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Genia wins prestigious Pilecki Medal

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:42

Reds and Wallaby scrumhalf Will Genia has won his first prestigious Pilecki Medal as "the players’ player" of the Reds’ 2010 season.

The 22-year-old Genia took over as captain after James Horwill was injured in Round two and accumulated 209 Pilecki medal votes during the Super 14 season to finish 32 votes clear of Quade Cooper (177), with hooker Saia Faingaa and prop Ben Daley tied on 141. All will be part of the Reds’ campaign in 2011.

Both Faingaa and Daley have since gone on to win their first Wallaby caps, while flyhalf Cooper has cemented his place in the Wallaby No.10 jersey. Genia is currently sidelined with a broken thumb.

Voted by the players on a 3-2-1 basis after each game, the medal is named after legendary prop Stan Pilecki who played 122 times in the Queensland front row and who was on hand to present the award to Genia on Thursday.

"Will took on the additional responsibility of the on-field captaincy when James was injured and led by example for the whole season. He didn't miss a beat," said Reds head coach Ewen McKenzie.

"The consistency of his performances is what we need to achieve as a team and the group we have assembled for 2011 is capable of that."

The 19-year-old Jake Schatz won the Reds' Rookie of the year award after he made his debut at blindside flank against the Crusaders in Round two, and also played openside flank and No.8 in his five starting appearances from a total of nine games during the season. He recently captained the Australian U20 team to the final of the IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina.

"It was a very impressive debut year for Jake. He had a few challenges thrown at him, being asked to play in all three backrow positions during the season. But as with Will, nothing fazed him, he just went out there and did the job," McKenzie said.

2010 Votes:
Will Genia (209)
Quade Cooper (177)
Ben Daley (141)
Saia Faingaa (141)
Daniel Braid (134)

Previous Pilecki Medal winners:

2009 Digby Ioane
2008 David Croft
2007 David Croft
2006 Rodney Blake
2005 Nathan Sharpe
2004 Chris Latham
2003 Julian Huxley
2002 Chris Latham
2001 Toutai Kefu
2000 Chris Latham
1999 Chris Latham/Daniel Herbert
1998 John Eales
1997 John Eales
1996 Jason Little
1995 Jason Little
1994 Matthew Pini
1993 Rod McCall
1992 Peter Slattery

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