1 Feb 2009

Rugby League Awards honour Jeremy Smith

6:33 pm on 1 February 2009

The loose forward Jeremy Smith received the major honour from the New Zealand Rugby League Awards in Auckland on Sunday.

Smith has been named the international player of the year ahead of five of his world cup winning team mates.

The 28-year-old Christchurch-born Smith played each of the Kiwis' seven tests in 2008 and captained his country for the first time in the one-off test against Tonga in Auckland in October.

Hooker Issac Luke was named international rookie of the year award and Kiwi's coach Stephen Kearney coach of the year.

The Kiwi Ferns' player of the year is Maia Tua-Davidson, a member the New Zealand team that won the Women's World Cup for the third straight time.