Sam Burgess RLIF International Player of Year

[josie andrews]

Clive Churchill Medal winner Sam Burgess has become the first English winner of the RLIF International Player of the Year Award at a function in Brisbane.

Burgess held off a group of nominees which included fellow English international James Graham, Dally M Medal winners Johnathan Thurston and Jarryd Hayne, as well as Man of Steel winner Daryl Clark, to win the prestigious award at the Royal International Convention Centre, Brisbane.

“Sam was wonderful for England in the World Cup last year and his performances for South Sydney through the NRL season were first-class, all the way to his Clive Churchill Medal effort in the grand final against Canterbury-Bankstown,” RLIF chairman Nigel Wood said.

“He is a worthy recipient and deserves to be recognised for his achievements over the past year on the international stage as well as in the NRL competition.”

A voting panel comprising 10 judges – five from the northern hemisphere and five from the southern hemisphere – was asked to assign votes to three players from a group of 10 nominees (five from Super League, five from the NRL), in 3-2-1 fashion.

The RLIF also handed the Spirit of Rugby League Award to Peter Corcoran, primarily for his work in introducing the modified games program to rugby league. Previous recipients of the Spirit of Rugby League Award, recognising an individual’s exceptional contribution to the sport, are Maurice Oldroyd (England), David Oxley CBE (England), Ron McGregor (New Zealand), Ken Arthurson (Australia) and Paul Barriere (France).

RLIF INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD HONOUR ROLL

2008 Billy Slater (Australia)
2009 Jarryd Hayne (Australia)
2010 Todd Carney (Australia)
2011 Billy Slater (Australia)
2012 Cameron Smith (Australia)
2013 Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand)
2014 Sam Burgess (England)

NATIONS PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Cook Islands Dominique Peyroux
Fiji Semi Radradra
France Rémi Casty
Ireland Liam Finn
Jamaica Nathan Campbell
Lebanon Chris Saab
PNG Israel Eliab
Russia Kirill Kosharin
Samoa David Fa’alogo
Scotland Matty Russell
Serbia Stefan Nedeljkovic
South Africa Ruaan du Preez
Tonga Jason Taumalolo
Ukraine Oleksandr Skorbach
Wales Rhys Evans
USA Joseph Paulo
Canada Steve Piatek

RLIF SPIRIT OF RUGBY LEAGUE AWARD

Peter Corcoran

http://www.nrl.com/sam-burgess-rlif-int ... ault.aspx?

[Wigan_forever1985]

So the winners from the last 2 years have now left the sport

[KOOCH]

Yet another cracking player taking his talent to yawnion.

[OAMJSONA]

Think he will find whoonion boring and come back to league just like Joel as

[Nezza Faz]

Over the last decade, 90% of Aussies who went, switched back to league.

They earn their "corn", then tend to return to their roots.

[wildbeast]

A Huge loss to the game. Hope he comes to his senses and returns to league before too long. The guy is steeped in RL and loves to be involved in the action - just can't see him staying too long on the darkside. From the NRL to English club union will be huge comedown.

[Owd Codger]

A Huge loss to the game. Hope he comes to his senses and returns to league before too long. The guy is steeped in RL and loves to be involved in the action - just can't see him staying too long on the darkside. From the NRL to English club union will be huge comedown.

Sold his soul just for the money!

p.s. And no doubt will be selected as a Centre like Farrell and Tomkins.

[cpwigan]

Increase earning potential, rest body, extend playing career you can see why people switch.#

Great loss though. IMO, Sam B is comparable to any all time great British RL forward.

[Wigan_forever1985]

A Huge loss to the game. Hope he comes to his senses and returns to league before too long. The guy is steeped in RL and loves to be involved in the action - just can't see him staying too long on the darkside. From the NRL to English club union will be huge comedown.

But he like all converts is really going to play for england the club level comp in union is poor really, but the international set up is massive

[wildbeast]

A Huge loss to the game. Hope he comes to his senses and returns to league before too long. The guy is steeped in RL and loves to be involved in the action - just can't see him staying too long on the darkside. From the NRL to English club union will be huge comedown.

But he like all converts is really going to play for england the club level comp in union is poor really, but the international set up is massive

Dead right the international set up,marketing and most of all hype is on a another planet comp to league. It's a pity the actual content doesn't live up to the hysteria. Having said that the RL world cup made big inroads and was a massive success with even the union purists admitting to the quality of the rugby which made union appear second rate.