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Fullback Brent Webb and second rower David Kidwell were jointly named Kiwis player of the year at the New Zealand Rugby League Awards (NZRL) last night.
It is the first time the top accolade has been shared since the awards were instigated in 1992.
Webb and Kidwell, two stand out performers in the Tri-Nations tournament, could not be separated after a panel of news media representatives lodged their votes.
"Their performances throughout the year including the recent Tri-Nations series were nothing less than inspirational ," said NZRL acting chairman Andrew Chalmers.
Kidwell and Webb join the likes of Ruben Wiki, Stacey Jones, Mark Graham, Hugh McGahan and Gary Freeman as winners of the code's premier award.
Webb also won the Kiwis Tri-Nations player of the tournament -- an in-house award voted on by his teammates.
Simon Mannering, a Kiwis debutant this year, claimed the rookie of the year award while Kiwis coach Brian McClennan won the domestic Bartercard Cup coach of the year title, adding to the international coach of the year award he received before last weekend's Tri-Nations final against the Kangaroos in Sydney.
Meanwhile, Junior Kiwis skipper Russell Packer won the junior player of the year and supreme amateur athlete award.
Harbour League's Tui Samoa was named Bartercard Cup player of the year while Rona Peters was selected as the women's player of the year.
- NZPA
