Croft wins second Pilecki Medal
QR Reds flanker David Croft has ended his professional rugby career on a high, winning the Pilecki Medal “players' player” award for the second year in a row.
The Pilecki Medal is decided on the votes of the Reds players and Croft finished with 195, ahead of another departing Red in Chris Latham on 167 and end-of-season Reds captain James Horwill on 135.
It was a remarkable showing by four time Pilecki medal winner Latham, considering he missed almost half of the season's games through injury.
Croft secured his second successive Pilecki medal by scoring the highest votes of any player in the last three rounds, against the Blues, Crusaders and Waratahs, when he knew this season would be his last as a professional rugby player.
The medal win was announced tonight at the Reds' black tie ball in Brisbane, along with the Rookie of the Year and Best Trainer awards.
Powerful No 8 Leroy Houston, who finished fifth in the Pilecki Medal count with 114, was named Rookie of the Year by the Reds' coaching staff, while Croft was also judged the QR Best Trainer.
Form winger Peter Hynes, who made his Wallaby debut this year, delivered the Konica Magic Moment of the year, with his determined try against the Crusaders that put the Reds in striking distance of an upset win. Hynes finished fourth in the Pilecki Medal voting with 115 votes.
