Hot on the heels of being named in RUGBY.com.au's Super W Team of the Year, Ash Walker has been voted by the rugby public as the competition's best player.
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The Moree native and Melbourne Rebels centre topped the voting for the Player of the Year ahead of the likes of Waratahs try-scoring machine Maya Stewart and Wallaroos and Waratahs captain Grace Hamilton.
After naming their team of the year (including bench), the rugby website then opened it up to the fans.
The result was dubbed "a huge surprise" given that Walker was only named on the bench and her Rebels side won just one match this season.
It also came as a surprise to Walker herself.
"I was surprised, I didn't expect it at all," she said.
"It felt really good."
But the 21-year old obviously made a strong impression on those watching on.
Playing in her maiden Super W season, she was a revelation for the Rebels and led the competition with eight turnovers from her four games.
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"I had a really good time playing this season but I wasn't expecting anything like that," she said at the time.
Walker is hopeful the latest accolade may lead to a shot with the national women's squad, which she said is the ultimate dream.
"Hopefully from here something bigger can come," she said.
"Joining the Wallaroos squad would be good.
"I'll just keep working hard and try for a Wallaroos cap."
Walker and Stewart were clear favourites among the voters, Brumbies backrower Rebecca Smyth in her comeback season and Reds front rower Liz Patu completing the top-five.
She is the second player with connections to the region to be selected by the fans as the best player in their respective competition, with former Gunnedah junior Harry Wilson voted as the Australian Super Rugby player of the 2020 season so far.
With the Super W season postponed before finals could be played as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the inside centre is now back in Newcastle playing the "waiting game" but remains hopeful of returning to Melbourne to play with the Rebels in 2021.
Players have been sent training sessions to maintain their fitness in the meantime, however Walker said motivation is difficult at home.
"It's a bit hard at the moment trying to keep motivated," she said.
"We have sessions sent to us. The gym ones are pretty fun considering most people don't have weights at home. We just have to find things around the house and work with what we've got."
Walker said she's looking forward to being able to play again and hang out with her teammates when the coronavirus pandemic is over.
