The Melbourne Storm, Queensland Maroons and Australia skipper was presented with the award by RLIF chairman Nigel Wood at a World Cup luncheon in Brisbane on Wednesday, a decade after he won the prestigious gong in 2007.
Smith edged out Tongan wrecking ball Jason Taumalolo to claim the prestigious prize, with England winger Jermaine McGilvary finishing third. Fiji's Suliasi Vunivalu also made the four-man short list.
