St George Illawarra full-back Darius Boyd wins RLPA Players' Player award

[Spartan - Dragon]

St George Illawarra full-back Darius Boyd wins RLPA Players' Player award

Emma Schiller
foxsports.com.au
September 15, 2010
St George Illawarra full-back Darius Boyd has capped off a stellar season by winning the Rugby League Players Association Players' Player of the Year Medal.
Boyd led the voting, which is cast by players on a 3-2-1 basis after each game, throughout the season, but had to fend off last minute voting surges for the in-form Sydney Roosters playmaker Todd Carney and Gold Coast's Greg Bird.

"It's a big honour, I wasn't really sure I was going to get it, there's so many good players," Boyd told Fox Sports.

"It’s something I'll cherish."

Boyd has only recently moved from the wing to full-back, but credited his success in the new position to a depth of experience playing alongside Karmichael Hunt at Brisbane and Billy Slater in the Queensland State of Origin side.

He also paid special tribute to St George Illawarra coach Wayne Bennett.

"On and off the field he's (Bennett) a great coach and mentor as well. I owe a lot to him," Boyd said.

While Boyd was flattered to receive the RLPA award, he was aware that the ‘chokers’ tag was still hovering around the Dragons’ finals charge.

The whole year you probably have that in the back of your mind," Boyd said.

"But you’re not thinking of it too much, not wanting it to happen again."

According to Boyd, the Dragons seem likely to continue their recent finals form and are confident that a spot in the grand final is not a pipedream.

"I think there’s a lot of confidence, definitely," he said.

"Hopefully we can keep improving towards the next few weeks."

In other RLPA awards, Brisbane and Queensland captain Darren Lockyer was named the Australian representative player of the year for the second time, while Wests Tigers five-eighth Benji Marshall was recognised as the New Zealand representative player of the year.

Manly halfback Trent Hodkinson won the players' rookie of the year award while Penrith captain Petero Civoniceva received the Dennis Tutty clubman of the year plaudits.

The RLPA also recognised Parramatta's Nathan Cayless for earning more caps as captain than any other player in NRL history.


http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,27708680-5018866,00.html

 

[TonyDragons1]

Well done Darius - a real step up in performance this year.

Interesting to note that he has taken inspiration from K-Hunt; pretty obvious on the field when he does the meat-axe runs on a kick return!

We will need that kind of leadership from every player to win the comp.


On anther note regarding player awards, does anyone know when the WOK - Warren Ryan Medal will be awarded by the ABC Rugby League team? IMO that is a real award given by people who actually know something about the game and don't lower themselves to the FOX / Ch9 gutter standards.

 

[Jono1987]

I'm sure this award means a lot more to the players than the Dally M's despite the obvious lack of public recognition. Congratulations Darius, well deserved.