Obviously his fellow professionals didn't think he was average because its the players who decide on the man of steel

I'm with you Tad....
Call me cynical but there seemed to be a lack of awards heading to Headingley when Leeds were winning titles, yet suddenly Wigan finish top and reach a Grand Final and they sweep the boards.

Bet Clarke tugged himself stupid last night

Edited!

The players judge man of steel now don't they? Which to be fair you can't argue with. No one is a better judge of a player than someone who has to play against him.

In terms of coach of the year, I think smith got it in 05 when we won f*ck all.

To be fair though, since 04 we've never been [ithe[/i standout team and it's generally the coach of the outstanding team that wins coach of the year, unless someone does amazing with a crap team.

It was 04 when we should have swept the awards from top to bloody bottom. Don't really have much complaint about them since.

Before the players decided MoS and it was still the press, were there any outstanding leeds players in those years we won the title?

Not really. We had a whole bunch of players who performed well, but no one consistently stood out as outstanding. Burrow would be amazing one week, peacock the next, sinfield after that. None of our players were consistently brilliant. But you see, that's why we kept winning titles. We didn't rely on one or 2 outstanding players, but we were a team, with everyone chipping in.

Same applies to coach of the year. You wouldn't have given smith is in 07 when leeds finished 2nd would you? when has a coach ever guided a trophy challenging team to 2nd spot and won coach of the year? Funnily enough, tony smith for us in 2005.

Ditto 2008. In 2009 didn't brown win it? Deserved. They made tremendous strides under brown.

The only time leeds genuinly should have received ALOT of recognition, was 2004.

Not bothered as long as it's not that petulant little sh*t Tomkins.

I agree that it's appalling no Leeds players have been recognised over the previous 6 seasons but that doesn't alter the fact that Richards is thoroughly deserving this year.

this must be a joke? did he look past it at wembley?

really though..you cant be serious!

Just out of interest who won MoS in 2004? That was McGuire's year if anyone in the Leeds side was going to get it.

TBH it does say a lot about how average most British players are that the likes of Richards and previously Hodgson could win it.

andy farrell won it in 2004. He thoroughly deserved it that year, he single handedly dragged wigan to the final eliminator, he was immense that season.

I didn't say he is past it - just past his best, that is all.

P...lease.

Farrell got the sympathy vote that season for playing on with a broken nose in one game against Leeds IIRC and there were about3 or 4 more players more deserving.
McGuire, Vianakolo, Sinfield, Diskin, thats off the top of my head.

Don't agree - Farrell was awesome that year, including playing prop at times.

Should have been Disko - comfortably!

It was Diskin who broke Farrells nose, then had another go when Farrell came back onto the field.

That only furthers Diskin's case

At least they got it right this year.

And as for the players voting, well I have a view on that. Too much club bias, too much personal bias. It's not a popularity contest, making players responsible for voting adds a huge element of that. Independent adjudication would be my choice.

Who is going to be the independent adjudicator?

The press lost their credibility the year they gave it to Roby. I actually heard Hemmings on a radio interview saying they actively tried to give it to a British lad if they could.

TBH, I've lost all respect and interest for the award lately. Diskin, McGuire or Vainikolo should have won it in 2004 as should Sinfield in 2005.

One small flaw in my argument.

Now then Cynical, I agree with you it's completely unfair and it should be only the Leeds players who are allowed to vote

.

Now a proper injustice without bias is :- Kieran Cunningham has never won it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That because he's usually in the treatment room for weeks on end. He can have the man of aluminium and digestive biscuits award.

wouldnt teh fact that every player in every team getting to vote sort of correct for a bias, or at least dilute it a little?

it certainly makes it more of a popularity contest

so Ryan Bailey wouldnt be given a chance then?

450 Games+ for a guy who lives in the treatment room is some going