Entry 9. 11th November
My last couple of entries have been concentrating on the list released at the start of the week concerning potential winners of the 2010 Golden Boot. Here are the last two names on the list:
BILLY SLATER
Slater previously won the Golden Boot award in 2008 and simply oozes class. A silky runner from anywhere on the field and a real predatory streak for tries make him arguably the best player in the world currently.
In truth the 2010 season has not been one of his most prolific, yet having said that he has still claimed ten tries and barring injury he should reach 200 games for Melbourne Storm next year along with fellow Australian international Cameron Smith.
Slater debuted in 2003, three months before his 20th birthday at the formidable Cronulla home Toyota Park and for the next couple of years his stock grew. In 2006 however he struggled with suspension and injury that restricted him to 14 appearances. One of those appearances was the Grand Final and Slater was in good form despite the Brisbane Broncos winning on the big occasion.
The following season he went through a good spell of form, setting up 20 tries over the course of the campaign and also scoring 9 tries in 8 games at one point.
He won Premierships with Melbourne in 2007 and 2009, although those successes have since been stripped from the club due to salary cap breaches.
Such was Slaters form in 2008 on the State of Origin, international and NRL plains that he was named Golden Boot winner and there is every chance he could do it again.
In 179 games for Melbourne Billy Slater has scorched over for 112 tries and at 27 he is just about approaching his prime.
SAM THAIDAY
Raw boned and ultra committed, Thaiday is tough, uncompromising yet also skilfull. He has been with Brisbane Broncos his entire professional career.
The 25 year old had made 127 appearances for Brisbane Broncos by the end of the 2010 season and in fairness this past season has been another one of progression for Thaiday. He debuted for the Broncos as an 18 year old at Suncorp Stadium in 2003 when the Bulldogs were in town. He made his Queensland State of Origin debut in 2006. After being used predominantly as a bench player, then Broncos boss Wayne Bennett switched Taiday to the starting line-up and amongst other changes, this made the Brisbane club the form team of the competition and eventual premiership winners.
His form in the second half of that 2006 season saw Thaiday come to the attention of the international selectors and his performances have grown at that level.
He was the Broncos player of the season in 2008 and has become a mainstay of Queensland State of Origin sides in the last few years. Perhaps an example of how Sam has improved over the last couple of years was demonstrated a couple of times in 2010 when he was first of all named official Man-of-the-Match against New Zealand in the ANZAC test and he was arguably the best forward on show during Australias recent 34-14 defeat of England. Sam would be my outside bet for the award.
However I don't have a say and each of the players would be worthy winners.
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