 - Issac Luke
Greg Inglis Best Try
Rabbitohs fullback Greg Inglis has claimed the Best Try award at this year’s Red and Green Ball tonight for his incredible effort against the Broncos in round eight. With the score reading 10-0 in the Rabbitohs’ favour inside the first 15 minutes of play, Ben Barba tried to spark something for his Broncos, only for his chip-kick to be collected by Inglis. It was the pre-cursor to a moment of magic. Inglis took the kick, changed direction and then raced almost 80 metres – beating seven defenders in the process – to score a brilliant individual try that had Rabbitohs Members and supporters cheering in disbelief, and commentators in fits of excitement.
Previous Winners: 2012 – Adam Reynolds (match-winning try against the Roosters in round 19) 2013 – Dylan Walker (freakish try against the Titans in round 14 in Cairns)
Issac Luke Best Hit Award
Rabbitohs hooker Issac Luke has been awarded the Best Hit Award for an effort he made against the Manly-Warringah Sea-Eagles in Gosford in round two. The Kiwi international asserted his authority on Manly’s Cheyse Blair just after half-time when he leaned in with all of his 89kg frame into the larger 102kg Manly centre for what would become the hit of the season. Congratulations to Issac Luke on winning the Hit of the Year award for season 2014.
Previous Winners: 2012 – Adam Reynolds (running down Chris Sandow over the length of the field against Parramatta in round 15) 2013 – George Burgess (George Burgess envelopes Nathan Friend against the Warriors)
Cheyne Whitelaw NYC Best and Fairest Award
Rabbitohs Holden Cup forward Cheyne Whitelaw has won the Rabbitohs’ NYC Best and Fairest Award, for the 2014 season. Whitelaw enjoyed a dominant 2014 season playing predominantly at the back of the Rabbitohs’ scrum, and topping not only his team but the competition in many key statistics. In his 25 appearances in season 2014, Whitelaw made 392 runs for a total of 3242 metres – the highest in the team by 607 metres (an average of 130 per game) – while also topping the side in tackles, with 1113 to his name, seven of which were try-savers. He also was not afraid to score points, touching down for eight tries during the course of the season, many of which displayed his power by barging over from close-range. The NYC Best and Fairest award was presented to Cheyne at the Red and Green Ball by Rabbitohs NYC Coach, Ben Gardiner. Congratulations to Cheyne on winning the NYC Player of the Year Award for season 2013.
Previous Winners: 2008 – Trent Trotter 2009 – Jason Clark 2010 – Matt Mundine 2011 – Kyle Turner 2012 – Luke Keary 2013 – Cameron McInnes
Jack Gosiewski NYC Players Player Award
Rabbitohs Holden Cup player Jack Gosiewski has been voted by his teammates as the Players’ Player for the under 20s side in 2014. Gosiewski played in 24 Holden Cup matches this season predominantly in the back-row, scoring eight tries in the process. Gosiewski made 271 runs for a total of 2349 metres, while also making a whopping 735 tackles – nine of which were try-savers. Players’ Player votes are collected after each game and tallied at the end of the season, with Gosiewski coming out on top at the end of the season. Jack was presented with his NYC Players’ Player award by 2014 Holden Cup Coach, Ben Gardiner. Congratulations to Jack Gosiewski on winning the NYC Players’ Player award for season 2013.
Previous Winners: 2008 – Jason Clark 2009 – Jason Clark 2010 – Malcolm Webster 2011 – Adrian Ha’angana 2012 – Jesse Roberts 2013 – Cameron McInnes
NSW Cup Player of the Year - Matt Hyland
Congratulations to Matt Hyland who took out the North Sydney Bears NSW Cup player of the year award.
Season Leading Point Scorers
First Grade Top Try Scorer - 21 - Alex Johnston Top Point Scorer - 223 - Adam Reynolds NYC U20's Top Try Scorer - 15 - Tom Hughes Top Point Scorer - 132 - Irae Simone NSW Cup Top Try Scorer - 16 - Curtis Johnston Top Point Scorer - 66 - Kurt Aldridge All 3 Grades Top Try Scorer - 25 - Alex JOhnston Top Point Scorer - 223 - Adam Reynolds