James Slipper
Wallabies vice-captain James Slipper has underlined his standing as the most influential prop in Australian rugby by dominating the awards at the Queensland Reds’ gala ball.
Slipper became the first front-rower to win the coveted Pilecki Medal for a second time on Friday night while also taking out the People’s Choice award and the Spirit of the Reds award.
SMH
The 25-year-old, capped 54 times for Australia, also won the peer-based Pilecki Medal in 2012 and finished third last year.
Despite the Reds’ poor 2014 – finishing third last with just five wins, and starting the season with injury problems – Slipper was a shining light at loosehead.
He claimed the annual player of the season award, voted by the Reds’ players on a 3-2-1 basis, with 239 votes, ahead of fellow forwards Jake Schatz (196) and Greg Holmes (192).
“James’ work rate around the field is a huge benefit to the team and he backs that up with a tremendous attitude off the field,” said Queensland coach Richard Graham.
“For him to win this award, when he missed a couple of games through suspension and missed some time through injury, it’s a credit to him and the high opinion his teammates have of his contributions on the field.”
Lock Rob Simmons and flanker Beau Robinson rounded out the top five.
Flanker Curtis Browning claimed the Most Improved award while boom centre Samu Kerevi was the Reds Rising Rugby Star.
PILECKI MEDAL TOP 10:
- James Slipper 239
- Jake Schatz 196
- Greg Holmes 192
- Rob Simmons 141
- Beau Robinson 132
- Liam Gill 117
- Ed Quirk 95
- Ben Tapuai 92
- James Hanson 89
- Anthony Faingaa 88
Pilecki Medal is the award given to the Queensland Reds player of the year for that season. The medal is named after stalwart QLD prop Stan Pilecki, the first player to represent QLD in 100 matches.
Stan Pilecki (born February 4, 1947 in a refugee camp in Augustdorf, Germany) is a former Australian Rugby Union player with Polish roots. His family emigrated to Australia in 1950. He is also an Old Boy of Marist College Rosalie in Brisbane.
Pilecki was the first player to play 100 matches for Queensland Reds, playing 122 matches in total. Pilecki also played 18 tests, and was the first player of Polish descent to play for Australia.