Awards for Graham and Ellis

12 April 2012

England had two winners at the inaugural Rugby League International Federation awards ceremony in Brisbane which was dominated by Australia.

St Helens forward James Graham, Super League's Man of Steel, was named as prop in the team of the year, while Leeds' departing forward Gareth Ellis shared the award for second-rower of the year with the Kangaroos' Anthony Laffranchi.

Graham lost out to Melbourne Storm's Australian full-back Billy Slater as the first winner of the RLIF player of the year at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.

Slater, who has scored two hat-tricks in the World Cup, joins six other Kangaroos and a solitary New Zealander in the team of the year chosen for achievements between mid-October 2007 and mid-October 2008. Current World Cup performances will count towards next year's awards.

Graham's England team-mates Leon Pryce, Rob Burrow and Jamie Peacock were also short-listed for the prestigious award.