The process of voting on the Sharksworld 2011 awards has been changed slightly from the original plan as a result of how the nominations went. After counting the nominations, we realised that there were clear winners in six of the seven categories and as such it was decided that the players with the most nominations in each category would be announced as the winners of that award.
Two of our youngest senior players in Pat Lambie and Marcell Coetzee each won two awards while Bismarck du Plessis won one awards outright and shared another one. Congratulations to all the winners. This is an indication of the fans’ appreciation in what was a good but ultimately not great season.
The awards are as follows:
1.Player of the season: Pat Lambie
Another fantastic season for young Lambie as he performed well for the Sharks and Springboks at flyhalf, fullback and even one game at centre. Pat conducted himself with maturity both on and off the field in 2011 and duly deserves this award not only on the back of his good performances this year but also as an ambassodor for his province and country.
Honourable mentions: Bismarck du Plessis, Willem Alberts
2.Forward of the year: Bismarck du Plessis
Bismarck put in the hard yards again in 2011 and deservedly gets the forward of the year in the Sharksworld awards. His strength and speed were valuable assets to the Springboks and Sharks in 2011. He was hard working at ruck time, winning numerous valuable turnovers and made plenty of metres by carrying the ball strongly.
Honourable mention: Willem Alberts
3.Back of the season: Pat Lambie
There is little to be said about Pat which has not already been covered. One thing that I would like to point out is the effect that young Patrick has on the rest of the backline. His consistent play and great decision making often make the players outside of him more effective.
Honourable mention: JP Pietersen
4. Super rugby player of the season: Bismarck du Plessis and JP Pietersen
The voters found it difficult to separate the battleship Bismarck and the try machine JP. With 6 tries, the latter was the Sharks’ joint-top try scorer in Super Rugby but it was his all-round game that saw him stand above Lwazi Mvovo, who scored the same number. JP adds thrust and unpredictability to the Sharks backline adn they look s poorer team when he doesn’t play.
Honourable mentions: Pat Lambie, Willem Alberts
5. Currie Cup player of the season: Marcell Coetzee
The young Port Natal flanker scoops his first award in a very tightly-contested section. What wins this one for Coetzee is two things – firstly, the fact that he’s so young and gives us all a glimpse of what can happen when the coaches throw caution to the wind and back a ballsy young player to prove that he is ready to make the step up. Secondly, the never-say-die attitude that young Marcell showed in everything that he did, particularly towards the middle of the season when he was clearly feeling the effects of being overplayed.
Honourable mentions: Keegan Daniel, Fred Michalak, Ross Skeate
6. Junior player of the season: Gouws Prinsloo
Another very competitive section, with plenty of youngsters putting up their hands. Prinsloo wins the gong based on his consistency and while he made an impressive senior debut against the Leopards in the Currie Cup, it was his exciting play from fullback and pinpoint goalkicking for the Vodacom Cup and under 21 sides that tipped the scales in his favour.
Honourable mentions: Paul Jordaan, Pieter-Steph du Toit
7. Newcomer of the season: Marcell Coetzee
Coetzee’s second award is again testament to how many of the fans would far rather see a newcomer from within our own ranks, than any of the imports. Not a single “imported veteran” was even nominated in this category.
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Congrats guys, keep up the great work.
Willem Alberts is REALLY unlucky to have missed out on an award but all the others winners are worthy recipients. Willem Alberts is still my player of the season 😀
Go Marcell!! 😀
@vanmartin (Comment 2) : ja… he probably deserves a special “fans’ award” or something.
@Ice (Comment 3) : look out behind you, Marcell… there’s a COUGAR coming to get you 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 5) : Hahahahaha!
@Ice (Comment 3) : Did Marcell at least call you “Tannie” during the Sharks Breakfast? 😆
Good work War1.
Bloggers polls are usually always interesting.
I def cant argue with any of the winners but i think special mention must go to the following who put in massive efforts, sometimes under the radar: Ross Skeate-he was the Sharks lineout and dominated the kickoffs. Dale Chadwick- i dont think he went anywhere but forward in every scrum. Craig Burden- reminds me of where Bismarck was a couple years ago…scary thought for the opposition!
Well done to all our players awarded…thank you for treating us with your great sportmanship…have a truly well-deserved break…hope you see you in 2012…go Sharks!!!!!!!!!!!
@Ben (Comment 7) : he did indeed! LOL
@SheldonK: good observation re: ross skeate was the sharks line out.
well done to the guys!
So what are the prizes? Will they get the Tshirts or perhaps they would qualify for the most wanted hoodies 😀