The winner will be announced at the 2009 Harlequins end of season Awards Dinner and Dance held on Tuesday 12th May at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane.
So who will you vote for?
Will it be the Lion - Monye? Will it be one of the internationals - Care, Easter, Strettle, Tiesi, Botha, Barry, Luveniyali? One of the youngsters - Stegmann? One of the Academy products - Williams, Brown, Robson, Robshaw, Turner-Hall, Guest, Lambert? A crowd favourite - Gommarsall? The perfect 10 - Evans? The unsung heroes - Jones, Ross, Percival, Kohn? The stalwarts - Evans, Fuga? Captain fantastic - Skinner? Or one of the other players in this fantastic squad of ours?
I think many of our players have done things to put them in line for this award, but all things considered I reckon Robshaw is most deserving. I think he is arguably the best blindside in the country, and only behind Croft if anyone. I certainly think he is our most consistent player, in terms of graft, intelligence, skill, low error count, and discipline. The fact he is still so young and inexperienced in such a demanding physical position just adds to his kudos.
Robshaw, without a doubt. But many of the other players could win if he wasn't there. It's so close, but he really has done nothing wrong, and everything right. Each week I think he has played the perfect game, then the following week he just surpasses himself yet again.
Skinns has led the most successful Quins team for some years - that must count for a lot.
Robshaw has been phenomenal - all has been stated above.
Ceri and Rossy really have been incredible all season and they deserve some sort of award.
Botha has come into contention with a great surge towards the tail end of the season.
Danny has had some sort of role in creating the large majority of the tries we have scored this season.
NEv, well, what is there that hasn't already been said?!
JTH has consistently been our strongest ball carrier in the backs this year and has been instrumental in gaining solid ground in the middle of the park - has continued his development.
Gonzo has had a very solid season in the centre and has fixed a problem position for us.
Ugo didn't get into the Lions for nothing - he has been a MASSIVE player for us this season.
Tom Williams has been brilliant this season - glad he's finally getting the recognition he deserves.
Gommers has been his usual passionate, expressive self and has become the fan favourite - a strong contender.
Tani is another fan favourite and has had such an impact off the bench.
So many to choose from and impossible to choose. I'm not sure I'll be able to vote - we just have too many great players!!
QQQ
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:04:30:19:37:59 by Quinny Quin Quin.
JTH for me. He has consistantly proved his worth this season. It's great to see him being one of the first to congratulate other team members and welcome on replacements. A wise head on very young shoulders.
Robshaw or Williams for me. Both been outstanding this season, as have many, but those two just edge it in my opinion. What a season though! To be this spoiled for choice speaks volumes.
Ceri and Rossi have been brilliant and Nick Easter has had a very, very good season. Skins has captained fantastically and JTH has really grown up into a top inside centre. Ugo has matured still further into a Lion. The Bear injects speed that this team thrives on and is a key player in the success.
However I think the award should go to the coaching team who week after week manage to sneak two blonde No 6's on to the pitch without the ref noticing.
If we were looking for a new chant, how about
"He's here, he's there, he's every bl@@dy where, Chris Robshaw, Chris Robshaw"
Tough tough tough choice but I think Skins edges it for me just over manyothers whole squad deserve it shared to be honest but Will for his leadership gets my vote, then NEV then RObshaw then gawd list goes on and on.
Gommers would be an interesting choice, given that he's not going to be around next season. Would be a good way to send him off. He's certainly a crowd-pleaser!
But...it's between Ceri and Chris Robshaw, I think.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to bleat about it all over the internet"
I can't choose, Robshaw has been outstanding, Skinner one of our best ever captains over the last 15 years and a great player, Tom Williams what a great season for him, Danny also had a great season, the front row have played out of their skins, Nev enough said, JTH has been superb and Tiesi has been find of the season, they've all given so much and played so well. Gommers will probably end up getting my vote for the pure passion he's put in or Robshaw as there seems like theres two of him on the pitch at the same time.
Put me in the Robshaw camp. Perhaps Mr Haskell could learn a thing or two from him about getting on, learning your trade and putting in consistently good performances week in, week out.
I think this is a very hard call indeed for all the reasons given above. But when I think about some of the turning point matches, and most recently our heroic victory away at Bath, I have to give it to Ceri- maybe because I was a prop, maybe because he managed things I could hardly believe.
Two very interesting themes emerging from this debate.
Firstly, we are spoilt for choice. Nearly all of the regular first teamers have at least some support, and it's a measure of just how good the squad is that the strongest support is for Gomars and Tom W, who aren't even the first choice in their positions.
Secondly, for all that there are many, many very good candidates it also seems that there is a clear favourite.
For me, honourable mentions to Rossy, Ceri, Gary Botha, Tom Williams, NEv, Molly and Gonzo.
Runners-up spots to:
JTH. He has matured into a brutally effective player in both attack and defence. Moment of the season: ripping the ball out of a ruck on his own 5m line against Leinster, and starting a move that went to the other end of the field. Here's to a long and happy career shredding defences for Quins, England and the Lions.
and Will Skinner. Has grown in stature as a player and a captain throughout the season, and a major force in the team's development from pretenders to contenders. Deano knows what he is worth as a player and a leader. How long until Johnno realises?
But I'm afraid my choice of Player of the Year was fixed on 5 October. Two outstanding performances in four days. Step forward, Chris Robshaw.
I'm sitting here trying to decide and it's nigh on impossible! As already mentioned there are so many contenders. I have loved watching Robshaw and Tommy W this season but my heart says Gommers as a thank you for the passion he gave to Quins. Aggghhhh.
Well, "Supporter's DoR of the Season" could only really end in a resounding victory or a spoiled ballot - but there might be some potential in "Supporter's Backroom Team Member of the Year"
So many candidates - Deano, JK, Collin Osborne, Dipper, the Physios.
For what it's worth my vote has gone with the ever reliable Tom Williams. He's really stepped up a gear this season. He's been ever present and consistently made valuable contributions in each game .... I didn't really have to justify the vote ....
Gonzo and Robshaw come in my second equal by a hair's width ....
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