SYDNEY (Reuters) – Marika Koroibete won the 2022 John Eales Medal as Australia’s player of the year on Monday despite missing the end of year tour to Europe because of his club commitments in Japan.
The powerful Fiji-born winger came out top in a ballot of Wallabies players ahead of loose forward Rob Valetini after some outstanding performances during the July series against England and the Rugby Championship.
Koroibete, who also took the award in 2019, joined George Smith, Nathan Sharpe, Michael Hooper, Israel Folau and David Pocock as multiple winners of the accolade.
“Rugby is a team sport first and foremost, so I’d like to thank my team mates and to know they were the ones who voted for me to win this award means a lot,” the 30-year-old said in a Rugby Australia news release.
“It’s been a dream come true to represent the Wallabies and I hope I can continue to contribute to the team in what’s a massive year ahead.”
That aspiration will be music to the ears of Wallabies coach Eddie Jones, who is almost certain to select Koroibete as one of the three overseas-based players allowed him in his squad for the World Cup in France in September and October.
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney; Editing by Stephen Coates)
