18 Oct 2012

Johnson named League Rookie of the Year

5:56 am on 18 October 2012

The New Zealand Warriorshalfback Shaun Johnson has been named the International Rugby League Federation's International Rookie of the Year.

22-year-old Johnson, who has just completed his second NRL season, made his international debut for the Kiwis in the 2012 Anzac Test against the Kangaroos at Eden Park in April.

The Australian captain Cameron Smith was named Player of the Year and Melbourne Storm coach Craig Belemy was named coach of the year.

Smith was also named international hooker of the year and was one of seven Australians included in the international team of the year, along with Storm teammate Cooper Cronk.

England winger Ryan Hall and prop James Graham were the only non-Australian players to be selected in the team of the year.