Ryan James overhauls Jai Arrow to win Paul Broughton Medal as Gold Coast Titans’ best player
TITANS captain Ryan James was heartbroken when he wasn’t named in the Blues’ origin final squad. But it only served as motivation.
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TITANS captain Ryan James has overhauled Origin forward Jai Arrow in the final round to win his second Paul Broughton Medal as the Gold Coast’s player of the year.
James and Arrow were locked on 22 points each heading into the final match of the season against the Cowboys last Saturday night, with James picking up a single point to break the deadlock and claim the win.
The victory is slight compensation for the front-rower’s Origin disappointment after he was twice named in the Blues’ squad before being left out of Brad Fittler’s final squad.
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But the disappointment that would crush a lesser player seemed only to push James’s game to a higher level, with his back half of the season outstanding.
“I’ve always wanted to pull on a Blues jersey and if it comes in 2019, I’ll be absolutely ecstatic,” James said.
“I’ll always have the dream in the back of the head but will make sure that the Titans are my first priority and making sure that I am playing good for the Titans because good things come off the back of your club playing well.
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“There’s always room to grow … I’ll definitely work on a couple of things in the off-season and try to push for further things.”
James, who received the award from Titans founding father Paul Broughton at a function at the QT Hotel on Wednesday night, picked up the gong for the second time in his career following a win in 2016.
The Bilambil product played 23 games this season, making 928 tackles (38.6 per game), while averaging 117m per game and scoring six tries.
Arrow, who played one less game that James during the season due to sitting out a game ahead of Origin, came agonisingly close to sealing the award in his first year at the club.
A Gold Coast junior and product of the famed Keebra Park nursery, Arrow linked with the Titans in a bid to become a regular NRL starter.
He did more than that though, with his consistent form forcing Kevin Walters to pick him for Queensland, with Arrow starting for the Maroons in the final game of the series.
Titans coach Garth Brennan has been incredibly impressed with his recruit.
“He just blew me away how hard he trained and how determined and how focused he was,” Brennan said of Arrow’s efforts at the club.
“He came with no reputation but what he showed me was enough to say: you’re in my football team.
“And to go on and be a starting Origin player shows how far he’s come.”
James was also awarded ‘The Preston Award’ for his continued and fantastic efforts in the community.
Gold Coast Titans awards
Paul Broughton Medal
23 — Ryan James
22 — Jai Arrow
15 — Alexander Brimson
11 — Michael Gordon
11 — Ash Taylor
Award winners:
Paul Broughton Medal — Ryan James
Coach’s Award — Michael Gordon
The Preston Award — Ryan James
Members Most Valuable Player — Anthony Don
Try of the Year — Phillip Sami
Rookie of the Year — AJ Brimson
Outstanding Achievement Award — Jennifer Cross
Paul Broughton Medal honour roll:
2017 — Anthony Don
2016 — Ryan James
2015 — Luke Douglas
2014 — Beau Falloon
2013 — Greg Bird
2012 — Nate Myles
2011 — Luke Bailey
2010 — Luke Bailey
2009 — Nathan Friend
2008 — Preston Campbell
2007 — Luke Bailey & Anthony Laffranchi (joint winners)
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