Ellis named Wests Player of the Year

England forward Gareth Ellis has been named Wests Tigers player of the year after an impressive debut year in the NRL.

Ellis, 28, left Leeds to move Down Under at the end of last season and received much acclaim during 2009.

“When I arrived at Wests Tigers, I came in awe of some of the players that I now play alongside,” said Ellis.

“It is just fantastic to be playing out there with the players that I do.

“I’m a much better player than when I started out and that is down to the coaching staff. They have been brilliant in the way they have taught me things I didn’t know before.

“It was a tough year in that we didn’t make the finals but I really do feel the club is going in the right direction.”

Ellis will be joined next year by fellow Englishmen Mark Flanagan and Sam Burgess. Flanagan will join up with the former Wakefield man at Wests while Burgess this week completed a big money move to South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Ellis will return to the northern hemisphere for the upcoming Four Nations tournament this month where England will take on France, Australia and New Zealand.