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Rugby League

Writers reward Wigan's Barrett

01/10/2007

Wigan Warriors stand-off Trent Barrett has been named the Rugby League Writers' Association player of the year.

The 29-year-old has had an excellent season and pipped Super League winners St Helens' full-back Paul Wellens to the title – becoming only the second Australian to take the award in 11 years.

Barrett amassed more than 40 per cent of the votes cast after an 18-try season in which he has been a major force in both attack and defence as Wigan defied their critics to advance to the final round of the play-off knock-out stages.

After staging the biggest-ever comeback in Super League history when they beat Bradford Bulls 31-30 in their post-season opener, the Warriors held on for a superb 21-18 victory over Hull FC in the semi-final at the weekend.

They now face Leeds Rhinos this Friday for the right to play St Helens in the grand final on October 13th and Wigan head coach Brian Noble said he thought the right man had won the award.

"I think the rugby league writers are very good judges – he's been outstanding for us this season," he said.

"It is unfair to say he has done it single-handedly at Wigan but he has certainly been influential at pivotal moments and against Hull he came up with a pass play that not many others could have done.

"We need to keep the team ethic, and while Trent gets the plaudits he will be the first to recognise he couldn't do it without his team-mates."

Barrett is also in line to scoop the coveted Super League man of steel award at the end-of-season dinner, which will take place after the grand final later this month.