Fox Sports Awards

Hughesy · Oct 5, 2010

Quite an entertaining read: http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,27828581-5018866,00.html

Fox Sports Awards: the real winners of the 2010 NRL premiership season
By Christopher Boyd
foxsports.com.au
October 05, 2010
St George Illawarra won the NRL premiership and comeback kid Todd Carney secured the Dally M Medal. But who were the real winners of the 2010 NRL season?

THE KINDER SURPRISE AWARD
(Exceeding Expectations)

Winner: The Warriors - Ivan Cleary's Warriors were tipped by many experts, including Greg Alexander and Phil Gould, to finish last this season. But the Auckland club finished fifth and were unlucky to be eliminated in week one of the finals.

Honourable mention: Panthers

THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD
(Who You Cheered For When Your Team Weren't Playing)

Winner: Canberra - The capital boys replaced Wests Tigers as the team every non-Raiders fan wanted to watch in 2010. Whether it was the revival of Terry Campese or the brilliance of young stars like Josh Dugan and Daniel Vidot, the Raiders made great viewing. They also beat the premiers, twice.

Honourable mention: Wests Tigers, Sydney Roosters

THE HOME HANDYMAN AWARD
(Excellence in Renovations)

Winner: Des Hasler - For his door-ripping antics, the Manly coach takes it out for creating an open-air environment in the Parramatta changing rooms back in round two. Nice to know there's a trade for him after rugby league.

THE SOUTH SYDNEY AWARD
(Underperforming Team)

Winner: South Sydney - With the hype that surrounded their monster forward pack, it's only fitting that South Sydney take out their own award. After smashing Wests Tigers 50-10 in round 10, the Bunnies promised so much but couldn't even make the eight.

Honourable mention: Bulldogs, Cowboys

BEST RETURNING WALLABY
(This May Become An Annual Award)

Winner: Lote Tuqiri - The dual international was sensational on his rugby league return at Wests Tigers, pushing Taniela Tuiaki deep into the archives of our memory. It must be said, however, that his rival for the gong - Timana Tahu - didn't put up much of a fight.

THE RICHARD SWAIN AWARD
(Tackler of the Season)

Winner: Nathan Friend - Gold Coast Titans terrier Nathan Friend made more tackles than anyone this season, notching 1084 at an average of 41.7. Though he's still not quite up to the 50-plus standard set by former Storm great (tackler), Richard Swain.

Honourable mention: Nathan Hindmarsh, David Stagg

BIGGEST COMEDIAN AWARD
(For Deliberate and Non-Deliberate Humour)

Winner: Beau Ryan - The talented Wests Tigers funnyman conjured up some of the best bombed tries we've ever seen.

Honourable mention: Wayne Bennett

THE PARIS HILTON AWARD
(Back in Fashion)

Winner: The field goal - This season produced the best highlights reel of one-pointers we can remember. Braith Anasta and Jamie Soward delivered clinical 35-metre efforts in the NRL finals. But the best of them was Benji Marshall's 50-metre thunderbolt against the Titans, on the stroke of half-time, in round 18. The Tigers won by a point.

Honourable mention: Brian Smith

THE TRENT BARRETT AWARD
(For Being Slapped in the Face)

Winner: Kurt Gidley - We've never seen a New South Wales captain start from the bench, and it's hard to see it happening ever again.

Honourable mention: Daniel Anderson

THE JOHN HOPOATE HEADLINE
(Controversy of the Year)

Winner: Melbourne Storm - The salary cap scandal provided headlines rugby league didn't need, but we're sure non-Storm fans enjoyed seeing the Melbourne side have a year off from the NRL grand final.

Honourable mentions: Ryan Tandy (allegedly)

THE MEAT PIE AWARD
(Try of the Year)

Winner: Nathan Gardener - The Cronulla rookie made Sydney Roosters defenders look like ornaments in the round 13 match at Sydney Football Stadium. The Sharks fullback defused a bomb and set off on a swerving 90-metre run in which he ventured to both sidelines before touching down in the corner. The boy can run.

Honourable mention: Sam Perrett (round 25), Timana Tahu (round two)

THE E-BAY AWARD
(Buy of the Year)
Winner: Todd Carney - Swapped the Atherton Roosters playing strip for a suit on Dally M Night. Enough said.

Honourable mention: Kevin Kingston, James Maloney

THE CRAIG DAVID AWARD
(For Walking Away)

Winner: Israel Folau - Decided to follow his old mate Karmichael Hunt to the AFL, then spent the rest of the season showing league fans why he will be sorely missed. Take Folau in a future bet for the 'BEST RETURNING WALLABY' award.

Honourable mention: Ricky Stuart

THE STACEY JONES AWARD
(Returning to the NRL After Your Prime)

Winner: Adam Mogg - Always a hotly contested category, we couldn't go past the Canberra utility back. He can play anywhere on the field, just not quite as well as he used to.

Honourable mention: John Skandalis

THE TIM SMITH AWARD
(For Second-Year Syndrome)

Winner: Daniel Mortimer - After re-signing, the Parramatta half played his second season in the NRL like he should have played his first - inconsistently.

Honourable mention: Kevin Moore

THE BIG W AWARD
(For Cheap Shots)

Winner: Steve Matai - A few contenders from the Manly team, but we couldn't go past the Sea Eagles centre for his aggressive delayed reactions. Matai was finally rewarded for his consistency with a seven-week ban after nailing Michael Ennis in round 26.

Honourable mention: Anthony Watmough, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves

THE MICHELANGELO AWARD
(Great Fan Art)

Winner: WHO NEEDS A BIG WILLIE WHEN YOU HAVE A GREAT TONGUE? - They're not wrong, those Raiders fans.

Honourable mention: "Everybody loves Weyman"

THE KODAK AWARD
(The Golden Moment of 2010)

Winner: Braith Anasta - The Roosters' fairytale grand final appearance would not have eventuated if not for their captain's field goal against Wests Tigers in week one of the finals. With seconds remaining, Anasta calmly backed out of the attacking line, then landed the one-pointer to send the game into golden-point.

Honourable mention: Slater v Hayne, round 13

THE HAZEM-HALLIGAN AWARD
(Best Goal Kicker)

Winner: Michael Gordon - The Penrith sharpshooter topped the accuracy list at 82.4 per cent in being the season's leading points scorer.

Honourable mention: Todd Carney

THE ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD:
(Most Improved Player)

Winner: Shaun Kenny-Dowall - He's never far away from a brain explosion, but a season in which SKD was equal first in tries scored and second in line breaks must be applauded.

Honourable mention: Luke Walsh

THE STEVE BRADBURY AWARD
(Miracle of the Year)

Winner: North Queensland Cowboys - We'll never know how they convinced Johnathan Thurston to re-sign.

Honourable mention: South Sydney's 34-30 comeback win against the Tigers in round 22.

THE IN-YOUR-FACE AWARD
(Having the Last Laugh)

Winner: St George Illawarra - They were labelled too boring, took the penalty goal too often, had no punch, but then they knocked out the Roosters. Credit where credit's due; the Dragons are deserved 2010 premiers.
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Hughesy JM Hughes

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