Click to Download the eBook
In the lead up to New Years Eve 2009, we published a series of articles looking back at some of the highlights of Australian Rugby throughout the decade. This culminated in the selection of the Wallaby Team of the Decade and the nomination of five players as Wallaby Players of the Decade. The Player of the Decade post can be seen here.
The voting and debate was torrid. And in the end very very close, with only two votes splitting first and second place. In the end the winner was…..
You win again....
… George Smith won by only two points to Steve Larkham, in what ended up being a (somewhat surprising) two horse race. In the end it is hard to dispute the final winner. A player that has played an incredible amount of professional rugby games this decade, generally injury free, whilst still turning out for his club whenever he could. He won Lions series, Bledisloe’s, Tri-Nations, John Eales Medals, Super 12 titles, G&GR Player of the Year awards, and he won our respect and admiration. What a player.
For those of you who missed the Decade Review, click here to download a special e-book of the series. Scott (the legend behind the Steve Larkham video) has put all the stories together in one collectable, and downloadable form. So relive those memories, catch up on the articles you missed, and send it to your mates. Tell them about G&GR and get them to come and visit us. Where planning a massive season with plenty of exciting things on the cards. Stay tuned…
Tags: george smith, Steve Larkham, Wallabies
The artist formerly known as "Noddy" grew up in a golden age of Queensland Rugby and wakes up every morning hoping that THAT day will be the start of a new one. I like to reminisce. Follow me on twitter at http://twitter.com/RugbyReg. 
The most prestigious award of course was the 2009 G&GR Wallaby of the Year.
I’m thinking we can step it up to a Little League style trophy for Wallaby of the Decade?? Maybe an acceptance interview for the site to boot.
Don’t worry Larkham, Jeremy Paul got more votes than Cannon and didn’t even make the team.
Congrats to Smith, what player, glad the mo is gone.
you must have gone back and voted for Paul a few more times.
At the time the team was decided, Cannon was in front.
I don’t think you can vote more than once. I just knew it must have been close so I was just checking it out. Someone should put a time limit on that stuff.
Paul got more votes than Cannon because he was a better player all round than Cannon. Not just a good, steroetypical, grizzly Hooker.
It’s hard to put anyone above Bernie but this is the way I voted.
Now that GS has the G&G Player of the Decade Award there is only one Major left to put in the cabinet; an RWC Winners Medal.
Hopefully he and the other men in Gold will rectify that in 2011.
Cheers Scott and Noddy for all the hard work, I just forwarded it to about 50 mates, I’m sure it’s making it’s way around the net by now!
Really impressive catalogue here, saved to the hard drive and linked to buddies too.
It’s unfortunate that the same amount of people that downloaded and read it haven’t commented on it or expressed their gratitude for it.
top effort lads
Is that it? A desktop publishing certificate for George? Good lord!
He was very honoured! Asked for the plastic sleeve to protect it!
he won the certificate for being the G&GR Wallaby Player of the Year.
He got nothing for being Wallaby Player of the Year.
George Smith is the only George Smith.His ability to tackle and come up with the ball is freakish.
His consistency be it at Number 6,7,or 8 amazing