Award winner Kurtley Beale wants to make the Wallabies fullback position his own after a lifestyle change of cutting out fast food has led to faster feet.

In Sydney on Thursday, the gifted utility back was named the Wallabies Rookie of the Year and was also recognised for being the most instrumental player in Australia's try of the year.

Beale also finished fourth in the John Eales Medal after a series of strong performances in the Tri-Nations tournament.

Initially a five-eighth, who has also seen time on the wing, Beale occupied the No.15 jersey for Australia's last four Tests.

"I'm very happy at fullback at the moment playing outside (five-eighth) Quade (Cooper) and (inside backs) `Gits' (Matt Giteau) and Barnsey (Berrick Barnes)," Beale said on Friday.

"They are creating a lot of space out wide.

"I'm happy to put my hand up wherever (Wallaby coach) Robbie (Deans) needs me, I still kind of get into the side off being a utility.

"But I want to try and cement that 15 jersey.

"There's a lot of competitors for it.

"`Coops' (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and you've got the young boys coming through now like Luke Morahan and Rod Davies, so I can't take a step wrong."

Beale, who landed one of the most celebrated penalties in recent Wallaby history to end Australia's lengthy drought at altitude said he would be happy to step up and do more goal-kicking.

However, Beale is back in the queue behind a number of players including Giteau, Barnes and Cooper.

He traced his mid-season surge in form to a loss of weight and a heart-to-heart talk with Deans.

Beale said Deans had sat down with him following an incident in Brisbane where he was fined $5000 for urinating in a public place after the Test against Ireland.

"I had to sit down and make a few sacrifices and put a few rules down that I had to obey and I've done that and it's turned out really well," Beale said.

Deans had put Beale on notice that he was in jeopardyof being cut from the Wallabies program if he didn't change his lifestyle.

"If you're going to continue being in trouble and putting yourself out there, I think it's very simple that you're just going to be kicked out and booted out of the system," he said.

Beale said the sacrifices he made had included changing his diet and reducing his alcohol intake.

He has also changed his circle of friends.

"Just knowing when to enjoy yourself and when not to and I guess surrounding myself with the right people," Beale said.

"During my younger days I put myself around some pretty unsteady people and I'm very happy that I've got a really good network around me at the moment."

While much has been made of the Wallabies backline being smaller than their All Blacks counterparts, Beale has gone out of his way to down-size his frame.

"A few years ago I was weighing about 100 kilos, now I am 89-90. I've lost a good ten kilos and that just makes a massive difference," Beale said.

"I've been working really hard at the gym, I've been working on my speed."

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