LEIGH Halfpenny may need to think of getting a bigger trophy cabinet after he was named HSBC British and Irish Lions player of the series.

The sublime Wales full back was instrumental in helping guide the tourists to their first Test series win in 16 years.

Six Nations player of the year Halfpenny kicked a record-breaking 21 points in Saturday’s winner-takes-all showdown with Australia in Sydney, kicking five penalties and three conversions.

The Cardiff Blues player also broke the record of his mentor, who was by his side on the weekend, during the 41-16 victory over the Wallabies.

Lions and Wales kicking coach Neil Jenkins had previously scored the most points in a Test series for the Lions – 41 was the previous best when South Africa were beaten 2-1 in 1997.

But that was eclipsed in the weekend’s third Test, Halfpenny ending with 49 points after an absorbing three-match rubber which the Lions also won 2-1.

Halfpenny was named man of the match at the ANZ Stadium during which he also using his finely balanced running to set up crucial tries for Wales wing George North and Ireland fly half Jonathan Sexton.

Those touchdowns took the Lions into a clear lead, extinguishing real fears the often indomitable Wallabies might still claw their way back into the contest.

Wales centre Jamie Rob-erts, who scored the Lions’ fourth and final try against the Wallabies on Saturday, won the award four years ago when the tourists lost another epic series, this time 2-1 to the Springboks.

On receiving his trophy, a typically modest Halfpenny said: “It’s tremendous to be honoured and to receive this award, but it was a true squad performance out here for us throughout the tour.

“It’s been a long tour and to finish it off with a series win is a fantastic feeling. I am delighted I have contributed in such a talented and exciting Lions squad.”

He also revealed that his second Test misery in Melbourne proved a motivating factor behind him producing the game of his life.

A missed last-gasp penalty from 50 metres, with his side trailing 16-15, would have given the Lions victory and secured the series a game early.

“It was hard after the game, I was pretty down. It was tough, really tough,” he said.