In a remarkable performance the winner of the GAGR 2016 Wallaby Player of the Year is scrumhalf Will Genia who won despite missing the first three games of the year as well as two others, due to his commitments in France. Genia seemed to recapture his 2011 form for the Wallabies as he once again proved his outstanding talent in proving a constant danger to the opposition in all aspects of his play.
Genia seemed to benefit from an injury plagued French season which seemed to keep him fresh for his international duties. While there are critics of the ‘Giteau Clause’ (like me) if nothing else if provided Wallaby fans another chance to see the best of Genia in the green and gold.
Some interesting (or not) facts:
- Of the 48 players used in Wallaby tests this year, 17 of them polled Player of the Year points.
- Dane Haylett-Petty sets the record for the most Player of the Year points gained by a winger.
- DHP’s figures are impressive for a rookie, but they don’t match those of Michael Hooper who won in his debut year (2012) and Scott Fardy (2013).
- Michael Hooper’s consistency was exceptional as he polled Player of the Year points in nine of the 14 matches he played. Although GAGR’s 2016 Wallaby Player of the Year, Will Genia, polled points in six of the nine games he played, five of which were maximum points.
