Quicksilver Queensland five eighth Quade Cooper paid tribute to fellow pivot Matt Giteau after capping off an extraordinary six months by winning the Australian Super 14 rugby player of the series on Wednesday.

The gifted Reds playmaker spearheaded an incredible backline domination of the award, which had been won for the previous four years by flanker George Smith.

Cooper polled 21 votes, collecting six man-of-the-match three point maximum scores through the Reds' 13-match campaign.

He finished one point clear of Queensland captain and halfback Will Genia.

Rounding out the top five were three other Wallabies backs, Western Force utility James O'Connor (15), NSW Waratahs utility Kurtley Beale (12) and Waratahs winger Drew Mitchell (11).

Cooper acknowledged it had been a remarkable period given the uncertainty which hung over his career after he was charged with burglary last December.

He was only cleared to play by the Australian Rugby Union back in February and will plead not guilty to the charge in a July court appearance.

"Six months ago I wasn't even sure I was going to be playing footy," Cooper told AAP on Wednesday evening.

"To be blessed and have the privilege of playing footy this year, I guess just made me a little bit more focussed on things in life that are so important to me, like football."

Asked about the reasons why he had taken his game to the next level, Cooper mentioned Giteau, whom he played outside of on the Wallabies 2009 Spring tour, when he was inside centre playing outside the mercurial Brumbies star.

"Playing with Gits I learnt how to control the game a lot better," Cooper said.

"There was times last year and the year before I bogged in and out of games, but this year I really concentrated on playing the full 80."

He said he would have no problems switching back to inside centre in the coming Test season as playing outside Giteau gave him more room because defences concentrated heavily on the Brumbies star.

Cooper also paid tribute to Genia.

"The speed of his pass and his willingness to break the defensive line really makes my life a lot easier."

In other awards, Brumbies winger Pat McCabe, who played every minute of his team's season, was named the Australian Super rookie of the series.

The Waratahs' Chris Hickey won the Australian Super coach of the series, which is awarded to the man whose side finished highest of the Australian contingent.

Cooper won the Super try of the series award for his week two effort against the Crusaders, while Stuart Dickinson was named Super referee of the series for the fourth straight year.

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