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Greg Davis (50)
Hickey named Australian Super 14 Coach of the Year
http://www.waratahs.com.au/MediaExt...ckeynamedAustralianSuper14CoachoftheYear.aspx
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
NSWRU Media Unit
HSBC Waratahs head coach Chris Hickey has won the Australian Super 14 Coach of the Year Award for the second year running.
Hickey guided the Tahs to a 9-4 win-loss record for the second straight season, however an improved attacking game helped the team to third place on the Super 14 ladder and a semi-final appearance.
Along the way NSW defeated all other Australian franchises and finished the season ahead of all other Australian and New Zealand teams.
After receiving the award, Hickey deflected praise to his staff and players as well as the other Australian Super 14 coaches.
"This is really an award for the team and their achievements this season, as it was last year as well," said Hickey. "Over the last two years there has been a lot of change in terms of playing personnel and at the start of 2009 there was a complete change in coaching staff too so to maintain a high level of performance under those circumstances is extremely pleasing.
"On the whole I think it's been a fantastic season for Australian teams in the Super 14 even though no sides are in the final this weekend. Next year six teams will be in the playoffs and if that system was in effect in 2010 we would have had three teams in contention.
"Ewen McKenzie did a fantastic job with the Reds this year - they were without doubt the most improved team in the competition. Andy Friend had the Brumbies still in contention going into the last round and after a horrible run of injuries the Force under John Mitchell showed what they were capable of at the back end of the season."
Hickey said that with preparations beginning soon ahead of the first year of the expanded competition in 2011, Tahs fans could expect another strong showing.
"There's been a lot of change in the last two years, and from 2009 to 2010 alone we lost 11 players from the Super 14 squad, six of whom were Wallabies," said Hickey. "We feel we recruited strongly in the off-season, but that much change requires time to jell, and the more time the team has together the better this team will become."
Kurtley Beale and Drew Mitchell were placed in the top five in the Player of the Year category which was won by Queensland's Quade Cooper, with the Reds No.10 also winning the Try of the Year category.
NSW lock Kane Douglas was a finalist the Rookie of the Year after playing all 14 matches in his debut year, including 13 in the starting XV, however the award went to Warringah and Brumbies back Pat McCabe.
NSW whistleblower Stuart Dickinson won the Referee of the Year Award for the fourth straight year.
2010 AUSTRALIAN SUPER 14 AWARDS
Player of the Year
22 Quade Cooper (Reds)
21 Will Genia (Reds)
15 James O'Connor (Western Force)
12 Kurtley Beale (HSBC Waratahs)
11 Drew Mitchell (HSBC Waratahs)
Coach of the Year
Chris Hickey (HSBC Waratahs)
Rookie of the Year
Pat McCabe (Brumbies)
Try of the Year
Quade Cooper (Reds)
Referee of the Year
Stuart Dickinson (NSW)
http://www.waratahs.com.au/MediaExt...ckeynamedAustralianSuper14CoachoftheYear.aspx
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
NSWRU Media Unit
HSBC Waratahs head coach Chris Hickey has won the Australian Super 14 Coach of the Year Award for the second year running.
Hickey guided the Tahs to a 9-4 win-loss record for the second straight season, however an improved attacking game helped the team to third place on the Super 14 ladder and a semi-final appearance.
Along the way NSW defeated all other Australian franchises and finished the season ahead of all other Australian and New Zealand teams.
After receiving the award, Hickey deflected praise to his staff and players as well as the other Australian Super 14 coaches.
"This is really an award for the team and their achievements this season, as it was last year as well," said Hickey. "Over the last two years there has been a lot of change in terms of playing personnel and at the start of 2009 there was a complete change in coaching staff too so to maintain a high level of performance under those circumstances is extremely pleasing.
"On the whole I think it's been a fantastic season for Australian teams in the Super 14 even though no sides are in the final this weekend. Next year six teams will be in the playoffs and if that system was in effect in 2010 we would have had three teams in contention.
"Ewen McKenzie did a fantastic job with the Reds this year - they were without doubt the most improved team in the competition. Andy Friend had the Brumbies still in contention going into the last round and after a horrible run of injuries the Force under John Mitchell showed what they were capable of at the back end of the season."
Hickey said that with preparations beginning soon ahead of the first year of the expanded competition in 2011, Tahs fans could expect another strong showing.
"There's been a lot of change in the last two years, and from 2009 to 2010 alone we lost 11 players from the Super 14 squad, six of whom were Wallabies," said Hickey. "We feel we recruited strongly in the off-season, but that much change requires time to jell, and the more time the team has together the better this team will become."
Kurtley Beale and Drew Mitchell were placed in the top five in the Player of the Year category which was won by Queensland's Quade Cooper, with the Reds No.10 also winning the Try of the Year category.
NSW lock Kane Douglas was a finalist the Rookie of the Year after playing all 14 matches in his debut year, including 13 in the starting XV, however the award went to Warringah and Brumbies back Pat McCabe.
NSW whistleblower Stuart Dickinson won the Referee of the Year Award for the fourth straight year.
2010 AUSTRALIAN SUPER 14 AWARDS
Player of the Year
22 Quade Cooper (Reds)
21 Will Genia (Reds)
15 James O'Connor (Western Force)
12 Kurtley Beale (HSBC Waratahs)
11 Drew Mitchell (HSBC Waratahs)
Coach of the Year
Chris Hickey (HSBC Waratahs)
Rookie of the Year
Pat McCabe (Brumbies)
Try of the Year
Quade Cooper (Reds)
Referee of the Year
Stuart Dickinson (NSW)
