2008 RLIF Awards

The 2008 RLIF Awards were presented on Monday 17 November 2008 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia recognising achievements in the sport of rugby league from October 2007 to October 2008 (including the NRL and Super League Grand Finals).

The 2008 RLIF Awards were marked by inaugural awards ceremony and featured new awards, notably the Rugby League International Federation Player of the Year Award. Other new awards included the Rookie of Year, for players who made their Test debut and were under 21 years of age in the awards year, the Nations’ International Players of the Year, selected by each nation’s governing body from the 19 teams that competed to qualify for the 2008 RLWC and the Spirit of Rugby League, for those who have made significant contributions to the sport in their lifetime.

Awards

For awards presented with nominees, winners are listed first and highlighted in boldface.

International Player of the Year	Coach of the Year
Billy Slater, Melbourne Storm, Queensland Maroons, Australia Cameron Smith, Melbourne Storm, Queensland Maroons, Australia Greg Inglis, Melbourne Storm, Queensland Maroons, Australia Matt Orford, Manly Sea Eagles, Australia James Graham, St Helens RLFC, England Leon Pryce, St Helens RLFC, England Jamie Peacock, Leeds Rhinos, England Rob Burrow, Leeds Rhinos, England	Des Hasler, Manly Sea Eagles Ricky Stuart, Cronulla Sharks, Australia Neil Henry, Canberra Raiders Craig Bellamy, Melbourne Storm, New South Wales Blues Daniel Anderson, St Helens RLFC Brian McClennan, Leeds Rhinos Brian Noble, Wigan Warriors Mick Potter, Catalans Dragons
Referee of the Year	Rookie of the Year
Tony Archer, Australia	Israel Folau, Melbourne Storm, Queensland Maroons, Australia
Team of the Year	Nations' Player of the Year
Fullback - Billy Slater, Melbourne Storm, Queensland Maroons, Australia Winger - Manu Vatuvei, New Zealand Warriors, New Zealand Centre - Israel Folau, Melbourne Storm, Queensland Maroons, Australia Five-eighth - Greg Inglis, Melbourne Storm, Queensland Maroons, Australia Halfback - Scott Prince, Gold Coast Titans, Queensland Maroons, Australia Lock - Paul Gallen, Cronulla Sharks, New South Wales Blues, Australia Second Row (tied vote) - Gareth Ellis, Leeds Rhinos, England - Anthony Laffranchi, Gold Coast Titans, New South Wales Blues, Australia Front Row - James Graham, St Helens RLFC, England Hooker - Cameron Smith, Melbourne Storm, Queensland Maroons, Australia	Lebanon - George Ndaira Ireland - Damien Blanch United States - Greg Stellutti Tonga - Michael Jennings Japan - Shunsuke Tamura Samoa - Tony Puletua Wales - Dave Halley France - Christophe Moly Russia - Roman Ovchinnikov Scotland - Iain Morrison Cook Islands - Adam Watene Papua New Guinea - Paul Aiton Serbia - Soni Radovanovic Fiji - Ashton Sims
Spirit of Rugby League Award
Paul Barriere - France