Today, international second-rower Gareth Ellis has established a benchmark that may prove difficult to surpass by winning the Wests Tigers Player of the Year award for the third consecutive year.
Considered the world’s premier second-rower, Ellis participated in 18 games this season and is the only player to have achieved the honor of winning the Wests Tigers Player of the Year award three times. Voting for the Player of the Year Award is conducted among the Wests Tigers players.
“I’m honestly quite overwhelmed. I missed a few matches this year, but I can’t express my gratitude enough for receiving this award, especially to the boys who clearly voted for me,’’ Ellis remarked.
“It has been an incredible year. The boys are an absolute joy to play with week after week. Although we fell short once more this year, I hope we can look forward to a strong 2012 and give it another good shot.”
The Player of the Year award was one among several distinctions conferred in front of over 1100 attendees at a sold-out Wests Tigers Grand Final luncheon at Le Montage Function Centre in Leichhardt.
Prop Keith Galloway was honored for his exceptional season through the Noel Kelly Medal for Best Forward.
Galloway participated in 23 games this season, and his remarkable work ethic earned him a NSW jersey for Origin 3. He is also a strong candidate for the final Australian squad for the upcoming Four Nations tournament next month.
Benji Marshall, a star five-eighth, was a fan-favorite recipient of the Keith Barnes Medal for Best Back, marking the third consecutive year he has claimed the award. Marshall experienced his best season with the Wests Tigers in 2011, featuring in 25 games and setting the record for the most points for the Club.
He also secured the runner-up position in the Dally M Player of the Year award.
Impressive young prop Aaron Woods was acknowledged for his outstanding debut season with the title of Club’s Rookie of the Year for 2011. After making his NRL debut in round one, Woods played 24 games and was subsequently selected for the Australian Kangaroos train-on squad for the Four Nations.
High Performance Manager Steve Folkes awarded the Iron Men honors to centre Blake Ayshford, hooker Robbie Farah, lock Chris Heighington, and full-back Tim Moltzen for playing in all 26 matches this season.
Ayshford earned another accolade as he was presented the Wests Tigers Members Player of the Year award. The under-rated centre delivered an exceptional performance this year, playing in every match and showcased his skills as a quality attacking centre.
Galloway also received a second award, the Wests Tigers Community Award, for his contributions to the ‘Read with Wests Tigers’ initiative at the Exodus Foundation Reading Centre in Ashfield.
In addition, Keith has aided the city’s homeless by volunteering at the Exodus Night van and makes frequent visits to hospitalized children, bringing them cheer.
Wests Tigers also recognized their U20s team with various awards. The Players’ Player award was given to the powerful forward Mosese Fotuaika, while talented full-back James Tedesco earned the Coaches Award.
The U20s Community Award was bestowed upon second-rower and captain Shaun Spence in recognition of his significant involvement with the reading program at the Exodus Foundation.
2011 Wests Tigers Awards
Player of the Year: Gareth Ellis
Noel Kelly Medal for Best Forward: Keith Galloway
Keith Barnes Medal for Best Back: Benji Marshall
Rookie of the Year: Aaron Woods
Iron Men: Blake Ayshford, Robbie Farah, Chris Heighington, Tim Moltzen.
Community Award: Keith Galloway
Members Player of the Year: Blake Ayshford
U20s
Players Player: Mosese Fotuaika
Coaches Award: James Tedesco
Community Award: Shaun Spence
Buford Balony says: If this player had taken part in the Rugby World Cup, perhaps England would have been decent.