[1] Benji Marshall Benji Marshall has a chance to win consecutive Golden Boot titles for the world's best player after being nominated along with Australian pair Billy Slater and Cameron Smith at the Rugby League International Federation International Player of the Year Awards.
Marshall won the 2010 Golden Boot award and last night claimed the New Zealand Player of the Year Award. The Kiwis captain and Wests Tigers playmaker is one of five Kiwis nominated in the annual player awards that will be handed out at a dinner at the Tower of London tomorrow.
Manly's Kieran Foran is finalist for Standoff of the Year along with Marshall, while Jason Nightingale is in the running for the Winger of the Year. Wests Tigers-bound Adam Blair (Melbourne) has been nominated for Prop of the Year and Thomas Leuluai (Wigan) and Issac Luke (South Sydney) are shortlisted for Hooker of the Year.
Melbourne's Kiwi winger Matt Duffie, ruled out of the Four Nations after making his debut in this year's Anzac Test, is one of the three finalists for International Rookie of the Year.
The Warriors have two finalists - James Maloney (standoff) and Feleti Mateo (second rower) - but the club's 2011 Player of the Year, Simon Mannering, is a surprise omission. He hasn't missed a game this year, playing all 28 NRL games plus the Anzac Test against the Kangaroos and the two internationals against Australia last month.
The RLIF International Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Team of the Year awards are determined by a secret ballot of a 20-strong selection panel, 10 from each hemisphere comprising former players and coaches, journalists and broadcasters.
The shortlists for the 2011 RLIF International Player of the Year awards are:
Rookie of the Year: Matt Duffie (Melbourne Storm and New Zealand), Jamal Idris (Canterbury Bulldogs and Australia), Jharal Yow Yeh (Brisbane Broncos and Australia).
Referee of the Year: Tony Archer (Australia), Phil Bentham (England), Matt Cecchin (Australia).
Coach of the Year: Craig Bellamy (Melbourne Storm), Des Hasler (Manly Sea Eagles), Brian McDermott (Leeds Rhinos).
Fullback of the Year: Matt Bowen (North Queensland Cowboys), Brett Hodgson (Warrington Wolves), Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm), Brett Stewart (Manly Sea Eagles), Sam Tomkins (Wigan Warriors).
Winger of the Year: Nathan Merritt (South Sydney), Joel Monaghan (Warrington Wolves), Jason Nightingale (St George Illawarra), Akuila Uate (Newcastle Knights), Jharal Yow Yeh (Brisbane Broncos).
Centre of the Year: George Carmont (Wigan Warriors), Matt Cooper (St George Illawarra), Justin Hodges (Brisbane Broncos), Jamie Lyon (Manly Sea Eagles), Willie Tonga (North Queensland Cowboys).
Standoff of the Year: Rangi Chase (Castleford Tigers), Kieran Foran (Manly Sea Eagles), Darren Lockyer (Brisbane Broncos), James Maloney (Warriors), Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers).
Scrumhalf of the Year: Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Sea Eagles), Cooper Cronk (Melbourne Storm), Scott Dureau (Catalan Dragons), Jonny Lomax (St Helens), Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys).
Prop of the Year: Adam Blair (Melbourne Storm), Petero Civoniceva (Penrith Panthers), Keith Galloway (Wests Tigers), James Graham (St Helens), Matt Scott (North Queensland).
Hooker of the Year: Thomas Leuluai (Wigan Warriors), Issac Luke (South Sydney), Michael Monaghan (Warrington Wolves), James Roby (St Helens), Cameron Smith (Melbourne Storm).
Second row of the Year: Feleti Mateo (Warriors), Steve Menzies (Catalan Dragons), Tariq Sims (North Queensland Cowboys), Sam Thaiday (Brisbane Broncos), Ben Westwood (Warrington Wolves).
Loose forward of the Year: Paul Gallen (Cronulla Sharks), Luke Lewis (Penrith Panthers), Sean O'Loughlin (Wigan Warriors), Glenn Stewart (Manly Sea Eagles), Kevin Sinfield (Leeds Rhinos).
Player of the Year: Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers), Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm), Cameron Smith (Melbourne Storm).
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