Australia's Slater wins top award

Slater has scored seven tries in the World Cup so far

Australia's Billy Slater has been named as the Rugby League International Federation's world player of the year.

The Melbourne Storm full-back beat St Helens' 2008 Man of Steel James Graham to claim the inaugural award at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.

England's Leon Pryce, Rob Burrow and Jamie Peacock were also short-listed.

Graham was named as prop of the year, while England team-mate Gareth Ellis shared the second-row award alongside Australia's Anthony Laffranchi.

Slater, 25, has been in sensational form for Australia during the World Cup, scoring two hat-tricks against England and Fiji en route to the final against New Zealand on Saturday.

As expected, his international team-mates dominated the awards with six Kangeroos honoured, while New Zealand's Manu Vatuvei was named as winger of the year.

606 DEBATE Slater is as good as they get for his involvement SirLesB

Melbourne teenager Israel Folau - who became Australia's youngest international at 18 years and 194 days in May - was named young player and centre of the year, while Manly's Premiership coach Des Hasler was named coach of the year.

Votes were cast by media and former players from Britain, Australia and New Zealand for performances between October 2007 to 2008.

RLIF chairman and World Cup tournament director Colin Love said: "It is important for the game to officially recognise its players and officials through an awards night such as this.

"The RLIF feels that there could be no better time than this World Cup and the centenary of the game in Australia to institute an annual awards night to honour the best in rugby league from around the world."

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Team of the year

Full-back: Billy Slater (Melbourne, Queensland and Australia)

Winger: Manu Vatuvei (NZ Warriors and New Zealand)

Centre: Israel Folau (Melbourne, Queensland and Australia)

Stand-off: Greg Inglis (Melbourne, Queensland and Australia)

Scrum-half: Scott Prince (Gold Coast, Queensland and Australia)

Prop: James Graham (St Helens and England)

Hooker: Cameron Smith (Melbourne, Queensland and Australia)

Second row (joint winners): Gareth Ellis (Leeds and England); Anthony

Laffranchi (Gold Coast, NSW and Australia)

Loose forward: Paul Gallen (Cronulla, NSW and Australia).