2007 Player of the Year
World class game-breaker Matt Giteau has won The West Australian/Rosendorff/Rolex Emirates Western Force Player of the Year Award.
The award was announced last night at the Emirates Western Force Awards Night at the Burswood Entertainment Complex in Perth.
In the tightest of counts, Giteau pipped six players equal on second – including last year’s winner, Scott Staniforth – by just one vote.
The 24 year old won a magnificent Rolex Oyster Professional Submariner Date wrist watch, valued at $14,000 and kindly donated by Rosendorff jewellers and Rolex.
Giteau played a major role in the Emirates Western Force’s climb up the ladder this year, seizing and creating opportunities at flyhalf and inside centre.
He notched up his 50th Super cap during the season (he now has 52 Super caps) and scored 71 points for the Force, including three tries – one against the Waratahs and two against the Chiefs.
Giteau’s speedy footwork and slick hands kept the opposition guessing and often led to breaks for others.
His move to Perth from Canberra brought with it an opportunity to play more of a leadership role, one in which he thrived.
Since the end of this year’s Investec Super 14 season, Giteau has increased his tally of Wallabies caps and Test tries to 46 and 17, respectively.
Giteau said he was delighted to have won such a prestigious honour and acknowledged the part played by his teammates in collecting the award.
“You can see by the few votes separating so many players that our good performance this year was a team effort, so this award would not have been possible without their commitment,” he said.
Giteau also thanked Rosendorff jewellers, The West Australian newspaper and Rolex.
2007 The West Australian/Rosendorff/Rolex Player of the Year Award – Vote Recipients
- Matt Giteau – 7
- Gareth Hardy, Digby Ioane, Drew Mitchell, Nathan Sharpe, Cameron Shepherd, Scott Staniforth – 6
- Scott Fava, Matt Henjak, David Pocock – 5
- Matt Hodgson, Rudi Vedelago – 4
- Tai McIsaac, Junior Pelesasa, Chris O’Young – 3
- Ryan Cross – 2
- David Pusey – 1
