The ACT Brumbies' openside flanker has become a regular on stage at rugby awards functions during his career and 2009 will be no different.

Last night's honour made Smith the first player to win the prestigious award four consecutive years eclipsing Queenslander Chris Latham, who won it four times but over a six year period.

Smith, 28, was again a stand out for the Brumbies this season but it took him until the final rounds of the Super 14 to assert his dominance on the player of the year leaderboard.

The veteran claimed the maximum three votes in the final three matches of the season against the Queensland Reds, Auckland Blues and Waikato Chiefs to overhaul Waratahs prop Benn Robinson by two votes.Western Force youngster James O'Connor finished equal third with Queenslander Digby Ioane. Australian rugby journalists voted weekly on a 3-2-1 basis in matches involving the four provinces and Robinson appeared destined to become the first prop to win the medal. But he couldn't hold off Smith's late surge, which ensured another trophy for his cabinet.

Smith attributed the Brumbies' strength and conditioning staff for his victory after he played all 13 matches during the regular season.

Smith is also a hot favourite to win his seventh consecutive and eighth overall Brett Robinson Medal as the Brumbies' players' player gong at a ceremony in July.

A solid Test season for the Wallabies could also earn him a third John Eales medal award for Australian Test player of the year.

Queensland Reds prop Laurie Weeks, 23, won the Australian rookie of the year last night, the award Brumbies' utility back Tyrone Smith claimed 12 months ago.

Waratahs mentor Chris Hickey edged out Brumbies' Andy Friend for coach of the year honours, Stuart Dickinson won Super 14 referee of the year and Queensland's Quade Cooper won try of the year.