Brumbies player of the year Jarrad Butler.

The ACT Brumbies have declared Jarrad Butler a “star of the future” after the unheralded back-rower claimed a double delight at the club’s awards dinner on Saturday.

Butler emerged as the stand out player in a team boasting 13 Wallabies, winning his first Brett Robinson award as the players’ player for the Super Rugby season.

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The Brumbies also paid tribute to injured star Pat McCabe in an emotional moment at the AIS Arena, playing highlights of McCabe’s career following his premature retirement forced by three broken necks.

Butler also won the Shawn Mackay most outstanding young talent prize while Matt Toomua was crowned the best back and Sam Carter the best forward.

Former Australian under-20s player Butler was thrown in the Super Rugby deep end this season when he was called on to be the full-time replacement for injured superstar David Pocock.

Pocock is one of the world’s best players and almost impossible to replace.

But Larkham said Butler was “the perfect fit” as Pocock’s replacement and the 23-year-old played almost every minute of every game.

“He surprised a lot of people, one with his versatility and two with his skills and ability to adapt,” Larkham said.

“He got an opportunity to come down here after being in and out of the Queensland Reds. We earmarked him out of the pre-season as a star of the future … he’s going to be something special.”

The hard-working back rower is not one of the Brumbies’ marquee men or highest paid players.

But basing his game on grit and toughness, Butler impressed Larkham in his first season with the Brumbies and earned a two-year contract extension.

He now stands among some of the Brumbies’ greatest players who have won the Brett Robinson award, including George Smith who has received the honour 10 times.

The challenge for the Brumbies is finding a spot for Butler in their starting XV next season with Pocock recovering from back to back knee reconstructions.

Butler could be tasked with replacing Brumbies captain Ben Mowen at the back of the scrum next year.

McCabe’s playing career is over, but the Brumbies and Wallabies warrior will stay on with the club for at least one season in an off-field role.

McCabe, who is in a neck brace for at least two months, got a standing ovation from the crowd at the club’s awards night following a fitting tribute to his playing days.

“Patty meant a lot to the rugby organisation,” Larkham said.

“He’s packed a lot in his five years with the Brumbies and will go down as one of the bravest players we’ve had. You’d like all your players to be a bit like Patty.”

Larkham said Test duo Toomua and Carter deserved their best back and best forward awards, adding Wallabies flyhalf Toomua added an attacking dimension to his game this year.

BRUMBIES AWARD WINNERS

• Brett Robinson players’ player award: Jarrad Butler
• Best back: Matt Toomua
• Best forward: Sam Carter
• Shawn Mackay most outstanding young talent: Jarrad Butler
• Garry Quinlivan award: Geoff Larkham
• Supporter’s award: Henry Speight
• Community player: Henry Speight