Breakthrough Player of the Year?

opinionatedfan

Decided to do this now, not much between now will really change your answer.

Picked two players from each province who have stepped up to become potential Ireland caps in the next 12 months if they do not already have a cap.

Connacht
Robbie Henshaw
Kieran Marmion

Leinster
Ian Madigan
Jordi Murphy

Munster
Dave Kilcoyne
Tommy O'Donnell

Ulster
Iain Henderson
Stuart Olding

trouttrout

Tommy O'Donnell

I'd say Henderson and TOD have been the biggest revelations

almighty1

Jordi Murphy

Henderson and Madigan for me.

Pudsy33

Jordi Murphy

Voted for Madigan, although it doesn't seem to be there.

Henderson a close second, he's some monster.

TOD in 3rd.

Glass Prison 1214

Stuart Olding

This is no way Madigan's breakthrough year, he was our top try scorer last season ffs and many were arguing that he should have been back up to Johnny for Ireland last season. As fantastic as he has been this season he should not be considered for this award.

Henderson for me.

.ak

Dave Kilcoyne

Madigan isn't exactly breakthrough though. He was great last year, he just got bit more of an opportunity this year. For me it's between Murphy, Henderson, Olding and Marshall... The last one probably being the most impressive.

its_phil

Stuart Olding

Going for Henderson because it wasn't for me really a breakthrough year as such for Madigan. We all knew what Madigan was capable of and he had already been playing a good amount of games in previous years, but we just hadn't seen it in Europe because of Sexton.

Outside of that Marmion for me and has put it up very well against the likes of Boss, Yachvilli and Care. Only men to make him look silly were Stringer and Khan Fotuali. As a side note Henshaw won the Connacht Senior Player of the Year, a year after winning the U19 award.

MikeCork2009

Iain Henderson

Maybe being a little bit Munster biased here but think Tommy O'Donnell has been excellent this season. Can't help but think of Sminky shorts every time he takes off with the ball "Tommy's mad for speed" A player with a great future for Ireland and Munster.

CatFromHue

I haven't seen enough of Connacht to comment but Henshaw and Marmion are now first choice is pretty impressive, the same for Dave Kilcoyne too.

opinionatedfan

Stuart Olding

I debated on putting Madigan in but in the end I thought it was the right call. I can understand the view that he had already broken through though.

totallegend

Stuart Olding

O'Donnell has been good but not nearly as good as Henderson.

If the season was going on a bit longer, olding would be making a serious case I think.

Madigan has been the best of the lot but last year was his breakthrough.

siltirocker

Kieran Marmion

Madness that a guy who did his Leaving Cert last year and became his province's Player of the Year 2013 hasn't got one vote for break through of the year.

This forum is broke.

Madigan me hole, he's been around for 2 or 3 years now. Henderson is the only other who could deserve it.

[Jackass]

Henderson or Marshall for me.

Some of the options I wouldn't say it's their breakthrough year. In fact maybe it's not even Marshalls.

porterbelly

O Donnell is hardly breakthrough? He's been around a few years

I wouldn't have Madigan as breakthrough either, had a good few games under his belt before this year and established himself last season

Olding, Henderson, Kilcoyne, Jordi Murphy, Henshaw, Marmion

Tox56

siltirocker wrote: »

Madness that a guy who did his Leaving Cert last year and became his province's Player of the Year 2013 hasn't got one vote for break through of the year.

This forum is broke.

Madigan me hole, he's been around for 2 or 3 years now. Henderson is the only other who could deserve it.

I sincerely apoligise for holding an opinion that differs from yours, but it's TOD for me. He's older than the rest but if anything that makes it more remarkable, people weren't expecting a huge amount from him and he comes out and puts in some cracking performances, namely in a H Cup QF and Semi final up against the likes of Robshaw and Bonnaire, but also great consistency in the Rabo throughout the season. Will deservedly be featuring in Irish squads in the future

peterako

Kieran Marmion

Would have voted Madigan....but he's hardly a breakthrough THIS year!

Henshaw will be outstanding if he's not too fast-tracked!

Struggled a bit with the U20's though.....

siltirocker

Kieran Marmion

Tox56 wrote: »

I sincerely apoligise for holding an opinion that differs from yours, but it's TOD for me. He's older than the rest but if anything that makes it more remarkable, people weren't expecting a huge amount from him and he comes out and puts in some cracking performances, namely in a H Cup QF and Semi final up against the likes of Robshaw and Bonnaire, but also great consistency in the Rabo throughout the season. Will deservedly be featuring in Irish squads in the future

Ya but O'Donnell is 26 in a few days and has been in the Munster squad for years and has been putting in decent appearances in that time. He was amazing against Connacht in 2010 for example.

Yes, O'Donnell upped his game, but going from schools to Player of the Year is a much larger jump of scale IMO.

Mahatma Geansai

Tommy O'Donnell

Too early for Olding, too late for Madigan. Henderson has been brilliant and built upon his season last year. Kilcoyne has established himself as the second best LH in the country after only a couple of starts last year. Marmion will hopefully establish himself behind Murray for Ireland in the coming season, and Henshaw has been brilliant for a lad his age.

TOD has had the most impressive breakthrough though. I don't think anyone expected as much from him. He has been consistently been the best 7 on the pitch in recent weeks; comprehensively outplaying SOB and Robshaw in the last month shows how far he's come. He mightn't have Wally's looks, but he has his pace and is looking like developing his power.

trouttrout

Tommy O'Donnell

Actually ya Kilcoyne has been immense

PhatPiggins

Stuart Olding

opinionatedfan wrote: »

I debated on putting Madigan in but in the end I thought it was the right call. I can understand the view that he had already broken through though.

It was completely the wrong call, as was putting in O'Donnell.

You should take both of them out and get a genuine poll on breakthrough player of the year and not a Munster/Leinster popularity contest.

It's Henderson by an awful lot for me.

PhatPiggins

Stuart Olding

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

Too early for Olding, too late for Madigan. Henderson has been brilliant and built upon his season last year. Kilcoyne has established himself as the second best LH in the country after only a couple of starts last year. Marmion will hopefully establish himself behind Murray for Ireland in the coming season, and Henshaw has been brilliant for a lad his age.

TOD has had the most impressive breakthrough though. I don't think anyone expected as much from him. He has been consistently been the best 7 on the pitch in recent weeks; comprehensively outplaying SOB and Robshaw in the last month shows how far he's come. He mightn't have Wally's looks, but he has his pace and is looking like developing his power.

O'Brien played 6 that day

Todd Toddington III

Kieran Marmion

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

Too early for Olding, too late for Madigan. Henderson has been brilliant and built upon his season last year. Kilcoyne has established himself as the second best LH in the country after only a couple of starts last year. Marmion will hopefully establish himself behind Murray for Ireland in the coming season, and Henshaw has been brilliant for a lad his age.

TOD has had the most impressive breakthrough though. I don't think anyone expected as much from him. He has been consistently been the best 7 on the pitch in recent weeks; comprehensively outplaying SOB and Robshaw in the last month shows how far he's come. He mightn't have Wally's looks, but he has his pace and is looking like developing his power.

Robshaw is a good leader but as 7s go he's ok, another 6.5. Tommy O Donnell has looked good so far any time ive watched him all the same, hope he keeps it up

danthefan

Iain Henderson

PhatPiggins wrote: »

O'Brien played 6 that day

There's been so much guff talked about that game since that you'd think Leinster got hammered. Completely outplayed, dominated, blah blah blah.

Oh wait, Leinster won in Thomond. Again.

Anyway TOD has been very impressive. He's 26 in the summer though. I think I voted for him by accident, meant to go for Henderson, who has taken to professional rugby like he's been at it for years.

Madigan was pretty excellent for Leinster last season in the league so don't think he fit the criteria.

PhatPiggins

Stuart Olding

danthefan wrote: »

There's been so much guff talked about that game since that you'd think Leinster got hammered. Completely outplayed, dominated, blah blah blah.

Oh wait, Leinster won in Thomond. Again.

Anyway TOD has been very impressive. He's 26 in the summer though. I think I voted for him by accident, meant to go for Henderson, who has taken to professional rugby like he's been at it for years.

Madigan was pretty excellent for Leinster last season in the league so don't think he fit the criteria.

He's potentially the new David Wallace, accident my arse. Subconciously you meant to vote for him

RoundBox11

Stuart Olding

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

TOD has had the most impressive breakthrough though. I don't think anyone expected as much from him. He has been consistently been the best 7 on the pitch in recent weeks; comprehensively outplaying SOB and Robshaw in the last month shows how far he's come. He mightn't have Wally's looks, but he has his pace and is looking like developing his power.

It's the guns that i miss....

ed7890

Tommy O'Donnell

I'm going to go with Kilcoyne. In the same weekend last year he was playing in the B&I semi-final, and hadn't started for Munster yet. In 12 months he's advanced to starting in a heineken cup semi-final against Clermont and not looking out of place.

Henderson would be a close second. Really has become a big player for Ulster is a short time.

Bridge93

Dave Kilcoyne

Henderson or Murphy for me. Shame the two of them TOD and POM, Kev McL, Henry, Ryan and a host of youngsters seem to be playing for one spot over the next few years. Bar injury Heaslip and O Brien are in the Irish team for the foreseeable future. If ferris came back...

Zuffer

Stuart Olding

Good poll.

Ultimately I went for Henderson. He's gone from playing U20s last season to regular Ulster starter, to Ireland caps. And we've all seen him play, and we know how good he is and how much potential he has.

While O'Donnell has been good for Munster, he's playing in a position that is extremely congested at international level. I'd agree with those who have said that last season was really Madigan's breakthough season, he started about 17 games for Leinster in the Rabo.

Jordi Murphy has been impressive in that he's taken his opportunity to come through that congested field that is the Leinster backrow. However, he's well off a first team place in a knockout game when everyone is fit.

I haven't seen enough of Connacht to talk about their players

Ardillaun

Tommy O'Donnell

Why is Dave Kilcoyne in italics? This sinister ploy may have affected my decision because he's my pick given the critical shortage of good props in these here parts. Needless to say, Henderson has been awesome and Olding darn impressive too.

I thought the choices would be more obscure for this title, people I hadn't heard of. I would say most of these guys have broken through already.

ScissorPaperRock

Marshall should be in there

Podge_irl

Stuart Olding

I went with Henderson, who looks like he's been a pro for years. I'd have Henshaw after him.