Beale: Receives his award from John Eales

The 22-year-old capped a remarkable 12 months when he beat hooker Stephen Moore to the prestigious award.

Having spent the first half of the 2010 Super Rugby season on the bench at the Waratahs, Beale knuckled down to go on to become a regular in the Wallabies side.

Beale was handed his first start in last June's Test against Fiji in the then unfamiliar role of full-back - and he hasn't looked back.

"If you are going to strive for something and reach your goals at the end of the day, hard work gets you where you want to be," Beale said. "I've got good support around me who have helped me get through the ups and downs.

"You always learn from what you do in the past, you always try to figure out ways to better yourself.

"It's still surprising but I'm very honoured to receive the award. I couldn't have done it without all the boys in the squad."

Although shocked to have claimed the award, the Beale insists his best rugby is still ahead of him.

"It doesn't stop here," he said. "I've got to go back now and set some new goals and go for them.

"Obviously the World Cup is around the corner. To win a World Cup would be a dream true."