Sam Burgess is on top of the world.

Burgess, who does not turn 19 until a week on Friday, has been voted the world's best teenager by Rugby League World magazine.

The Bulls forward, who topped the poll from the globe's 50 best youngsters, was selected by journalists worldwide.

Burgess, who made his Great Britain debut in the recent Gillette Fusion Test series against New Zealand, had to be 19 or under as of December 1.

He took the award ahead of Parramatta's Jarryd Hayne and Melbourne Storm's exciting winger Israel Falou.

Burgess, who was understandably elated but also surprised, said: "It's a great honour for me - and a totally unexpected one.

"The calibre of people on the list is very high and I can't believe that I have been chosen.

"I know I will have to work very hard next year to justify people's faith in me and I intend to do that and not let anyone down."

Bulls chairman Peter Hood added: "It's a tremendous achievement by Sam to take this award.

"He has had a great year, both for the club and for Great Britain, and to take this honour while still only 18 makes it all the more remarkable."

Meanwhile, although Great Britain captain Jamie Peacock lost out to Cameron Smith for the Golden Boot award, he will have his chance to prove a point when the pair go head to head in the Carnegie World Club Challenge.

Smith topped the voting of the 14 panellists for the coveted award, beating former Bulls skipper Peacock into second place with Australian scrum half Johnathan Thurston third.

Peacock received some consolation, though, when he was named international forward of the year for the second successive season and, along with his Leeds and Great Britain team-mate Gareth Ellis, was named in the annual World XIII.

The Leeds pair will face the newly-crowned player of the year when Melbourne Storm take on the Rhinos at Elland Road on February 29.

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