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By George, he's won it again: Smith voted ACT's best for sixth time
Julia Whyte - The Canberra Times
WHEN it comes to awards, it is hard to beat a rugby player who never has a bad game - just ask George Smith's ACT Brumbies teammates.
Smith won the 2007 Brett Robinson Players' Player award at the Brumbies presentation last night to continue his domination of the category.
Smith has taken out the award six times since its inception in 2000 and has won the last five in succession.
Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher credited Smith's success this season to his continual work at the breakdown, an improvement in defence and his ability as stand-in captain.
He said Smith's teammates continued to recognise him year-in, year-out because of his consistency on the field.
"He just doesn't have a bad game. He turns up to play every time, irrespective of the circumstance or how the team's going. He just goes about doing his job," he said.
"I've never seen him have a form slump. He either plays well or he plays very well, and I think that consistency in his game is great for the team and is certainly respected by other players."
Smith, who arrived with wife Louise almost an hour late to the awards at the Great Hall in Parliament House, also won his second consecutive Australian Super 14 Player of the Series award in May.
Brumbies line-breaking utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper, who won the Super 14 Try of the Series award, was back on the winners' podium last night for the Brumbies' Best Back award.
Up front, Mark Chisholm's improved scrummaging, high workrate in defence and leadership in the lineout ensured he took home his first Best Forward award.
Players allocated votes on a 3-2-1 scale after every game and were not allowed to vote for themselves.
Last year Smith polled 346 votes, more than 130 votes ahead of next-best Stirling Mortlock.
This year there was a more even spread of voting; Smith on 230 votes, ahead of Chisholm (196), Ashley-Cooper (186), Stephen Hoiles (157) and retiring veteran Stephen Larkham (140).
Fisher said the voting was an indication of a stronger team effort from week to week.
"Traditionally Smith's a mile out in front," he said.
"[But] we had more consistency across the squad this year."
Last night's celebrations were capped off with a tribute to retiring Brumbies Jeremy Paul, Larkham and George Gregan.
2007 AWARD WINNERS:
- Brett Robinson Players' Player - George Smith
- Best Forward - Mark Chisolm
- Best Back - Adam Ashley-Cooper
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