Stunned Latham rated best

[morri (cWo)]

Stunned Latham rated best
By Jim Tucker
June 2, 2005

A STUNNED Chris Latham sheepishly accepted a record fourth Super 12 Player of the Series award last night for shining spasmodically in Australian rugby's worst team.

It was the Wallaby fullback's most inconsistent Super 12 since 1998 and the honour was won through three standout games and the vagaries of the voting system.

All Australian sides received votes on a 3-2-1 basis from referees after every match so Queensland Reds players received the same recognition in eight losses as the NSW Waratahs did in nine victories.

So many high performers from the Waratahs' first team to make the final caught the eye of referees that nine players split the 11 three-point votes without one being thrust forward as a winner.

Latham (11 points) scored with the lowest winning vote tally in the eight-year history of the award by overhauling early leader, George Smith (10), the ACT Brumbies flanker.

Peter Hewat, the Tooheys New Rookie of the Series winner, Scott Fava, Jeremy Paul and 2001 Player of the Series Phil Waugh were locked together on nine votes.

By contrast, Latham streeted the field with twice that number of votes (22) when he won the first of his four (2000, 2003, 2004 and 2005) gongs as Australia's Player of the Series.

This latest honour recognises more accurately, the Most Influential Player in a Losing Cause, because the mercurial Latham is that almost on a weekly basis at the Reds.

Latham earned maximum, three-point votes against the Sharks, the Highlanders, when he scored the individual try of the season, and the Cats, when he celebrated his 100th game for Queensland in style.

Latham ranked only fifth in player voting for Queensland's top award, the Pilecki Medal, last Sunday night while winner Nathan Sharpe polled ref votes in only two matches to finish midfield last night.

New South Wales Waratahs winger Hewat picked up two awards for his late-blooming deeds at 27. Not only did he beat Queensland's Hugh McMeniman for the nod as top rookie, he claimed the Tooheys New Medal on the vote of fans.

It was fitting recognition. He missed Wallaby selection but there may be a spot for Australia A next month to recognise his breakthrough season on the field as well.

Tooheys New Player of the Series: 11 votes: C Latham (Q). 10: G Smith (ACT), 9: P Hewat, (NSW), S Fava (ACT), J Paul (ACT), P Waugh (NSW). 8: D Croft (Q), M Giteau (ACT).

Tooheys New Medal: P Hewat (NSW)

Rookie of the series: P Hewat (NSW)

Coach of the series: E McKenzie (NSW) Referee of the series: A Cole.

The Courier-Mail

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[skeepe]

NSW stars overlooked
By Jon Geddes
June 2, 2005

SUPER 12 finalists the Waratahs have been snubbed at the season awards, with the best Australian players in the tournament judged to be from rival teams.

This despite the Waratahs clearly being Australia's most successful provincial side in 2005 - and having had 11 players selected to join the Wallabies training squad.

The best that the Waratahs could manage was third place, which was shared between back-rower Phil Waugh, who had an outstanding season, and winger Peter Hewat.

Player of the Year was the Queensland captain Chris Latham, the best player in a dud Reds outfit, who polled 11 points at the awards function in Sydney last night.

Brumbies back-rower George Smith finished second with 10 points, while his teammates Scott Fava and Jeremy Paul tied with Waugh and Hewat on nine.

Waratahs lock Dan Vickerman, who was described by Wallaby coach Eddie Jones as the best player in Super 12 this year, received a paltry three votes - and they were all in the one game against the Brumbies.

And he polled most votes of the NSW tight five despite consistently dominant performances. The absurd situation was further illustrated by the fact Waratah centre Nathan Grey failed to get one solitary vote despite his inspirational campaign.

The other Waratah players to poll were captain Chris Whitaker (7), David Lyons (7), Lote Tuqiri (7), Mat Rogers (6), Rocky Elson (5), Morgan Turinui (3), Al Baxter (2), Brendan Cannon (2), Matt Dunning (2),

Lachlan MacKay (2), Adam Freier (1) and Stephen Hoiles (1).

The results highlight the farcical voting system where referees award 3-2-1 votes to each of the three Australian teams at the end of every match regardless of the outcome.
Players in strongly performing teams - such as the Waratahs this year - are clearly disadvantaged.

And once again questions have been raised as to whether referees have enough to worry about without then having to pick the best players.

There was some joy for NSW with Hewat voted Rookie of the Series as well as winning the Tooheys New Medal - which was voted for by supporters.

And NSW boss Ewen McKenzie was the coach of the year, while Whitaker was voted the man most responsible for the try of the year, which he scored in the match against the Highlanders.

The Daily Telegraph

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That's funny, the Waratahs and the Sydney media never complained when it was always a Waratahs player winning it despite the Brumbies consistently being a better team, now they're having a whinge because the roles are reversed.

What a bunch of losers. God I hate the Waratahs.

 

[The Colonel]

While they are whinging they did make a point. How Phil Waugh was overlooked for the award is mind-boggling.

 

[skeepe]

Perhaps, but players like Joe Roff, Clyde Rathbone, Matt Giteau and Mark Gerrard were overlooked last year when the winner really should have come from one of them. And the same thing will continue to happen - the winner will be one of the best performed players from the team that struggles the most, because it's so much easier to shine when those around you are crap.

 

[The Colonel]

Perhaps, but players like Joe Roff, Clyde Rathbone, Matt Giteau and Mark Gerrard were overlooked last year when the winner really should have come from one of them. And the same thing will continue to happen - the winner will be one of the best performed players from the team that struggles the most, because it's so much easier to shine when those around you are crap.

No doubt. Would you like win an award knowing you were the best of a bad bunch? Sounds like Latham was a bit embarrassed......

 

[bayrep]

That does sound rather dodgy. Your team plays well for a reason usually becuase you and the players are playing well and not to reflect that in the end of year awards just makes the whole thing look rather dodgy.

 

[The Colonel]

A few years ago a rugby league competition I played/managed in had their player of the year award returned as the poor kid that won it was too embarassed. He was his the best player for his club by a mile however the won two games out of fourteen. He won the award due to a similar system.

 

[Twizzle]

he's not the only one who is stunned

 

[strong_latte]

Lathem is seriosuly over rated... any number of both Waratah's and Brumbies players deserved it more than him... It's just a shame Larkham got injured mid season, he was by far Australia's stand out player at that point and probably the stand out five eigth of the tournament too.

 

[Timbo]

Phil Waugh should have won it in a canter.

It is unfair to be overlooked because your team has too many blokes playing well. To be the best of a bad bunch and win as a result makes a mockery of the system.