George: I’m delighted ‘Magic Max’ won award
JAMIE GEORGE faces expulsion from the Front Row Union after breaking rank and celebrating the fact a hooker didn’t win the Premiership’s top try-scorer award.
Newcastle hooker George McGuigan was in with a chance of becoming the first player in that position to achieve the accolade, going into the 26th and final round of fixtures last weekend level on 15 tries with George’s Saracens team-mate, Max Malins.
But, while Malins scored as Sarries suffered a heavy defeat at Gloucester, McGuigan did not as Newcastle came secondbest in a similarly one-sided contest away to Northampton and it was the winger/full-back who edged the race.
George was not only pleased for his team-mate but also for the game as a whole because he reckons tries from the back of rolling mauls aren’t as priceless as ones from proper open play.
“Yes, we (hookers) are scoring a lot of tries but I wouldn’t read too much into it. Any team with a good maul, their hooker will score some tries. It’s just unfortunate the way it is, it is embarrassing almost,” said the England international.
“Personally, I don’t like claiming tries like that because we just sit at the back and ride the wave and put the ball over the line. It’s an eight-man effort and often we throw a couple more (players) in.”
Malins has created Premiership rugby history on a couple of fronts. He is the first Saracens player to win the award (Ben Earl shared the honour with Ollie Thorley in 2019/20 but spent some time on loan at Bristol), which is remarkable considering the club’s dominance of English club rugby, and he also has the best strike-rate of any Premiership top try-scorer since ‘gametime’ minutes were officially recorded in 2003/04.
The
England international only made 13 league appearances and was on the pitch for 1,001 minutes yet still scored 16 tries – at a rate of one every 63 minutes. It’s been some return from the player who spent last season on loan at Bristol, with three hat-tricks included in his impressive tally.
Last season, Exeter’s unstoppable No.8, Sam Simmonds, became the first player in Premiership history to have a sub-100 minute try strike rate in romping over for a league record 21 tries (one in every 85 minutes) but Malins has smashed that. “I am really, really happy for Max Malins to win the top try-scorer of the season,” said George. “He has scored 16 phenomenal tries but he has only played in 13 games which is pretty ridiculous when you think about it. “He’s been ridiculous, ‘Magic Max’. He’s come back from Bristol and developed his game massively.
“He plays on the wing, he’s played at full-back, he can fit in at 10. He is a special, special player and someone we hold in massive regard.
“He’s had a few injury issues with his hamstring and stuff like that but he’s back fit and he makes a massive impact on this team.” Unlike Malins, George remained with Saracens during their season in the Championship and admits the experience was one of personal learning. As a player who thrives on the big occasion, playing in front of some small crowds and against players of lesser ability took some adjusting to.
“There were probably times throughout that season, I don't want to come across as arrogant, but you almost hit cruise control,” said George, who reached the 250appearance milestone for Saracens against Bristol at the end of March.
“You rely on other people around you more, you think things are just going to happen, the team doesn’t need me as much.
“Whatever that might be, it probably came into my mindset and I’m disappointed that I allowed that to happen. I’ll make sure I never let that happen again. I’ve played for this team for a long time now. I’m very clear of my role and my responsibility within this team. And it’s quite a big one, which I love, but I can’t let anyone down and I need to make sure I hit everything that I'm required to do.
“It’s a big responsibility but with big responsibilities come great opportunities. It’s exciting for me.”