2017 Annual Player Awards

6th October 2017

George Piggins FG Player Of The Year - Sam Burgess

For the third time in his Rugby League career, Rabbitohs forward Sam Burgess has been named the best and fairest player for South Sydney when he was awarded the 2017 George Piggins Medal at the Red and Green Ball at the International Convention Centre in Sydney tonight (Friday). By winning his third George Piggins Medal, Burgess is now level with teammate and back row partner John Sutton who has also won the prestigious award on three occasions in 2009, 2012 and 2013. The medal marks Burgess’ 12th Rabbitohs award since making his debut for the Club in 2010. Burgess had a stand out season in 2017, playing 21 games in the red and green and taking over the captaincy role following the injury to Greg Inglis. Burgess recorded a massive 703 tackles throughout his 21 game season and he offloaded 35 times. Both were ranked the highest amongst his teammates with his run metres of 2988 also coming in at number one. He made 339 runs in his 1469 minutes of play and got over the line on five occasions, finishing up the season with 20 points to his name. The Best and Fairest award at the Rabbitohs is named after Club legend, George Piggins. Piggins was not only a premiership-winning and international player, he was also a celebrated coach and official with the Club over a 40-year period. He was also one of the leading figures in the Club’s fight for re-instatement to the elite Rugby League competition in the early 2000s. Sam was presented the George Piggins Medal by Rabbitohs Head Coach Anthony Seibold at tonight’s awards ceremony. Congratulations Sam on winning your third George Piggins Medal!

Jack Rayner Players Player Of The Year - Angus Crichton

Angus Crichton has been judged by his fellow team mates as the best player of Season 2017, taking out the prestigious Jack Rayner Players’ Player Award. The award is Crichton’s third of the night, also taking home the Roy Asotasi Members’ Choice Award and The Burrow Appreciation Award, presented at tonight’s (Friday’s) Red and Green Ball. Crichton made his debut for the Rabbitohs in 2016 and has continued to grow on and off the field each week. During 22 appearances in his second NRL season, Crichton tallied a total of 284 runs gaining 2665 metres. He recorded seven tries and ten line breaks. The Players’ Player award is named after legendary Rabbitohs player and coach, Jack Rayner. Rayner won five Premierships with South Sydney in six seasons in the Club’s golden era between 1950 and 1955, as both Captain and Captain/Coach. His legacy at the Rabbitohs lives on to this day, remembered as an honest, tough, hardworking forward during the days when some of the most brutal Rugby League was played. Crichton was presented the award by Rabbitohs General Manager of Football, Shane Richardson. Congratulations to Angus on claiming the Jack Rayner Players’ Player Award and his third accolade for the evening.

John Sattler Rookie Of The Year - Cameron Murray

Rabbitohs forward Cameron Murray has been awarded the 2017 John Sattler Rookie of the Year award at tonight’s (Friday’s) Red and Green Ball. Murray made his NRL debut with the Club in round eight when the Rabbitohs took on the Brisbane Broncos at ANZ Stadium in the NRL’s ANZAC Round. The young forward played nine games in his first year at the NRL level and recorded 606 run metres off 60 runs. In his 458 minutes, Murray made three offloads, 277 tackles and added a try next to his name in the Rabbitohs round 24 game against the New Zealand Warriors at ANZ Stadium. Murray stamped himself as the leading prospect amongst the young Rabbitohs group establishing themselves in first grade at South Sydney throughout the 2017 season, hence the recognition for his efforts with this award. The Rookie of the Year award is named after one of South Sydney’s most inspirational players of all time in the form of the legendary John Sattler. Sattler captained the Rabbitohs to four Premiership victories in five years from 1967 to 1971, including the famous 1970 Grand Final in which he played for 77 minutes of the game with a jaw broken in three places. Murray was presented his award by Souths Juniors President, Keith McCraw. Congratulations to Cam on winning the John Sattler Rookie of the Year.

Roy Asotasi Members' Choice Award - Angus Crichton

Angus Crichton has been voted by Rabbitohs Members as the 2017 Roy Asotasi Members’ Choice Award winner at tonight’s (Friday’s) Red & Green Ball. The award is the second of the night for Crichton, who earlier picked up The Burrow Appreciation Award. Members regarded Crichton as having been South Sydney’s best throughout the 2017 season in an online poll that ran until late September. Players who played ten or more first grade games throughout the regular NRL season were eligible for the award. The award is named after former Rabbitoh Roy Asotasi who was an integral member of the Rabbitohs’ playing group and the Club, both as a captain and as a damaging front-row forward after arriving at Redfern in 2007. Regarded by many as one of the first marquee signings of the Rabbitohs’ new era, Asotasi brought with him a wealth of experience as a leader, a seasoned campaigner and a premiership winner, helping to create an exciting culture at the Rabbitohs built on his own unique brand of hard work, coupled with an unrivalled level of professionalism. Roy is now an ambassador for the Rabbitohs and Souths Cares. Crichton was presented the Award by the man himself, Roy Asotasi. Congratulations to Angus on being the Members’ Choice for 2017.

Burrow Appreciation Award - Angus Crichton

Rabbitohs supporter group, The Burrow, have recognised the efforts of South Sydney forward Angus Crichton by awarding him with The Burrow Appreciation Award for 2017 at tonight’s (Friday’s) Red and Green Ball at the ICC Sydney. Crichton finished up his second season scoring seven tries which ranked him as the third highest try scored at the Rabbitohs behind Alex Johnston and Bryson Goodwin. In his 1551 minutes of play, he recorded 284 runs for 2665 run metres, made 25 offloads and 117 tackle breaks. On top of this, Crichton had one try assist, made 682 tackles and again ranked third in the highest number of line breaks recording a total of ten. Congratulations to Angus who was awarded The Burrow Appreciation Award by Rabbitohs Member, Mark Rayner.

NYC Cup - Best and Fairest - Gabe Hamlin

The 2017 NYC Best and Fairest Award has been won by Rabbitohs under 20s forward, Gabe Hamlin. Hamlin played in all 24 games in the 2017 season clocking up 1632 minutes. He ran the most number of metres across his team, powering through 3140 metres across 271 runs. He produced six offloads and made 650 tackles ranking himself second behind teammate Sam Johnstone. Hamlin was presented with the NYC Best and Fairest Award by Rabbitohs 2017 NYC Coach, Ryan Carr. Congratulations Gabe on receiving the NYC Best and Fairest award.

NYC Cup - Players Player of The Year - Campbell Graham

Rabbitohs Holden Cup player, Campbell Graham, has been voted by his teammates as this year’s NYC Players’ Player. Graham played a total of 11 games for the side scoring five tries. He ran a total of 1528 metres over 156 runs however the biggest feat for Graham throughout the season came in round 22 when he made his NRL debut for the Rabbitohs against the St George Illawarra Dragons. Graham went on to secure five NRL games finishing off the season playing in every game. Players’ Player votes are collected after each game and tallied at the end of the season, with Graham taking the top honour for season 2017, a season in which he also captained the under 20s outfit as well as the Australian Schools team in their end-of-season Test series against New Zealand. Graham was presented with the NYC Players’ Player Award by Rabbitohs 2017 NYC Coach, Ryan Carr. Congratulations Campbell on being voted by your peers as the Players’ Player for 2017!

Bob McCarthy Clubman of The Year - Damien Cook

Rabbitohs hooker Damien Cook has taken out the 2017 Bob McCarthy Clubman of the Year awarded at tonight’s (Friday) Red and Green Ball. Cook played in all but one game this season tallying up eight points through two tries. During his 1076 minutes of play, Cook made 24 offloads, 79 dummy half runs, 36 tackle breaks and 549 tackles. He broke the line on four occasions and assisted in three tries within 146 runs over 1362 run metres. Cook made his Rabbitohs debut in round one, 2016 against the Sydney Roosters and in 2017 extended his contract until at least the end of the 2019 season. The Clubman of the Year award is named after one of the Rabbitohs’ greatest players of all time, Bob McCarthy. McCarthy was part of the Rabbitohs’ golden era in the 1960s and early 1970s, playing 211 first grade games in the cardinal and myrtle. He is a multiple premiership-winning legend of the Club. Cook was presented the award by the man himself, Bob McCarthy at tonight’s awards ceremony. Congratulations to Damien Cook on being named the 2017 Bob McCarthy Clubman of the Year.

Bears NSW ISP(RG) - Player of The Year - Cheyne Whitelaw

The North Sydney Bears have named their award winners tonight (Friday Sep 22). The North Sydney Bears finished up on the ladder in sixth place after they were knocked out in an elimination final against the Newcastle Knights wrapping up their 2017 season. Cheyne Whitelaw was named Bears ISP Player of Year for his fine contribution during the year.

The North Sydney Bears’ 2017 NSW Cup Award Winners are: