Sydney Roosters' Todd Carney wins RLIF International Player of the Year Award
Steve Ricketts The Courier-Mail
November 04, 2010
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/...-1225947458423
CREAM OF THE CROP: Todd Carney (left) with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Shaun Kenny-Dowall at the RLIF International Player of the Year awards at Eden Park.
TODD Carney last night was crowned rugby league's international player of the year, even though he has yet to play a Test match.
That situation should be rectified on Saturday with the Sydney Roosters star set to make his Test debut off the bench against New Zealand at Auckland's Eden Park.
Australia coach Tim Sheens will name his side today and has vowed to give other players a chance after Australia's patchy display in beating England 34-14 in Melbourne on Sunday.
St George Illawarra's Darius Boyd was named international fullback of the year, while Sheens's hooker at Wests Tigers, Robbie Farah, was judged best in his position. But like Carney, Boyd and Farah are waiting for their first run in the Four Nations tournament.
Gold Coast Titans skipper Scott Prince was halfback of the year, but could not even make the 24-man Australian squad.
Roosters coach Brian Smith was NRL coach of the year, but the international award went to St George Illawarra's Wayne Bennett after he guided the Dragons to their first premiership in 31 years.
Carney, 24, received the international player award from Wally Lewis, who captained Australia to a 25-12 win over the Kiwis in the 1988 World Cup final, the only time a league Test has been played at Eden Park, the home of rugby union in New Zealand.
It capped an amazing season for Carney, who also won the Dally M Medal as the NRL's best and fairest player and helped the Roosters to the grand final after they were wooden spooners in 2009.
Melbourne Storm's Billy Slater won the inaugural award in 2008 with Parramatta's Jarryd Hayne the 2009 winner.
England's Sam Tomkins from Super League champions Wigan beat Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters), Gareth Widdop (Storm) and Ben Matulino (Warriors) to the rookie of the year title.
Matulino yesterday was recalled to the Kiwi squad for the Eden Park Test after he was rested from last Saturday's 76-12 thrashing of Papua New Guinea in Rotorua.
Kiwi coach Stephen Kearney also has promoted Penrith star Frank Pritchard and Melbourne prop Adam Blair. Kearney has named his strongest possible side.
The major international award winners were:
Player of the Year, Todd Carney (Roosters); Coach of the Year, Wayne Bennett (St George Illawarra); Rookie of the Year, Sam Tomkins (Wigan); Fullback of the Year, Darius Boyd (St George Illawarra): winger, Pat Richards (Wigan), Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Roosters); five-eighth, Todd Carney (Roosters); prop, Adrian Morley (Warrington); hooker, Robbie Farah (Tigers); second-rower, Gareth Ellis (Tigers); lock, Luke Lewis (Penrith).
Referee of the Year: Joint winners, Richard Silverwood (England), Tony Archer (Australia). Spirit of Rugby League for his contribution to the code: Ron McGregor, former New Zealand Test player and official.