Flanders captures Magpies Player of the Year award
Outstanding Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby loosie Devan Flanders admitted to being surprised at winning the team's Player of the Year award tonight.
The 2018 and '19 Baby Black thought captain and hooker Ash Dixon or in-form halfback Folau Fakatava might have won the award.
"They have both had unreal seasons. It could have gone in any order," Flanders said.
"We've all had a good year but these awards and little add ons will mean nothing if we can't finish it off with the Mitre 10 Cup Championship which is our main goal," Flanders said referring to Friday night's final against Northland at Napier's McLean Park.
The 21-year-old Hurricane who is contracted to the Canes for another two years also won the Players Player and Best Forward awards tonight. Last year he won the People's Choice award which was captured by Dixon this year.
While Havelock North club player Flanders prefers the No 8 role he said he doesn't mind which lose forward role he is given ... as long as he gets on the field. He also wants to improve on the "little things on and off the field."
"This year I've worked on my lineout jumping as it wasn't where I wanted it to be. I wanted to be a bit more physical and work on my jackals also. I'm slowly getting there," Flanders added.
As expected Fakatava took out the Best Back award. Fakatava (pictured below) and his Highlanders teammate and Magpies loosie Marino Mikaele-Tu-u have been selected in the Moana Pasifika team to play the Maori All Blacks in Hamilton on December 5.
Dixon, prop Pouri Rakete-Stones, lock Isaia Walker-Leawere and winger Jonah Lowe were tonight selected in the Maori All Black squad for the fixture.
Blockbusting winger Lolagi Visinia was a popular choice for Rookie of the Year.
Magpies manager Mike Smith said tonight's function staged at The Filterroom was more "low key" than previous seasons.
"The players wanted to keep things as relaxed as possible in the buildup to Friday night's final. We just had the players, their wives, partners and children and a few Hawke's Bay Rugby Union staff."
Award winners and finalists:
People's Choice (Decided by Face Book Poll): Ash Dixon:
Best forward: Winner, Devan Flanders. Other finalists, Ash Dixon, Brendon O'Connor, Tom Parsons.
Best back: Winner, Folau Fakatava. Other finalists, Neria Fomai, Lolagi Visinia.
Players player: Winner, Devan Flanders. Other finalists, Folau Fakatava, Neria Fomai.
Rookie of the year: Winner, Lolagi Visinia. Other finalists, Kurt Baker, Connor McLeod, Anzelo Tuitavuki.
Player of the Year (Selected from the award winners): Devan Flanders.
