Hayne wins International Player of the Year

[DIEHARD]

Hayne named player of the year

The complete list of winners Jarryd Hayne's stunning 2009 season has earned him yet another major award, with the Parramatta superstar named the international player of the year at a gala dinner in Leeds on Monday night.

Hayne was awarded the game's highest individual honour following a string of stunning displays for the Eels, NSW and Fiji at last year's World Cup, the latest prize sure to give his contract negotiations with Parramatta a significant boost.

The 21-year-old - who will continue talks with the Eels about staying at the NRL club beyond 2010 as soon as he returns home from Australia's Four Nations campaign - beat out Kangaroos teammates Greg Inglis and last year's winner Billy Slater to the gong.

The medal, presented to him by former Great Britain skipper Ellery Hanley, is the second major individual honour Hayne's amazing run has netted him this year, with the Eels fullback receiving the Dally M medal for the NRL's best player back in September.

With the judging period starting at last year's World Cup for the Rugby League International Federation award, Hayne gave an early glimpse of what was to come as he steered Fiji to an improbable semi-final meeting with Australia.

The NRL season started slowly as he struggled to come to grips with his move to five-eighth, but his switch to fullback and a brilliant State of Origin series playing on the wing for NSW catapulted him to the award.

Inglis didn't go home empty-handed from the awards ceremony - held in the same city where Australia will meet England in Saturday's Four Nations final - with the Melbourne star named international centre of the year.

Inglis and Hayne (fullback) were joined in the team of the year by just one other Australian, with Cameron Smith named hooker of the year.

New Zealand had two representatives with Benji Marshall (five-eighth) and Fuifui Moimoi (prop) also making the cut, while surprise Four Nations finalists England had three starters with Wests Tigers forward Gareth Ellis (second row) and Kevin Sinfield (lock) joined by international rookie of the year winner Ryan Hall (wing).

NRL premiership-winner Craig Bellamy beat out Melbourne assistant and New Zealand World Cup winning mentor Stephen Kearney for the coach of the year accolade, while Australian Shayne Hayne edged the man he is battling for right to officiate in Saturday's Four Nations final - Englishman Steve Ganson - for the referee of the year.

Source: http://www.nrl.com

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RLIF Player of the Year awards

Jarryd Hayne tonight collected the most prestigious individual award in Rugby League when he was named International Player of the Year for 2009. The Parramatta Eels and Australia full-back was presented with his medal at the star-studded Rugby League International Federation Player of the Year gala dinner in Leeds by former Great Britain captain Ellery Hanley.

Hayne, 21, beat Kangaroos team-mates Greg Inglis and last year?s winner Billy Slater to become the second recipient of the award, which recognises individual excellence during the period between and including last year?s Rugby League World Cup and this season?s NRL and engage Super League Grand Finals.

Hayne was an outstanding figure in the Fiji team that reached the 2009 World Cup Final and in 2009 proved himself as the most influential player in the NRL. His form earned him a call up by New South Wales, for whom he was the most consistent performer in State of Origin.

He collected six successive man of the match awards with Parramatta between rounds 19 and 24 and was an inspirational presence for the Eels as they swept into the NRL Grand Final. During the NRL season, Hayne ran for 4,429 metres, over 1,000 metres more than his closest challenger, and he also broke more tackles and made more line breaks than any other player.

The award is the second major award of 2009 for Hayne, who was also the Dally M player of the year in the NRL.

Hayne has played on the left wing for Australia during the Gillette Four Nations, the same position as England?s Ryan Hall who was tonight named RLIF Rookie of the Year following his outstanding exploits for Super League champions Leeds Rhinos.

Hall, 21, topped the try-scoring charts with 28 in the regular Super League season and was the only player to score more than 20. His scoring prowess has been matched by strong defence, which he showed when making a try-saving tackle on Ade Gardner of St Helens in this year?s Super League Grand Final.

The award for RLIF Coach of the Year was won by Craig Bellamy of Melbourne Storm, who reached the NRL Grand Final for the fourth season in succession under his guidance. Bellamy beat off stiff competition from his assistant, Stephen Kearney, the New Zealand Test coach, and Kevin Moore of Sydney Bulldogs to take his award.

Hall and Hayne were also named in the RLIF Team of the Year, which features two other England players in Leeds Rhinos captain Kevin Sinfield, who was named Loose Forward of the Year, and Wests Tigers forward Gareth Ellis, the Second Row of the Year.

The RLIF made a special award to Ken Arthurson, the former Australian Rugby League Chairman and ex-Manly coach and secretary.

The RLIF Spirit of RL Award is given to a person deemed to have made a significant contribution to the game in their lifetime.

The full list of awards presented at the RLIF International Player of the Year dinner at Alea Casino, Leeds, tonight is:

Player of the Year Winner: Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta and Australia)
Shortlisted: Greg Inglis (Melbourne and Australia), Billy Slater (Melbourne and Australia).

Rookie of the Year Winner: Ryan Hall (Leeds and England)
Shortlisted: Michael Jennings (Penrith and Australia), Richie Myler (Salford and England).

Referee of the Year Winner: Shayne Hayne (Australia).
Shortlisted: Steve Ganson (England), Ashley Klein (Australia).

Team of the Year:
Full-back: Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta and Australia).
Winger: Ryan Hall (Leeds and England).
Centre: Greg Inglis (Melbourne and Australia).
Stand-off: Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers and New Zealand).
Scrum-half: Jonathan Thurston (North Queensland and Australia).
Prop: Fuifui Moimoi (Parramatta and New Zealand).
Hooker: Cameron Smith (Melbourne and Australia).
Second row: Gareth Ellis (Wests Tigers and England).
Loose forward: Kevin Sinfield (Leeds and England).

Coach of the Year Winner: Craig Bellamy (Melbourne and NSW).
Shortlisted: Stephen Kearney (New Zealand), Kevin Moore (Sydney Bulldogs)

Nations? Player of the Year
Cook Islands: Karl Temata
Czech Republic: Josef Kucera
Estonia: Alex Janov
Fiji: Jarryd Hayne
France: Olivier Elima
Germany: Jimmy Keinhorst
Ireland: Damien Blanch
Italy: Giovanni Franchi
Jamaica: Roy Calvert
Japan: Hiroshi Miyazak
Latvia: Kristaps Jakushs
Lebanon: Ramy Rassi
PNG: David Mead
Russia: Nikolay Zagoskin
Samoa: Kylie Leuluai
Scotland: Iain Morrison
Serbia: Soni Radovanovic
South Africa: Andre Loader
Tonga: Richard Fa'aoso
Ukraine: Mikhail Troyan
USA: Siose Muliumu
Wales: Jordan James

RLIF Spirit of Rugby League Award Recipient: Ken Arthurson.

Source: RLIF