New South Wales Rugby

Leseberg Named Country Player of the Year for 2007

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Wednesday, 13 June 2007
NSWRU Media Unit

Leseberg becomes the tenth player to be awarded the coveted award, named in memory of the former Quirindi, Central North and Country prop forward who was tragically killed in a horse riding accident in 1996.

The Will Tanner Award was presented at the New South Wales Country Rugby Union's awards function, held on Sunday evening at Pymble.

The NSW Country Cockatoos Captain and number eight had a slow start in the voting, but registered two Man of the Match performances against Melbourne and Queensland Country to come from behind and claim the award from 2006 winner Paul Elliott.

Points were awarded by coach Paul Verrell, a selector and an independent judge after each of the Cockatoos' Representative Matches in 2007.

Going into the last match of the season against NSW Suburban, Leseberg held a five point lead over his nearest rival, and this proved to be enough for him to take out the award, even though he was ruled out of the match with injury.

Leseberg, in his second year with the Cockatoos, had an outstanding season, and his winning of the award follows on from his strong 2006 season, which included the Country Development tour to Fiji.

2007 Will Tanner Award Voting:

18 Nick Leseberg
13 Paul Elliott
12 Tim O'Brien
12 Richie Steele
8 Doug Haslem
8 Matt MacGregor
8 Michael Roche
7 Thuens Jacobs
5 Dan Kevill
5 Cameron Wyper
4 Joe De Dassel
3 Ben Sattler
3 Jason Webb
1 Matt Waterford
1 Adam Winter

Previous winners of the Will Tanner Country Player of the Year:

1998 James Quinn (CNRU)
1999 Rod Petty (IDRU)
2000 David Lubins (NHRU)
2001 James McCormack (MRU)
2002 Nick Lavelle (CWRU)
2003 Anthony Gowing (CWRU)
2004 Adam Winter (CCRU)
2005 Ross Duncan (WPRU)
2006 Paul Elliott (CWRU)
2007 Nick Leseberg (NHRU)

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