Overloaded Award: Tom Youngs, the Players’ Player, Aviva Premiership Player of the Year, Talksport Dream Team member and nominated for England Player of the Year. He deserves them all. A Tigers legend in the making. Brother’s not bad either.
If Crofty Can Do It So Can I Award: Ed Slater, for that try from halfway against Sale. But he does need to work on the dive.
The Welford Road Roar Award: Goes to the Maori All Blacks for their pre-match Haka. Rarely have 23 men made so much noise. And rarely has Welford Road been so silent. An awe-inspiring ‘I was there’ moment.
Proudest Parents Award: Mr & Mrs Youngs, seeing their boys play for England side by side, and now waiting to board the plane to Australia as Lions brothers. And not forgetting the Smiths after former captain Ian ‘Dosser’ Smith saw his son Matt make his 100th Tigers start, and in doing so they became the first father and son to reach the landmark in the club’s history.
Penalty Try Award: A lot of contenders in this category – 11 to be precise. Honorary mentions for backs Niall Morris at London Irish and Adam Thompstone at home to Sale Sharks. But the scrum try away to secure a Heineken Cup victory at the death in the pouring rain in Treviso – eventually – takes it.
Sniper In The Crowd Award: Steve Mafi. Fell like he’d been shot but the whole crowd felt it when his hamstring went on that bitter day against Toulouse. Glad he’s back fit now.
Hat-trick of the Year Award: Step forward Adam Thompstone. Is there a better way to mark your first start for Tigers than with a hat-trick at Welford Road?
Should Have Had a Hat-Trick Award: The victory at London Irish will live long in the memory for two brilliant Niall Morris tries, first finishing off a Toby Flood crossfield penalty and then racing through the defence from halfway. And he could have, and should have, had a hat-trick when he was tackled off the ball by Jamie Gibson with a try at his mercy. Still, the penalty try made the conversion easier!
Jordan Crane H2O Monitor of the Year Award: Jordan made this his own last year and he’ll be delighted to see it going to namesake Murphy for his sterling work this season.
Piggy Back Award: Fraser Balmain adds this to his Players’ Young Player of the Year after carrying the Wasps defence on his broad back in the Cup win at Welford Road.
Old Skool Award: Boris Stankovich for the last remaining high-cut boots in professional rugby. Stylish.
The What’s The Final Score? Award: That’s going to Florian Fritz for his act of ‘sportsmanship’ in rubbing Mat Tait’s hair as he lay in the snow following Toulouse’s try at Welford Road. It would be lovely to tug Fritz’s tresses in return and hand him one of the awards of the year. The final score Florian was 9-5 to Tigers.
Sir Alex Ferguson Extra Time Award: Martin Johnson, still on the pitch an hour-and-a-half after the Legends match signing autographs, having photos taken and meeting supporters.
