There are four Super League representatives on the short-list for International Player of the Year.
Three Englishmen up for Player award, Richards also nominated
There are four Super League representatives on the short-list for International Player of the Year.
Although they are enduring a disappointing Four Nations campaign having already been soundly beaten by New Zealand and Australia, England provide three players on the eight-man short-list.
Super League young player of the year Sam Tomkins is amongst those competing for the top prize along with past and present England captains Adrian Morley and James Graham, Wigan's Super League Man of Steel Pat Richards, Australians Billy Slater, Todd Carney and Darius Boyd and New Zealand captain Benji Marshall.
Tomkins also gets nominations in three other categories - Rookie of the Year and the best stand-off and full-back - while brothers Tony and Brian Smith are both up for Coach of the Year.
Former England boss Tony was in charge as Warrington successfully defended the Challenge Cup, while older brother Brian, who is acting as performance advisor to current England coach Steve McNamara, turned around the fortunes of 2009 wooden spoonists Sydney Roosters.
The winners are decided by an international panel of judges based on performances from October 13, 2009, to October 3, 2010 and will be announced at the Rugby League International Federation awards night at Eden Park on Wednesday evening.
Player: D Boyd (St George Illawarra), T Carney (Sydney Roosters), J Graham (St Helens), B Marshall (Wests Tigers), A Morley (Warrington), P Richards (Wigan), B Slater (Melbourne), S Tomkins (Wigan)
Coach: R Agar (Hull), W Bennett (St George Illawarra), M Maguire (Wigan), M Meninga (Queensland), B Noble (Crusaders), T Sheens (Wests Tigers and Australia), B Smith (Sydney Roosters), T Smith (Warrington)
Rookie: T Briscoe (Hull), K Eastmond (St Helens), K Foran (Manly), B Matulino (Warriors), S Tomkins (Wigan), J Waerea-Hargreaves (Sydney Roosters), G Widdop (Melbourne)
Full-back: D Boyd (St George Illawarra), S Briscoe (Hull KR), J Dugan (Canberra), J Hayne (Parramatta), B Slater (Melbourne), S Tomkins (Wigan), B Webb (Leeds), P Wellens (St Helens)
Winger: T Briscoe (Hull), M Gordon (Penrith), R Hall (Leeds), B Morris (St George Illawarra), P Richards (Wigan), C Riley (Warrington), A Uate (Newcastle), M Vatuvei (Warriors)
Centre: C Bridge (Warrington), I Folau (Brisbane), M Gidley (St Helens), G Inglis (Melbourne), S Kenny-Dowall (Roosters), M King (Warrington), J Lyon (Manly), K Senior (Leeds)
Stand-off: L Briers (Warrington), K Brown (Huddersfield), T Carney (Sydney Roosters), D Lockyer (Brisbane), J Maloney (Warriors), B Marshall (Wests Tigers), D McGuire (Leeds), S Tomkins (Wigan)
Scrum-half: C Cronk (Melbourne), M Dobson (Hull KR), K Eastmond (St Helens), T Leuluai (Wigan), M Pearce (Roosters), S Prince (Gold Coast), L Robinson (Huddersfield), J Thurston (North Queensland)
Prop: P Civoniceva (Penrith), S Fielden (Wigan), J Graham (St Helens), A Morley (Warrington), F-P Nuuausala (Sydney Roosters), J Peacock (Leeds), D Shillington (Canberra), M Weyman (St George)
Hooker: D Buderus (Leeds), R Farah (Wests Tigers), N Friend (Gold Coast), D Houghton (Hull), I Luke (Souths), M Monaghan (Warrington), J Roby (St Helens), C Smith (Melbourne)
Second rower: S Burgess (South Sydney), G Ellis (Wests Tigers), B Galea (Hull KR), B Harrison (Canberra), C Newton (Hull KR), S Thaiday (Brisbane), J Tomkins (Wigan), B Westwood (Warrington)
Loose forward: C Fitzgibbon (Hull), P Gallen (Cronulla), B Harrison (Warrington), L Lewis (Penrith), S O'Loughlin (Wigan), C Parker (Brisbane), G Stewart (Manly), K Sinfield (Leeds)
