Fijian Rugby League sensation and Kangaroo winger Jarryd Hayne has capped off a stunning season by winning the International Player of the Year award for 2009.

Hayne was presented with his medal at a Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) 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 covers the period up to and including the 2008 World Cup and this season's NRL and Super League grand finals.

Former Fiji back Hayne collected six successive man of the match awards with Parramatta between rounds 19 and 24 of the NRL as he helped the Eels into the grand final.

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

He will now turn his attention to helping Australia to glory on Saturday when it faces England in the Four Nations final at Leeds United football club's Elland Road ground.

England's Ryan Hall was named RLIF rookie of the year while Craig Bellamy, who guided Melbourne Storm to a fourth straight NRL grand final, won the coach of the year award with Australia's Shane Hayne deemed the top referee in 2009.

The RLIF team of the year, which features the nine best players by position, included four Australia internationals, three from England and two from world champions New Zealand.

RLIF awards 2009
Player of the Year: Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta)
Rookie of the Year: Ryan Hall (Leeds)
Referee of the Year: Shayne Hayne (Australia)
Coach of the Year: Craig Bellamy (Melbourne, NSW)
Team of the Year
Full-back: Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta)
Winger: Ryan Hall (Leeds)
Centre: Greg Inglis (Melbourne)
Stand-off: Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers)
Scrum-half: Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland)
Prop: Fuifui Moimoi (Parramatta)
Hooker: Cameron Smith (Melbourne)
Second row: Gareth Ellis (Wests Tigers)
Lock forward: Kevin Sinfield (Leeds)

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