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Benji in battle for top RLIF award

11/01/2011 07:40:08 PM

Kiwis captain Benji Marshall is in a three-way tussle with the Storm's Kangaroos stars Cameron Smith and Billy Slater for the top gong at the Rugby League International Federation awards in London.

Held at the historic Tower of London on Wednesday night amidst the Four Nations tournament, the awards dinner recognises the best overall international player, the rookie, referee and coach of the year as well as the best in each position.

Marshall, the 2010 Golden Boot recipient, is part of an all-NRL triumvirate vying for International Player of the Year.

Five of his Kiwis team-mates are also short-listed for positional awards.

They are Kieran Foran, in the five-eighth category along with Marshall, wing Jason Nightingale, prop Adam Blair along with hookers Thomas Leuluai and Issac Luke.

Melbourne wing Matt Duffie, who debuted for the Kiwis earlier in the year but missed the end-of-season tour to undergo surgery, is in line for Rookie of the Year against Jamal Idris and Jharal Yow Yeh.

There are also two Warriors, five-eighth James Maloney and second-rower Feleti Mateo, nominated in their positions. Captain Simon Mannering was an unlucky absentee.

The RLIF International Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Team of the Year awards are determined by a secret ballot of a 20-strong selection panel, 10 from each hemisphere comprising former players and coaches, journalists and broadcasters.

Player of the Year: Benji Marshall, Cameron Smith, Billy Slater

Rookie of the Year: Matt Duffie, Jamal Idris, Jharal Yow Yeh

Referee of the Year: Tony Archer, Phil Bentham, Matt Cecchin

Coach of the Year: Craig Bellamy, Des Hasler, Brian McDermott

Fullback of the Year: Matt Bowen, Brett Hodgson, Billy Slater, Brett Stewart, Sam Tomkins

Winger of the Year: Nathan Merritt, Joel Monaghan, Jason Nightingale, Akuila Uate, Jharal Yow Yeh

Centre of the Year: George Carmont, Matt Cooper, Justin Hodges, Jamie Lyon, Willie Tonga

Five-eighth of the Year: Rangi Chase, Kieran Foran, Darren Lockyer, James Maloney, Benji Marshall

Halfback of the Year: Daly Cherry-Evans, Cooper Cronk, Scott Dureau, Jonny Lomax, Johnathan Thurston

Prop of the Year: Adam Blair, Petero Civoniceva, Keith Galloway, James Graham, Matt Scott

Hooker of the Year: Thomas Leuluai, Issac Luke, Michael Monaghan, James Roby, Cameron Smith

Second-rower of the Year: Feleti Mateo, Steve Menzies, Tariq Sims, Sam Thaiday, Ben Westwood

Loose forward of the Year: Paul Gallen, Luke Lewis, Sean O'Loughlin, Glenn Stewart, Kevin Sinfield

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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