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As a tribute to our terrible season in 2007, the results are being announced a few months late. Thanks to the people who took the trouble to vote.
Here are the Mafia winners for the 5 years we have been handing out these awards.
| Award |
2007 |
2006 |
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
| 1. |
Delany |
Nutbrown |
Latu |
Ormond |
Jackson |
| 2. |
MacDonald |
Aporo |
Ormond |
Jackson |
McQuoid |
| 3. |
Davison |
Latu |
Lutui |
Tipoki |
Senio |
| Rookie |
King |
Aporo |
Delany |
Bourke |
- |
| Lifetime |
Tahana |
Latu |
Ormond |
Jackson |
- |
TRY OF THE SEASON
3rd – Mike Delany v North Harbour. Delany scored 3 solo tries with a dummy, taking the gap and having the pace to finish.
2nd – Charlie Baxter v Otago. Line break by MacDonald, support play from Baxter to finish. Maybe the only time the crowd at Baypark had something to cheer.
1st – Lance MacDonald v Tasman. We didn’t score many tries and MacDonald’s hat-trick was a lone highpoint. People were unsure which try was the good one but I think it was the “sidestep and dancing feet” one.
NEXT BAY ALL BLACK
3rd – Jamie Nutbrown. Won this vote last year, but a bad injury playing for the Chiefs caused him to miss much of the Bay season and a consequent drop down the pecking order
2nd – Solomon King. Already a fixture in the Sevens squad (although with little game time to date), his power and pace were fleetingly evident during the provincial season.
1st – Tanerau Latimer. Runner-up last season and still destined for greatness. Whether he can achieve it playing for the Bay and the Chiefs remains to be seen.
ROOKIE OF THE SEASON
2nd – Toby Arnold. One of the numerous backs given a run-out in Bay colours as the injury crisis struck, Arnold is a good prospect for the future.
1st – Solomon King. Given the job at the back of an underperforming pack, King was always willing and made a few powerful runs with the ball. He has pace and power and hopefully he will be wearing the Bay number 8 jersey for a while.
LIFETIME AWARD
We don’t specify the qualification for this award so everyone is free to interpret it as they want.
1st – Anthony Tahana. The only contender this time, Ants will be long remembered for the many years he gave his all in the Bay colours and of course for that dramatic try to help us clinch the Ranfurly Shield.
PLAYER OF THE SEASON
16th – Toby Arnold. Stood in during the injury crisis and showed he is one for the future.
14th – Murray Williams (2006:9 2005:18). Another season, another injury for Williams. Scored one great try against Northland but was part of the Bay’s kicking woes in the games he played.14th – Anthony Tahana (2006:13 2005:4 2004:8 2003:10). Had injury problems and a lack of good ball for his farewell Bay season.
13th – Charlie Baxter (2006:16). After being left out of the squad, Charlie came back when injuries took away the backline and did his job as well as always.
12th – John Moore. Moore came back to the Bay but with Upton and Sorenson gone, our second row struggled all season.
11th – Ngarimu Simpkins. A hard worker at hooker, taking over after Pareanga’s season was ended. 10th – Ben Castle (2006:6 2005:5 2004:9 2003:7). A tough season for Ben with the Steamers struggling and he wasn’t quite the standout he has been in previous years.9th – Rena Schuster. Schuster was solid in a backline which had no continuity. He always gave 100% and improved during the season.
8th – Warren Lippi-Smith (2006:15 2005:18). Another to have injury problems, a couple of good games propelled him up the Mafia voting charts.
7th – Jamie Nutbrown (2006:1). Last season’s winner was hampered by an injury which kept him out of the early games and then playing behind a struggling pack when he returned.6th – Tanerau Latimer (2006:11). Promoted to the captaincy when Castle was injured, it was maybe a step too far for the young man with a struggling team to inspire. Always buried in the contact areas, Latimer will blossom when the Bay’s front five is strong again.5th – Colin Bourke (2006:14 2005:10 2004:7). Mr Fixit was forced to slot into the backline and kick goals when required but still had his best season in a Bay shirt as an intelligent ball-playing loose forward.
4th – Solomon King. The rookie of the year and with the potential to go onto Super 14 next season if he can keep on developing. Great pace and power off the back of the scrum.
3rd – Simms Davison (2006:7 2005:11 2004:13 2003:9). After a quiet start, Simms played better and better as the season progressed.
2nd – Lance MacDonald (2006:19). The surprise package for the Bay. Having played on the wing last season, Lance was switched to full-back and impressed all with his fast feet and great running. A hat-trick against Tasman marked him as one to watch although his small size may count against him at a higher level.
1st – Mike Delany (2006:5 2005:14). A narrow victory for Delany with MacDonald and Davison pushing him close. A reward for never giving up behind a beaten pack, fighting above his weight and scoring some searing tries.
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