Celebrating what has been a pretty good year for the Sharks on the domestic front, no fewer than six player from the East coast have been included in SA Rugby’s short list of ten for the coveted “South African Rugby Player of the Year” award.
SARU dipped their feet into social media this year for the first time, using Facebook as a platform for fans to add their opinion as to who the nominees should be and while the resulting short list does, to an extent, reflect great form over the course of the season, there’s a definite “popularity” aspect to the voting this year as well.
Here are the nominees, in alphabetical order:
1) Willem Alberts
2) Keegan Daniel
3) Bismarck du Plessis
4) Jannie du Plessis
5) Eben Etzebeth
6) Bryan Habana
7) Elton Jantjies
8) Siya Kolisi
9) Pat Lambie
10) JP Pietersen
The public is once again encouraged to cast thier vote for the winner, using Facebook. The link appears below, but before you do that….
I’d like to make an impassioned plea, if I may, for all Sharks fans to give strong consideration to voting for Keegan Daniel. The risk with so many Sharks in the running for the prize is that the vote from Sharks fans may end up so diluted that none of our boys ends up winning. My feeling is that off the candidates, Daniel has had the strongest season all round; I think it would also send a pretty strong message to the Bok selectors if the man they dumped without a fair shot to shine ends up winning the award (or, at least, the popular vote).
Let’s put our personal favourites aside this year, of that’s ok, and unite as a Sharks support base to vote for our captain?
The voting link is here.
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Pity Marcell Coetzee is not nominated. Better season than Jannie du Plessis, Jantjies, Lambie and Willem Alberts
Keegan and JP Petersen had monster years.
Good idea Rob. Let’s unite behind Captain Keegan!
Glad to see Jannie nominated as well. Often under appreciated for his efforts.
I am fascinated that:
1 – only 5 of the 10 are regulars in the bok jersey (Alberts, Bizzie, Jannie, Eben and A Banner)
2 – no bulls players
My vote for Keegan has been cast.
If I may – my prediction:
Bryan Habana will win it, he has had a massive year, getting back to his best..
But I do agree with Rob, get behind Keegan! Special mention to Jannie for being solid all year.
Rob, I made the same plea on twitter and facebook. I think Keegan has had a massive season and deserves to win it. Even though I do wish all the Sharks boys could win, I have thrown my votes behind Keegan
@PTAShark (Comment 2) : JP has been great, but also sat out for a few months.
Vote cast!
habs and Etzie are currently in the lead
@robdylan (Comment 9) : SPAM Sharks supporters everywhere!
@robdylan (Comment 9) : And just as you said that Keegs has drawn level with Habs
Rob could you email me type link out it is blocked by my wardens so need to access it on my BB.
While tempted to vote for Bissie
I will vote for Keegan he deserves it 
I think Habana deserves to be close. I just remember the S15 and how Bismark was so influential in the knock out games and those must win final log games. The fact he got injured has caused us to forget what he did. Tough call.
@Amateur (Comment 13) : Keegan’s leadership was just as influential to our cause, so on purely that they are even bets on who deserves it more, but we have chosen Keegan (I think Rob has for the same reason as I) to shove it in the face of the people who said he isn’t good enough before he had any chance to show what he can do
Fair enough about Keegan, but special mention to the other sharks players. Jannie had a consistent performance this year. His position makes no room for flashy play. He is doing the hard work and are def missed in scrums. Plus he improved by not being in the sinbin. 2. Willem Alberts, do think people underestimate this player. Also not a flashy player. Started the season, still not fit to play, after his shoulder operation. And then just improved every game. Teams plan their gameplan around him. They def target him because he is a threat, and when off you can see the other team get space to run. 3 although Marcell is not on I will def vote for hinm as new player of the year!!!!!!!! 4) keegan. He had an outstanding year!!! Def and also feel he deserves it. Would love to see him more in bok jersey. 5) Jp. Wow, also recovering from multiple injuries, do feel that he adds spark to any backline. You could feel his absence on defensive at backline, sharks and boks. 6) Lambie, feel sorry for Pat. I think whatever position they place him, he performs a solid performance. Can’t judge him on bok games, coz what can he do in 10minutes. But his other games were superb. He even played a few games with an injury. 7) as for Bismarck, he is the best in the world and feel so sorry for this player, but give someone else this year a chance
.
Voted!
Do you guys have any idea who Young player of the yr / Team of the yr etc nominees are? And how do you vote on them.
Take me out, but i am very dissapointed that Marcell is not on this list. If Kolisi could make it – I do not see How Marcell did not. I also would not have Pat on here either. Not this years anyway.
To me its between Keegs and Bissie – both were outstanding this yr.
@PTAShark (Comment 2) : Agree, They share my vote.
When I try click on the link it just says page not found. Does this have to be done on pc? When I go to the link on fb it just takes me to the article and that article tells me to go the fb link. Help hahahaha
@Ice (Comment 16) : Agreed. Bismark was also Captain at times so really a tough call. Personally I think the S15 should be the main competition used as it is where all the best players play each other. No Bok selection dilemmas etc. On that form Marcel and Bismark were stand outs.
@Amateur (Comment 19) : Ditto that Am!
Not even a Sharks supporter, but no man deserves it more than Keegan Daniel, what a superstar. Whether the South African public are union blinded and don’t vote for him, there has been no greater force in SA Rugby this year than the former Dalian
Irrespective of what happens, this oke has performed like a true champion
Quick update, it is working!
Top 3 at the moment:
3. Bryan Habana – 13%
2. Keegan Daniel – 14%
1. Eben Etzebeth – 15%
Eben was on 17 a while ago, while Habs has stayed put on 13.
As for the other Sharkies, Bismarck 5%, Jannie 3%, JPP 7%, Pat 10%, Vic 7%
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 12) : Why not go to sharksworld on the BB, and follow the link that way?
@sharkbok (Comment 18) : Having same problem on PC, thought it was our wardens trying to keep us working
@Greg (Comment 23) : You know what that is a brilliant idea! Pity I didn’t think of that I could have voted sooner
@Greg (Comment 23) : @Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 24) : Okai that didn’t work
son now what!
Is every one asleep???? the team has been announced! Iam greatly tempted to post it here myself, but know its not allowed unless we write article, and I am too shy for that! But just a small clue awsome team but no Odwa
Keep voting guys! Keegan is up to 15%, tied with Eben for 1st now. Vote Vote Vote!
@Die Kriek (Comment 27) : cant get to vote PC and phone not allowing me, have you got the link not attached to this site so I can vote on BB? tried as Greg suggested but not working
My vote could be important! Help!
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 28) : Its a FB app, so not sure if phones can open it, but here’s a full link
https://www.facebook.com/springboks/app_332484066805691
Or you can try this one
http://tinyurl.com/9jrdzq5
@Die Kriek (Comment 29) : Thankyou! Will try both otherwise I will have to wait till I get home.
It is my pleasure to highlight this missed fact…
NO BULLS PLAYERS IN THE TOP 10
!!!
Keegs got my vote, but JP was close 2nd with Etzebeth and Habs behind them in my opinion
Keegs and Eben both on 16% with Habs second on 13% currently..
Keegan is now leading the pack on 16%, Eben has slipped to 15. But something told me to do some math (I get that sometimes). The total across all 10 players comes to 84% ?!?
@Die Kriek (Comment 33) : They must be hiding Morne Steyn somewhere on 16% also. Only computers north of the Jukskei can see it.
@Orelando_G (Comment 34) :
Voted. KD 17%, EE 15%, BH 13%.
If JP performs to his Super Rugby abilities in Saturday’s match I think he will remind everyone why he is the deserved Player of the Year.
Morning update, Keegan has taken a clear lead, he’s now on 18%, Eben on 15%, Habs and Pat challenging for third, on 12% and 11% respectively
@Die Kriek (Comment 38) : nice
When does the voting close?
It is until the 24th, and you can vote once a day, so as soon as our power comes back on, I’m heading back to cast my 2nd vote
@Die Kriek (Comment 41) : Cool. Will be sure to cast my vote every day.
Thanks
@Die Kriek (Comment 41) : @Ben (Comment 42) :
Cool, I didn’t know you could vote every day.
Don’t know how they’re extra votes work, I can’t vote for Keegan again, but I can vote for another player, seems you can cast 10 votes, but not more than once for the same player
again I am confused! Will update if I find out something more
@Die Kriek (Comment 44) : Yes – that is how I have it – rather just vote once and let the other votes be…
@Ice (Comment 45) : @Die Kriek (Comment 44) : If that’s the case I’ll only vote once.
So it seems this is more a case of “most willing voter of the year” rather than player of the year
I would vote for JP or Bismarck. Taking nothing away from Keegan – but why him over JP or Bismarck? Is it purely because of the captaincy?
@rekinek (Comment 48) : During the super rugby season Keegan was in the top ten for most tackles made, breakdown possession won and most line breaks(only forward in the top 10)Bismarck only features in the breakdown possession won stat and JP doesn’t feature. Keegan played consistently during the whole season and in his first year as captain took his team to an super rugby final as well as a curie cup final. So I think he deserves it more than anyone on the list.
@Danman110 (Comment 49) : Well said.
Quick update:
1 Keegan Daniel – 19%
2 Eben Etzebeth – 14%
3 Patrick Lambie – 12%
4 Bryan Habana – 11%
5 JP Pietersen – 9%
I have been able to vote 2 more times this weekend, not sure when they reset the voting so you can vote again, but check back once in a while, we wouldn’t want a late steal
@Die Kriek (Comment 51) : psssst – don’t say it aloud, just now WP fans will get ideas
@Danman110 (Comment 49) : Thanks, and I guess both Bismarck and JP were injuried during the season. Just from the pure spectator point of view they had more visible impact IMO.
Looking at Kyle’s throwing this weekend, I thought it would be good to have Bismarck back.
@rekinek (Comment 53) : Yes Keegan did play almost all the games this season but I will rather reward his consistency over the entire season than a few moments of brilliance from other palyers , he has grown as a player and as a captain during the whole season and has earned the respect of his team mates.(even Jannie listened to him after Lambie was tripped and backed off so Keegan could talk to Lawrence)
@rekinek (Comment 53) : Kyle is better in the tight fassets of the game where Burden tends to shy away from the hard graft. Both will have to work on their weaknesses because Bismarck’s going to miss a few months of Super Rugby.
Final day of voting! Update: Keegan is still leading with 20%, Eben climbing back to 16% and Pat on 13%
@Die Kriek (Comment 56) : Voting closes at noon SA time, so get those final clicks in!