Pocock challenge next up for Hooper

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NEXT year's battle royale with David Pocock for the Test No.7 jersey was magnified even more on Thursday night when the Wallabies voted Michael Hooper their John Eales Medallist.

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It was the purest recognition of how much Hooper is valued as a core figure for the Wallabies because the votes all came from the players he spilt blood with or copped a body battering beside.

The honour was a marvellous high considering he arrived on the Test scene just 16 months ago as a fill-in for the injured yet seemingly irreplaceable Pocock at flanker.

Hooper, 21, has since written his own specifications for the position. He is a breakdown pest, a little tank on two pistons who refuses to ever be tackled easily and a fearless figure under his head tape for his commitment to contest everything against much bigger bodies.

Hooper (297 votes) was a clear winner of the Wallabies' highest individual honour over No.8 Wycliff Palu (185) and matchwinner Israel Folau (177), who won the Rookie of the Year gong.

Symbolically, just hours before Hooper's award was announced at a gala Sydney function, Pocock was making a significant announcement of his own in low key surroundings in Canberra.

"I'm good to go. I've been into plenty of contact training already and I'm just keen to get out there now and play come February," Pocock said of the all-clear after his injury-ruined year.

The 45-Test powerhouse has devoted nearly eight months to repairing his left knee after reconstruction surgery and will have his first full pre-season build-up since 2007 with the Brumbies.

"I talked about the Wallabies tour to Europe (leaving today) with my surgeon but he wants me to have that full pre-season build-up and he knows better than me," Pocock added.

"Absolutely you want to play every game you can but you also have to take the long-term view."

Brisbane's Dr Peter Myers, knee doctor to the stars from Tim Horan in the 1990s to Pocock this year, was a worthy choice for the Joe French Award acknowledging service to rugby.

Joining George Smith (2002 and 2008), Phil Waugh (2003) and Pocock (2010) as flankers to win the John Eales Medal capped a wonderful season for Hooper.

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The influential NSW Waratahs forward was named Australia's Super Rugby Player of the Year so the motor inside his compact 97kg frame never fades.

Folau deserves great kudos. In his first four months of Test rugby so well did teammates rate his conversion from rugby league and AFL that only two earned more votes.

The fullback can make a flying start to 2014 John Eales Medal voting against England at Twickenham on November 2 because if the Wallabies are to make a mark on the tour leaving Friday, Folau will have to be a five-star performer.

Halfback Will Genia's wonderful dash and kick to set up Folau's classic try against the British and Irish Lions at Suncorp Stadium meant a worthy Try of the Year gong for the instigator.

Queensland Reds backrower Curtis Browning won the Australian Under-20s Player of the Year award for an unprecedented second year and Con Foley was named Sevens Player of the Year.

2013 John Eales Medal – Top ten: 297 votes: M Hooper, 185: W Palu, 177: I Folau, 131: A Ashley-Cooper, 102: C Lealiifano, 84: S Fardy, 80: W Genia, 77: S Moore, T Kuridrani, 73: J Slipper, 70: Q Cooper

2013 John Eales Medal – full list of award winners:

• 2013 John Eales Medal: Michael Hooper, NSW
• Australia's Choice – Wallaby of the Year: Michael Hooper, NSW
• Try of the Year: Will Genia, QLD
• Rookie of the Year: Israel Folau, NSW
• Shawn Mackay Award – Sevens Player of the Year: Con Foley, QLD
• Men's Sevens Player of the Year: Con Foley, QLD
• Women's Player of the Year: Sharni Williams, ACT
• Joe French Award: Dr Peter Myers, QLD
• Under 20s Player of the Year: Curtis Browning, QLD
• Nick-Farr Jones Spirit of Rugby Award: Kerry Brady, NSW
• Roger Vanderfield Award – Referee of the Year: Steve Walsh, ARU
• Volunteer of the Year: Micky Wilson, SA
• Wallabies Ultimate Fan: Trevor Hancock, ACT

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