2015 Fans' Choice Player of the Year

[The Greenhouse]

2015 Fans' Choice Player of the Year


Jarrod Croker receives the 2014 Award.

2015 Total points

22 - Josh Hodgson
18 - Blake Austin
17 - Jack Wighton
16 - Iosia Soliola
13 - Paul Vaughan
10 - David Shillington
8 - Jarrod Croker
6 - Shannon Boyd
6 - Frank-Paul Nuuausala
5 - Shaun Fensom
5 - Jordan Rapana
5 - Sisa Waqa
5 - Sam Williams
3 - Kurt Baptiste
3 - Josh Papalii
2 - Jarrad Kennedy

Round by round voting

Rd 26 V Eels

3 - Jarrod Croker
2 - Jordan Rapana
1 - Josh Hodgson

Votes
103 - Jarrod Croker
48 - Jordan Rapana
39 - Josh Hodgson
10 - Edrick Lee
5 - Josh Papalii
3 - David Shillington
3 - Sam Williams
2 - Kurt Baptiste
2 - Jarrad Kennedy
1 - Shaun Fensom

Rd 25 V Panthers

3 - Jack Wighton
2 - Josh Hodgson
1 - Shannon Boyd

Votes
65 - Jack Wighton
27 - Josh Hodgson
24 - Shannon Boyd
22 - Edrick Lee
16 - Sam Williams
6 - Blake Austin
5 - Jarrod Croker
5 - David Shillington
4 - Shaun Fensom
4 - Paul Vaughan
4 - Sisa Waqa
3 - Jarrad Kennedy
2 - Kurt Baptiste
2 - Josh Papalii

Rd 24 V Titans

3 - Jarrod Croker
2 - Jarrad Kennedy
1 - Paul Vaughan

Votes
68 - Jarrod Croker
24 - Jarrad Kennedy
19 - Paul Vaughan
14 - Jack Wighton
6 - Joey Leilua
6 - Frank Paul Nuuausala
5 - Josh Hodgson
3 - Edrick Lee
3 - David Shillington
2 - Kurt Baptiste
1 - Shaun Fensom
1 - Luke Bateman

Rd 23 V Sea Eagles

3 - Jack Wighton
2 - Shaun Fensom
1 - Paul Vaughan

Votes
76 - Jack Wighton
51 - Shaun Fensom
34 - Paul Vaughan
26 - Josh Hodgson
11 - Sisa Waqa
7 - Shannon Boyd
4 - Edrick Lee
4 - Jordan Rapana

Rd 22 V Wests Tigers

3 - Josh Hodgson
2 - Shannon Boyd
1 - Jack Wighton

Votes
77 - Josh Hodgson
66 - Shannon Boyd
63 - Jack Wighton
30 - Mitch Barnett
10 - Paul Vaughan
4 - Jarrod Croker
1 - Joey Leilua
1 - Jordan Rapana
1 - David Shillington
1 - Sisa Waqa

Round 21 V Cowboys

3 - Jack Wighton
2 - Josh Hodgson
1 - Iosia Soliola

Votes
117 - Wighton
79 - Hodgson
20 - Soliola
15 - Papalii
9 - Rapana
8 - Fensom
3 - Williams
2 - Vaughan
1 - Boyd

Round 20 V Panthers

3 - Josh Hodgson
2 - Paul Vaughan
1 - David Shillington

Votes
144 - Hodgson
76 - Vaughan
42 - Shillington
27 - Leilua
13 - Rapana
7 - Fensom
6 - Croker
5 - Papalii
4 - FPN
4 - Lee
2 - Boyd
1 - Austin
1 - Baptiste

Round 19 V Sharks

3 - Josh Hodgson
2 - Iosia Soliola
1 - David Shillington

Votes
100 - Hodgson
25 - Soliola
24 - Shillington
23 - Austin
20 - Boyd
6 - Lee
5 - Rapana
4 - Kennedy
3 - Croker
2 - Waqa
1 - Vaughan
1 - Wighton

Round 18 V Knights

3 - Blake Austin
2 - David Shillington
1 - Josh Papalii

Votes
125 - Blake Austin
64 - David Shillington
33 - Josh Papalii
31 - Sam Williams
17 - Josh Hodgson
11 - Jarrod Croker
7 - Shaun Fensom
6 - Paul Vaughan
4 - Jordan Rapana
4 - Iosia Soliola
2 - Sisa Waqa
2 - Jack Wighton
1 - Edrick Lee

Round 16 V Warriors

3 - Iosia Soliola
2 - Jordan Rapana
1 - Jack Wighton

Votes
41 - Iosia Soliola
37 - Jordan Rapana
19 - Jack Wighton
18 - Shaun Fensom
14 - Paul Vaughan
7 - Blake Austin
6 - Edrick Lee
6 - Josh Papalii
5 - Kurt Baptiste
4 - Josh Hodgson
3 - Sisa Waqa
2 - Shannon Boyd

Round 15 V Cowboys

3 - Jack Wighton
2 - Sisa Waqa
1 - Sam Williams

Votes:
63 - Jack Wighton
46 - Sisa Waqa
38 - Sam Williams
26 - Iosia Soliola
23 - Jordan Rapana
10 - Josh Papalii
6 - David Shillington
5 - Edrick Lee
4 - Blake Austin
2 - Jarrod Croker
2 - Josh Hodgson

Round 13 V Knights

3 - Sam Williams
2 - Blake Austin
1 - David Shillington

Votes
155 - Sam Williams
120 - Blake Austin
109 - David Shillington
14 - Josh Hodgson
12 - Josh Papalii
7 - Jarrod Croker
4 - Edrick Lee
3 - Iosia Soliola
3 - Paul Vaughan
1 - Jordan Rapana

Round 12 V Broncos

3 - David Shillington
2 - Josh Papalii
1 - Blake Austin

Votes
60 - David Shillington
42 - Josh Papalii
38 - Blake Austin
19 - Shaun Fensom
14 - Shannon Boyd
11 - Jarrod Croker
6 - Josh Hodgson
5 - Iosia Soliola
5 - Sisa Waqa
5 - Sam Williams
4 - Paul Vaughan
3 - Jack Wighton
2 - Jarrad Kennedy
2 - Edrick Lee

Round 11 V Bulldogs

3 - Sisa Waqa
2 - David Shillington
1 - Shaun Fensom

Votes
102 - Sisa Waqa
71 - David Shillington
51 - Shaun Fensom
49 - Blake Austin
27 - Josh Papalii
9 - Kurt Baptiste
9 - Shannon Boyd
6 - Paul Vaughan
1 - Jeremy Hawkins

Round 10 V Dragons

3 - Iosia Soliola
2 - Paul Vaughan
1 - Shannon Boyd

Votes
64 - Iosia Soliola
41 - Paul Vaughan
39 - Shannon Boyd
31 - Josh Papalii
9 - Josh Hodgson
3 - Jarrod Croker
2 - Blake Austin
2 - Mitch Cornish
1 - Edrick Lee

Round 9 V Titans

3 - Blake Austin
2 - Jarrod Croker
1 - Iosia Soliola

Votes
129 - Blake Austin
55 - Jarrod Croker
42 - Iosia Soliola
39 - FPN
38 - Josh Hodgson
29 - Paul Vaughan
18 - Josh Papalii
9 - Shannon Boyd
6 - Sam Williams
7 - Edrick Lee
2 - Shaun Fensom
2 - Jack Wighton
1 - Mark Nicholls
1 - Jordan Rapana

Round 8 V Rabbitohs

3 - Frank-Paul Nuuausala
2 - Shannon Boyd
1 - Kurt Baptiste

Votes
81 - Frank-Paul Nuuausala
78 - Shannon Boyd
72 - Kurt Baptiste
47 - Josh Hodgson
34 - Jack Wighton
19 - Edrick Lee
14 - Josh Papalii
10 - Sisa Waqa
6 - Iosia Soliola
4 - Blake Austin
3 - Mark Nicholls
1 - Jordan Rapana
1 - Paul Vaughan
1 - Sam Williams

Round 7 V Wests Tigers

3 - Frank-Paul Nuuausala
2 - Kurt Baptiste
1 - Paul Vaughan

Votes
126 - Frank Paul Nuuausala
103 - Kurt Baptiste
70 - Paul Vaughan
37 - Jarrod Croker
17 - Josh Hodgson
13 - Shannon Boyd
11 - Sia Soliola
9 - Josh Papalii
9 - Jack Wighton
3 - Dane Tilse
2 - Jarrad Kennedy
1 - Blake Austin
1 - Jordan Rapana

Round 6 V Storm

3 - Paul Vaughan
2 - Shaun Fensom
1 - Iosia Soliola

Votes
56 - Paul Vaughan
48 - Shaun Fensom
23 - Iosia Soliola
18 - Josh Hodgson
11 - Sam Williams
10 - Jack Wighton
9 - Sisa Waqa
8 - Dane Tilse
6 - Jarrad Kennedy
5 - Edrick Lee
3 - Jeremy Hawkins
3 - FPN
1 - Blake Austin
1 - Jarrod Croker
1 - Josh Papalii

Round 5 V Sea Eagles

3 - Blake Austin
2 - Josh Hodgson
1 - Sam Williams

Votes
168 - Blake Austin
135 - Josh Hodgson
57 - Sam Williams
38 - Shaun Fensom
23 - Sisa Waqa
6 - Jordan Rapana
2 - Jarrad Kennedy
2 - Paul Vaughan

Round 4 V Roosters

3 - Paul Vaughan
2 - Blake Austin
1 - Jordan Rapana

Votes
49 - Paul Vaughan
34 - Blake Austin
30 - Jordan Rapana
14 - Jack Wighton
8 - Iosia Soliola
7 - Mitch Cornish
6 - Shaun Fensom
4 - Jarrod Croker
2 - Glen Buttriss
1 - Jeremy Hawkins
1 - Mark Nicholls
1 - Frank Paul Nuuausala

Round 3 V Dragons

3 – Josh Hodgson
2 – Blake Austin
1 – Iosia Soliola

Votes
91 – Josh Hodgson
72 – Blake Austin
50 – Iosia Soliola
40 – Paul Vaughan
27 – Jordan Rapana
5 – Mitch Cornish
5 – Jarrod Croker
4 – Josh Papalii
2 – Bill Tupou
1 – Shannon Boyd
1 – Shaun Fensom

Round 2 V Warriors

3 - Iosia Soliola
2 - Blake Austin
1 - Josh Hodgson

Votes
125 - Iosia Soliola
115 - Blake Austin
68 - Josh Hodgson
23 - FPN
15 - Sisa Waqa
11 - Josh Papalii
9 - Shannon Boyd
4 - Jack Wighton
3 - Jarrad Kennedy

Round 1 V Sharks

3 - Jack Wighton
2 - Josh Hodgson
1 - Iosia Soliola

Votes
170 - Jack Wighton
96 - Josh Hodgson
75 - Iosia Soliola
45 - Jordan Rapana
26 - Sisa Waqa
21 - Frank Paul Nu'uausala
13 - Shaun Fensom
4 - Mitch Cornish
4 - Josh Papalii
3 - Dane Tilse
2 - Jarrod Croker
1 - Blake Austin

[The Greenhouse]

Josh Hodgson the winner of the 2015 Canberra Raiders Fans' Choice Award



The Canberra Raiders Fans' Choice Award winner for 2015 is hooker Josh Hodgson. It has been an incredible debut for the English hooker in the NRL, joining the Canberra Raiders just this season from Hull Kingston Rovers.

Blake Austin led the voting for much of the season, but Hodgson overtook Austin in Round 22 in the match against the Wests Tigers and held his lead to the end. He tallied 22 points over the season.

In the Raiders' win over the Panthers in their final home game, Hodgson was awarded two points and took an unbeatable lead - while Blake Austin's season unfortunately ended when he left the field with a season ending shoulder injury.

As the Player of the Year, Josh Hodgson also takes out the Fans' Choice Award for Canberra Raiders Forward of the Year.

The Canberra Raiders have been searching for an answer at hooker since Simon Woolford departed the club. Some may even say the Raiders have even been searching since the time legendary hooker Steve Walters finished at the Raiders.

Josh Hodgson now looks to be the answer. Before joining Canberra, Hodgson, aged 25, had already played 127 games in the English Super League, two for Hull FC in 2009 and the remainder for Hull Kingston Rovers between 2010-14. He was co-captain at Hull KR in 2014 and ended the season by winning the club player of the year award.

Raiders fans had heard relatively little of him when he was signed by Ricky Stuart. He represented England in two Tests at the end of 2014 in the Four Nations tournament. It's fair to say he did not show his best form at that level - but he was nevertheless solid and his good dummy half running was on show.

He probably made an even bigger splash when a video went viral: him crashing through a door at a party while in New Zealand on that tour. He apologised to the landlord, paid for the door, and impressed Raiders fans by then turning up to Canberra pre season training as soon as he could after the Four Nations. He worked hard on his fitness in the pre season in order to handle the faster pace of the NRL - and by the end of 2015 he was comfortably handling 80 minutes of game time.

Hodgson was always in the thick of things: producing 12 try assists (second to Sam Williams with 19) and 12 line break assists (club leader). He also produced 18 offloads (fourth at the club), 54 attacking kicks for 1751 metres (fourth) and three 40/20 kicks (club leader). The opposition sent lots of attack his way, and finished with 700 tackles for season (behind only Shaun Fensom on 917). Missed tackles is the thing he'll want to work on more for 2016, but given his workload it's not surprising he misses some. Overall, it's been an outstanding debut for Hodgson with Canberra - and he is surely one of the buys of the season in the NRL.



Blake Austin wins the Fans' Choice Award for Canberra Raiders Back of the Year. He finished second in the voting on 18 points - just ahead of a fast finishing Jack Wighton on 17 points.

Blake Austin, aged 24, is another buy of the NRL season. At his previous clubs, he was a utility - who could play fullback, centre, five eighth and half, and can even kick goals. But he came to Canberra to make the five eighth spot his own. And that's exactly what he did, with a series of relevatory, explosive performances.

Austin made his NRL debut for the Penrith Panthers at the end the 2011 season - against the Raiders - and went on to play 13 games for the Panthers off the bench or at five eighth in 2012. In 2013, after an injury affected season, he was released early to the Wests Tigers on a two year deal. He went on to play 19 games in 2014 in the black and gold - becoming a fan favourite. The Tigers saw their future in even younger halves Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses - and Austin sought, and eventually secured, another early release to come to the Green Machine. The Wests Tigers fans are still bemoaning Jason Taylor's decision to release him.

Austin finished the 2015 season as Canberra's top try scorer (14, ahead of Jarrod Croker on 12) and with a total of 56 points (second behind Croker, who was top pointscorer in the NRL). He led the club in tackle breaks (71) and line breaks (18). He's known as a running five eighth, but still produced nine try assists (third at the club behind Sam Williams and Josh Hodgson) and seven line break assists (fourth at the club). Sam Williams was the principal kicker, but he still achieved 3139 kick metres from 104 kicks and forced five line drop outs. Austin will want to reduce his error rate and, like Hodgson, missed tackles in 2016 - but again you'd expect this from the men with most match involvement.

Austin made City Origin in 2015, scoring three tries and producing considerable speculation about Blues selection. It didn't come off this year, but if his form continues, he'll press for a State of Origin place in 2016. Overall, it was a breakout year for the man with the goatee.

The Canberra Raiders Fans' Choice has been awarded since 2004, with the inaugural winner being Ruben Wiki. Other winners have included Jason Smith, Alan Tongue, Terry Campese, Shaun Fensom and Jarrod Croker. The award, sponsored by The Greenhouse Canberra Raiders supporters site (http://www.thegh.com.au), is voted on by the fans on line, who give 3-2-1 points to the best players each week.

2015 Canberra Raiders Fans' Choice

Fans' Choice Player of the Year and Best Forward: Josh Hodgson
Best Back: Blake Austin

Final Leaderboard:

22 - Josh Hodgson
18 - Blake Austin
17 - Jack Wighton
16 - Iosia Soliola
13 - Paul Vaughan
10 - David Shillington
8 - Jarrod Croker
6 - Shannon Boyd
6 - Frank-Paul Nuuausala
5 - Shaun Fensom
5 - Jordan Rapana
5 - Sisa Waqa
5 - Sam Williams
3 - Kurt Baptiste
3 - Josh Papalii
2 - Jarrad Kennedy