If you were looking for signs that Pocock is an unusual athlete and person, another one came in the fact the single-year deal was his insistence, not the Brumbies'.

Many athletes in his position would leverage the outstanding season he just completed for a multi-year deal, particularly after knee injuries limited him to five games and put an end to both seasons prior.

But Pocock is not many athletes.

"I guess it is a little bit unusual," he agreed. "I didn't want to lock myself into a deal where I wasn't sure I would still have that love and drive to really give them my all.

"I tried to be pretty upfront and honest during negotiations; that I feel like I can fully commit to next year ... but I'd be lying at this stage if I said I wanted to sign a two or three-year deal and I can fully commit to those years. But we'll wait and see."

"I've told 'Bern' [Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham] that he'll be the first person I talk to once I start to think beyond 2016."

It was Larkham who presented Pocock with his Player of the Year award, and in the coach's mind, there was little doubt he would win.

Despite injury setbacks, Larkham had faith that if Pocock, with the help of the club staff, could get back on the park, the flanker had the drive and motivation to deliver.

"That's the reason we fought so hard to get him to the Brumbies in the first place," Larkham said. "From the Brumbies point of view, it was pretty clear and obvious that he was the standout player in the competition [in 2015]."

Larkham credits a lot of his teams' success to the impact of Pocock, and was thrilled to have re-signed the flanker.

"It's huge, it's huge for the organisation, and huge for the team as well," Larkham said. "This year we had the best defensive record ever in Super Rugby history, not just for the Brumbies, but for the whole competition, and in no small part to the way 'Poey' played defensively.

"His work at the breakdown, turning the ball over and stopping the opposition attack and then everything else that he adds - the enthusiasm, the leadership, the off-field presence, he's just a world class player and when you're lucky enough to get one of those on your books you want to keep them as long as possible.

"But he's realistic about his future and just wants to take it year-by-year for the time being, and we're happy to accommodate that ... you wouldn't want to rush in and sign anyone on a long-term deal if they didn't want to stay for the long-term."

For 27-year-old Pocock, 2016 will be his 11th season of Super Rugby, and one he is looking forward to, with "some continuity" in the Brumbies squad, having made the semi-final the past two years, and the grand final in 2013.

"Rugby-wise, past years have been very frustrating, [but] I've genuinely enjoyed the last three years and made a lot of friends [in Canberra]," Pocock said.

"You always learn a lot more about yourself when times are tough, and in the rugby sense it was a tough couple of years - certainly after the second [knee injury].

"[But] I felt like I used that time well and I think it's one of those things, when you're going through it, you're obviously not enjoying it, but using it as an opportunity to improve as a person.

Pocock's leadership in social and environmental issues have been well documented, and his stellar season was not without controversy.

Off the field he "caused a bit of a fuss" when he faced court for his role in a protest over a controversial coal mine, then he came under fire from some quarters after he called out a homophobic slur during a match against the Waratahs.

He laughed off the suggestion his awards - he also won the Brumbies' Player's Player and Best Forward awards - was sticking it to detractors who said he should "shut up and play footy", but his off-field exploits clearly mean as much or more to the man than rugby.

"For me, it's finding that balance between really loving rugby and having a passion to excel at that, but realising that it's certainly not everything," he said.

"I don't believe in the robotic athlete stereotype that people just want athletes to be athletes and score tries and kick goals and not have an opinion."

He was non-committal on whether off-field exploits will likely draw him away from the game after 2016, saying only that "there's a bunch of stuff I'm keen to do," including more study.

In the rugby realm, Larkham said there were some "dark times" for Pocock in his battle back to form, but his presence around the club was welcome.

"A lot of [the players] probably didn't realise what he'd gone through and how hard it was for him to get back on to the paddock - and only really he will know that - but all the other guys appreciate and could see the work he was doing to get back there," Larkham said.

"Certainly having that long out of the game and coming in for your first season [back] and playing the way he did is a testament to the man."