Ben KENNEDY [
Player Stats]
+ Submit additional information or a correction to this player
Sat September 30, 2006
by Matthew O'Neill
Manly lock Ben Kennedy has won the Players Player of the Year in an award said by Bulldogs forward Willie Mason has a lot more meaning than the Dally M's and in the light of New Limited's recent coverage Mason as more than good point.
The news of Kennedy winning the award is no great surprise after the result was leaked by mistake on the Rugby League Professionals Association (RLPA) website, www.myfooty.com.au but despite the award being mocked and ridiculed by some sections of the media it is a great reward and honour for Kennedy.
Parramatta forward Nathan Hindmarsh won the Best Forward award, Melbourne's Greg Inglis took out Best Back and Brisbane flyer Darius Boyd received the Rookie of the Year award.
Brisbane prop Petero Civoniceva won the Australian Representative Player of the Year and David Kidwell was the winner of the New Zealand Representative Player of the Year.
RLPA boss and former NRL halfback Matthew Rodwell halfback said,
"It's fantastic to not only have so many players supporting the event but to see they also place such great importance on the awards themselves having been voted on by their peers."Mason following the News Limited and Daily Telegraph Dally M awards wrote in his newspaper article that the Players Player Award meant more to him and his fellow players as it was voted by the players and not some journalists. The same organisation and newspaper that supposedly owns 50% of Rugby League this week has shunned the code like never before and it's a wonder why the NRL continues to endorse Dally M's under its current format.
Former Western Suburbs and Canterbury legend Terry Lamb said the three Players Players Award, which he won in 1984, 1986 and 1995 carried more value than the Dally M Award he won in 1983 and the Rothmans Medal he won in 1984. Lamb in his book said,
"To be judged to be the best player by the blokes you play against all year is the ultimate award. It's an award I really treasure."News Limited and the Daily Telegraph can tarnish Kennedy's award anyway they like over the smallest of issues, but Kennedy won the award fair and square whether it was leaked or otherwise and regardless of his small union fees. The 1994 Rothmans Medal result was leaked that North Sydney back-rower David Fairleigh would win the award and at never any stage did it detract from Fairleigh's honour.
The players this year have always been there for the game and Rugby League is a players game.
Congratulations to Kennedy on a fine achievement and also on an outstanding career with Canberra, Newcastle, Manly, New South Wales and Australia.
Sun August 13, 2006
by James Stewart
Manly have paid the price for their win up at Newcastle on Friday night with scans today revealing a quadriceps injury to key forward Ben Kennedy.
Initially it was suspected that Kennedy had a cork to his knee, suffered early in the first half. After failing to run it off he came off the field. Midway through the second half Kennedy came back on the field but only last three minutes before succumbing to the injury.
Some reports indicating the chance of a season ending injury but Manly media manager Peter Peters today announced the news on the injury,
"We've just got the results from his scans and he'll only be out for a week or two which is good news," Peters said.
"There was some suggestion he wouldn't play again this season but that's certainly not the case.
"He's been busy getting the scans done today and he's gone home to rest the injury, he'll start work on getting it better tomorrow."
Kylie Leuluai is also a chance to miss upcoming matches after for a high shot on Knights winger Brian Carney which was placed on report by referee Paul Simpkins.
Probably the best news for Manly is that they were able to guts out the win without Kennedy on the field. Manly now moved into outright third are in their best position to challenge for the premiership since 1997.
They have a relatively easy match against the Rabbitohs next week but then face the mountain of Melbourne at Olympic park and the Bulldogs at home to round out the season. Manly has defeated both clubs earlier this season, so the confidence and self belief is within the club which is the key factor for a premiership challenge.
======================================================================================================
2006 NRL Telstra Premiership
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
21 games; 2 tries, 8 points.
[View] Round 1 [11 Mar 06] L 14-27 v Raiders (H). [LK] [View] Round 2 [18 Mar 06] L 16-20 v Cowboys (A). [LK] [View] Round 3 [25 Mar 06] W 20-18 v Sharks (H). [LK] [View] Round 4 [01 Apr 06] W 30-22 v Roosters (H). [LK] [View] Round 5 [09 Apr 06] W 22-8 v Warriors (A). [LK] [View] Round 6 [15 Apr 06] L 24-26 v Dragons (H). [LK] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 7 [23 Apr 06] W 40-14 v Bulldogs (A). [LK] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 8 [30 Apr 06] W 23-22 v Eels (H). [LK] [View] Round 9 [07 May 06] L 18-24 v Tigers (A). [LK] [View] Round 13 [04 Jun 06] W 29-22 v Panthers (A). [LK] [View] Round 14 [09 Jun 06] W 16-12 v Tigers (H). [LK] [View] Round 15 [17 Jun 06] L 12-15 v Sharks (A). [LK] [View] Round 16 [25 Jun 06] L 10-16 v Broncos (H). [LK] [View] Round 17 [30 Jun 06] L 12-26 v Knights (H). [LK] [View] Round 18 [08 Jul 06] W 33-16 v Roosters (A). [LK] [View] Round 19 [15 Jul 06] W 26-20 v Rabbitohs (A). [LK] [View] Round 20 [23 Jul 06] W 32-30 v Panthers (H). [LK] [View] Round 21 [29 Jul 06] L 18-31 v Eels (A). [LK] [View] Round 23 [11 Aug 06] W 16-14 v Knights (A). [LK] [View] Finals Week One [08 Sep 06] L 18-25 v Knights (A). [LK] [View] Finals Week Two [15 Sep 06] L 0-28 v Dragons. [LK]
======================================================================================================
2006 International Test Matches
Australia Kangaroos
1 games; 1 goals, 2 points.
[View] Bundaberg Rum Test [05 May 06] W 50-12 v New Zealand (H). [LK] 2 Pts; 1/1g
======================================================================================================
2005 Tri-Nations Test Series
Australia Kangaroos
5 games; [View] Tri-Nations Match 1 [15 Oct 05] L 28-38 v New Zealand (H). [LK] [View] Tri-Nations Match 2 [21 Oct 05] W 28-26 v New Zealand (A). [LK] [View] Tri-Nations Match 4 [05 Nov 05] W 20-6 v Great Britain (A). [LK] [View] Tri-Nations Match 6 [19 Nov 05] W 26-14 v Great Britain (A). [LK] [View] Tri-Nations Final [26 Nov 05] L 0-24 v New Zealand. [LK]
======================================================================================================
2005 State of Origin
New South Wales Origin
3 games; [View] Origin [25 May 05] L 20-24 v QLD Origin (A). [LK] [View] Origin [15 Jun 05] W 32-22 v QLD Origin (H). [LK] [View] Origin [06 Jul 05] W 32-10 v QLD Origin (A). [LK]
======================================================================================================
2005 NRL Telstra Premiership
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
21 games; 8 tries, 32 points.
[View] Round 1 [13 Mar 05] W 26-20 v Warriors (A). [LK] [View] Round 2 [20 Mar 05] W 46-20 v Sharks (H). [LK] [View] Round 3 [27 Mar 05] W 25-18 v Storm (H). [LK] [View] Round 5 [09 Apr 05] L 6-32 v Dragons (A). [LK] [View] Round 6 [17 Apr 05] W 36-14 v Raiders (H). [LK] [View] Round 8 [29 Apr 05] L 12-38 v Broncos (A). [LK] [View] Round 9 [08 May 05] W 34-26 v Tigers (H). [LK] 12 Pts; 3t (9th, 24th, 44th) [View] Round 10 [14 May 05] W 18-10 v Bulldogs (A). [LK] [View] Round 12 [29 May 05] W 36-26 v Panthers (H). [LK] [View] Round 13 [03 Jun 05] W 22-18 v Roosters (A). [LK] [View] Round 15 [19 Jun 05] W 48-26 v Knights (H). [LK] 4 Pts; 1t (77th) [View] Round 16 [26 Jun 05] L 12-31 v Bulldogs (H). [LK] [View] Round 18 [09 Jul 05] L 12-16 v Panthers (A). [LK] [View] Round 19 [17 Jul 05] L 10-36 v Dragons (H). [LK] [View] Round 21 [31 Jul 05] L 24-26 v Cowboys (H). [LK] [View] Round 22 [07 Aug 05] W 21-20 v Broncos (H). [LK] [View] Round 23 [14 Aug 05] L 14-22 v Knights (A). [LK] [View] Round 24 [21 Aug 05] L 6-68 v Sharks (A). [LK] [View] Round 25 [27 Aug 05] L 20-22 v Warriors (H). [LK] 8 Pts; 2t (4th, 51st) [View] Round 26 [03 Sep 05] W 36-18 v Raiders (A). [LK] [View] Finals Week One [11 Sep 05] L 22-46 v Eels (A). [LK] 8 Pts; 2t (73rd, 76th)
======================================================================================================
2005 International Test Matches
Australia Kangaroos
1 games; [View] Bundaberg Rum Test [22 Apr 05] W 32-16 v New Zealand (H). [BE]
======================================================================================================
2004 NRL Telstra Premiership
Newcastle Knights
1 games; [View] Round 1 [12 Mar 04] W 20-14 v Panthers (A). [LK]
======================================================================================================
|