Beale voted Waratahs best

Published: Friday, 15. July, 2011 in category Southern Hemisphere

Departing Waratahs fullback Kurtley Beale has won the Matthew Burke Cup by being voted as the players player for the 2011 Super Rugby season by his peers at the Sydney franchise.

The Wallabies star is on his way to the Melbourne Rebels next year, but he was given the perfect parting gift by his teammates at the Waratahs who recognised his red hot form this season.

Votes were cast on a 3-2-1 basis by all members of the 22-man Waratahs' match day squad after each Super Rugby game.

The free-running outside back won 247 votes to beat 2010 winner Tatafu Polota-Nau who received 194 votes. Wallaby hooker Polota-Nau was voted as the forward of the year

Scrumhalf Luke Burgess, who is on his way to play for Toulouse, picked up the best back award with 182 votes and was followed by wing Drew Mitchell who missed the last two months of the season through injury.