Dyldam Parramatta Eels captain Tim Mannah has been awarded the 2015 Ken Thornett Medal as the NRL Players’ Player, at the club’s presentation evening at Curzon Hall.
The Ken Thornett Medal night recognised players from the NRL, Holden Cup and NSW Cup sides to mark the 2015 season.
Tim Mannah was also the recipient of the club’s prestigious Michael Cronin Clubman of the Year and the Ray Price NRL Community Award.
“This was really unexpected and very humbling - a few of our players really stood up this year and there are a number of players this could have gone to,” Mannah said.
“Brad [Arthur] took me aside in pre-season and stuck a rocket up me and told me to not be complacent and to take my game to another level, and for me, that was a turning point in my season.”
“The best thing about this year is that we’ve got a really special squad and I really love playing for them, and it’s the most excited I’ve been about moving forward into another season.”
Eels five-eighth Corey Norman was voted the Blue and Gold Army Members’ Player of the Year, while 2015 NRL leading try-scorer Semi Radradra was awarded the Jack Gibson NRL Coaches’ Award.
Daniel Alvaro received two awards on the night, the Geoff Gerard NSW Cup Coaches’ Award and the Eric Grothe NRL Rookie of the Year.
“I was never expecting to win something like this, to be the Rookie of the Year is a massive honour,” Alvaro said.
“From a personal perspective it’s been a great year and I’m looking forward to building on that next year with the team.”
Dyldam Parramatta Eels 2015 Award Winners:
Ken Thornett Medal for NRL Players’ Player - Tim Mannah
Jack Gibson NRL Coaches’ Award - Semi Radradra
Eric Grothe Senior NRL Rookie of the Year - Daniel Alvaro
Ray Price NRL Community Award - Tim Mannah
Blue and Gold Army Members’ Player of the Year - Corey Norman
Brett Kenny NYC Coaches’ Award - Dylan Izzard
Steven Ella NYC Players’ Player Award - Alex Twal
Geoff Gerard NSW Cup Coaches’ Award - Daniel Alvaro
Bob O’Reilly NSW Cup Players’ Player Award - Sam Gorman
Michael Cronin Club Person of the Year - Tim Mannah
