League: Kiwi Ferns star Teuila Fotu-Moala named best player at Women's Rugby League World Cup

Teuila Fotu-Moala of New Zealand. Photo / Getty

Kiwi Ferns back-rower Teuila Fotu-Moala was declared the player of the Women's World Cup at a gala awards lunch in Brisbane today.

Fotu-Moala's award comes as a perfect birthday present for the hard-hitting back-rower, who turned 24 today, while she beat out teammate and try-scoring sensation Honey Hireme and Jillaroos star Ali Brigginshaw to claim the win.

The Otahuhu captain-coach has been a leading performer in the New Zealand pack as they swept through three pool games unbeaten before thumping England 52-4 in last week's semi-final in Sydney.

Nicknamed 'the jukebox' by former Australian captain Darren Lockyer - due to her knack for producing big hits - Fotu-Moala will be a key player in the tournament decider at Suncorp as the Kiwi Ferns look to avenge their 2013 World Cup final defeat to the reigning champion Jillaroos.

She's among the leaders in most statistical categories per game for the World Cup, third for run metres and line-break assists, fifth for tackle breaks, second for post-contact metres and sixth for line-engaged runs.

"I'm a little overwhelmed," said Fotu-Moala.

"I was speechless when I heard my name read out.

"I don't think it has sunk in yet. It's a massive World Cup and it's quite competitive this time so I'm really honoured to say the least."

Australian captain Cameron Smith has also been crowned the Golden Boot winner ahead of Saturday's World Cup final against England.

The 34-year-old Smith beat out Tongan star and former Kiwis test forward Jason Taumalolo, England's Jermaine McGillvary, and Fijian wing Suliasi Vunivalu to claim the award for the second time after winning his first Golden Boot in 2007.

Smith's triumph comes towards the end of what has been a dream season for the Kangaroos hooker, after leading the Storm to a NRL grand final win over the Cowboys and the Maroons to a series win over New South Wales, while he also won the Dally M award and topped Darren Lockyer's record as the most-capped player in the NRL.

"It's obviously been a fairly successful year for myself but we're playing a team game and it's not an individual sport at all," said Smith.

"I've been very fortunate along the way throughout this entire year that things have fallen into place for myself with some of the performances that I've put in.

"But I've got to say a massive thank you to all of my teammates throughout the season, not only at the Storm but with Queensland and the Kangaroos as well."