By Steve Jancetic
November 10th 2009 @ 11:51am
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Hayne named League’s player of the year
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.
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oikee said | November 10th 2009 @ 5:41pm | Report comment
Good, he was the outstanding player by far. Hope he stays with league.
bever fever said | November 10th 2009 @ 5:46pm | Report comment
Isn’t Hayne going to AFL for 17 zillion a year… it says so over at one of the league sites, even though his manager, the AFL and himself deny approaching or being approached.
Surely not a beat up …. by the league boys to fire up the bogan westies.
MyGeneration said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:14pm | Report comment
I’d suspect his manager would be responsible for any beat-up, but thanks for your constructive contribution, bever. Let’s see if we can fire up another code war, eh, it’s been all of fifteen minutes.
bever fever said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:47pm | Report comment
I was at work for the other one… some of us have to work without computers, strange as it may seem.
Mick from Giralang said | November 11th 2009 @ 4:48pm | Report comment
What’s wrong with bogan westies!
Pippinu said | November 10th 2009 @ 5:59pm | Report comment
Just heard that Hayne has definitely renewed with Parra.
Good luck to him – he’s a terrific player – I don’t think an AFL switch was ever seriously considered.
bever fever said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:02pm | Report comment
I agree, yep good luck to him … unfortunately he has become just another pawn in the paranoid league propaganda machine.
MyGeneration said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:16pm | Report comment
Anyway, I was going to say, why is there an award for referee of the year, and how on earth did Shane Hayne get it?
Anakin said | November 10th 2009 @ 9:43pm | Report comment
Fullback – Hayne
Wing – Hall
Centre – Inglis
5/8 – Marshall
Lock – Sinfield
2nd Row – Ellis
Prop – Moi Moi
Hooker – Smith
BUT .. Who was halfback of the year??
… and personally, as much as I agree Hayne had a sensational (second half of season) run with Parra, and a great Origin, I think International Player of the Year (IPY) should be awarded post international matches. How does one seriously compare across continents: Hall to Morris etc. IPY awards should be based on one’s performance for their respective nation, when judged against other internationals of similar ilk. If that means we have to wait 2 years for the awards, so be it, make them bi-annual.
Anakin said | November 10th 2009 @ 9:46pm | Report comment
Just found – it was Thurston – shame he was missed in the article above!
jus de couchon said | November 11th 2009 @ 2:02am | Report comment
I would give the International award to the cowboys that invented it in the beleif that they have an International competition .