For the second time in his Rugby League career, Rabbitohs forward Sam Burgess has been named Best and Fairest and awarded the 2016 George Piggins Medal.
This is Sam’s second award for the night also winning the 2016 Jack Rayner Players’ Player Award. This will be Sam’s 11th Rabbitohs award.
Sam becomes just the third player to have won the George Piggins Medal on multiple occasions, level with team mate Greg Inglis with two wins in 2013 and 2015, and behind team mate and back row partner John Sutton who has won the prestigious award on three occasions in 2009, 2012 and 2013.
Sam had a stand out season in 2016, leading the Rabbitohs’ forward pack throughout the 26 rounds. Standing at 196cm tall and weighing in at 116kg, this year marked Sam’s sixth season in the cardinal and myrtle jersey.
The dual-international debuted for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in round one, 2010 against the Sydney Roosters. Since then, Sam has proven to be a crucial player in the South Sydney Rabbitohs side.
Sam scored five tries in his 1664 minutes played in 2016, during his 23 games played. He recorded high statistics across the NRL, ranking in the top five in three categories notching up an impressive 399 runs, 49 offloads and 157 decoys. He also ranked highly across the board with 3531.6 all run metres and 1171 post contact metres.
The Best and Fairest award at the Rabbitohs is named after Club legend, George Piggins. Piggins was not only a premiership-winning and international player, he was also a celebrated coach and official with the Club over a 40-year period. He was also one of the leading figures in the Club’s fight for re-instatement to the elite Rugby League competition in the early 2000s.
Sam was presented the George Piggins Medal by Rabbitohs Head Coach Michael Maguire, and legends Michael Cleary and Bob McCarthy, at tonight’s (Friday’s) Red and Green Ball.
Congratulations Sam on winning your second George Piggins Medal!
Previous Winners:
2003 – Bryan Fletcher
2004 – Ashley Harrison
2005 – Peter Cusack
2006 – David Fa’alogo
2007 – Roy Asotasi
2008 – Luke Stuart
2009 – John Sutton
2010 – Issac Luke
2011 – Nathan Merritt
2012 – John Sutton
2013 – Greg Inglis & John Sutton
2014 – Sam Burgess
2015 – Greg Inglis
Previous Awards Tonight:
Burgess Wins Fourth Jack Rayner Player’s Player Award
Clark Wins 2016 Bob McCarthy Clubman of the Year Award
Walker Collects 2016 John Sattler Rookie of the Year Award
Walker Proves to be Members’ Choice
Turner is The Burrow’s Favourite
Tooheys New Fan Player of the Year
Sands Wins NYC Best and Fairest Award
Sands Takes Out NYC Players’ Player Award for 2016
