Will Genia beats out Quade Cooper as Queensland Reds' player of 2010
Will Genia beats out Quade Cooper as Queensland Reds' player of 2010
By Jim Morton
July 02, 2010 Wallabies halfback Will Genia has celebrated a scintillating Super 14 season by being crowned Queensland Reds' player of 2010.
Genia, who captained the Reds to fifth in a remarkable reversal of fortunes under Ewen McKenzie, took the Stan Pilecki Medal ahead of Australian Super 14 player of the year Quade Cooper.
The 22-year-old finished with 209 points from all 13 matches, 32 ahead of his halves partner Cooper in a breakthrough season for the pair.
Rising front-rowers Ben Daley and Saia Faingaa, who debuted for the Wallabies last month, tied for third on 141 in a testament to their tireless work around the ground and the solidity of the Reds scrum.
Kiwi recruit Daniel Braid, direct-running centre Anthony Faingaa and raw-boned flanker Scott Higginbotham were also among the leaders.
Voted by the players on a 3-2-1 basis after each game, the medal is named after legendary prop Stan Pilecki who earned 122 caps in for Queensland and was on hand to present the award in front of 600 guests at a gala dinner.
Genia led the Reds for all but the first two games of the Super 14 after being thrown into the job following skipper James Horwill's season-ending knee injury.
As well as displaying supreme leadership and composure, Genia combined brilliantly with mercurial playmaker Cooper to make Queensland the most entertaining team in the competition.
"Will took on the additional responsibility of the on-field captaincy when James was injured and led by example for the whole season - he didn't miss a beat," said McKenzie.
"The consistency of his performances is what we need to achieve as a team and the group we have assembled for 2011 is capable of that."
Cooper did walk away with an award by collecting the try of the season prize for the same round two effort, which he started and finished against the Crusaders, that won him the Super 14 try of the year a month ago.
The tenacious Daley won the QR Spirit of the Reds award and Australian Under-20 captain Jake Schatz won Queensland's rookie of the year prize after starting in all three back-row positions during the season.
AAP
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...002381,00.html
