AS the curtain tumbled down on Worcester's season on Saturday, everybody began to look down the cast list to wonder just who would be starring in the next Sixways production.

Rugby's theatre of dreams has once again played out the highs and lows and we will no doubt go through a similar show of emotion next time around.

But who really was the star of the show this season? Dave Sims recently won the award from the 100 Club and deservedly so for his consistent displays despite all the off the field trauma in his life.

However, there were a few other candidates for me.

For instance, the leading points scorer at the club. Sateki Tuipulotu came to Sixways as an international full back and played in his familiar position in his debut season. However, in this campaign he spent most of his time on the wing and notched up 20 tries in all competitions. He also kicked 298 points giving him a total of 398 in what was, individually, a very successful season.

Tuipulotu reverted to full back towards the end of the season and was a stronger player for it in the final stretch. The defeat at Leeds would have hurt him probably more than any Worcester player, having moved from Headingley to achieve his dream of playing Premiership rugby. He cannot have failed to attract the attention of Premiership clubs but the Tongan has always insisted he wants to be part of something special at Worcester. We will see in the coming weeks whether he still feels the same in the wake of another 'failure'.

A player who has been a model of consistency this term is Neil Lyman. The former Kidderminster prop has been outstanding and has rarely had a bad game. Lyman is someone who would fit into any team and as a coach you always know he will do a job for you. He is now a key member of the team and deserves the recognition for some very hard work.

When you talk of consistency, there are very few who have the standards that skipper Alistair Murdoch has. The Australian has had a quieter second half of the season than the first but has been a powerful influence on the team whether at centre or on the wing.

Murdoch scored so many vital tries at the beginning of the season and looked unstoppable in certain matches with his immense strength.

He scored 16 tries in all competitions and remains an integral part of the squad for next season. The former Bedford coach will also qualify for British citizenship in the summer and will therefore open up another slot for a non EU player to come to the club.

My player of the season would have to be Tuipulotu though. Sims has had a fantastic campaign and there has not been another player as consistent as Lyman but for sheer value to the club, you cannot look past the Tongan. His tries and goalkicking make him the obvious choice and although he is one of the more high profile figures at the club, he has lived up to the expectation levels. The key now is for the club to hold on to him.

Holding on to their assets is vital for Worcester. If they are to contend with Rotherham next season and then the Premiership big boys in 2003, then they need the Tuipulotus, Barrows and Higgins in Worcester shirts.

The coaches have been honest throughout the season in their assessment of the team and the performances. The players will now give their verdicts on just where they think the club is going in the next couple of weeks when they reply to their contract offers.

In the coming days, the players that have decided where the club ended up this year could well shape Worcester's destiny for next season and beyond.

Then and only then can we assess the season as a success or a failure.