The Rugby League World Golden Boot Award is a rugby league award handed out annually for achievements in rugby league by Rugby League World magazine. The Golden Boot is given, usually in December after the conclusion of all the year's matches, to the player adjudged to be the best in the world, as determined by a ballot of international media representatives.[1]

The Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) announced that the 2018 awards would be extended to include a Golden Boot for the best international female player.[2] The inaugural award was won by Isabelle Kelly, the Australia and Sydney Roosters centre.[3]

History

The award was founded in early 1985 by the British magazine Open Rugby. It was awarded to Wally Lewis for his performances throughout 1984. Lewis and the other pre-1990 winners were initially recognised for the years that they collected the award, not for the year of their performances. However, this was changed by Rugby League World magazine in 2010.

No award was made between 1990 and 1998 due to organisational difficulties. The award was resurrected in its original format in 1999 when Open Rugby changed ownership to become Rugby League World magazine, which retained ownership of the Golden Boot.

Andrew Johns collected the award in 1999 and again in 2001, becoming the first player to win it twice. Darren Lockyer repeated that feat, winning in 2003 and 2006 becoming the first player to win twice while playing in different positions.

It was presented during the RLIF Awards in 2004, 2005 and 2006. In 2007, the RLIF did not organise any awards. To fill the gap, Rugby League World magazine asked its Golden Boot panel to come up with winners in the existing categories used by the RLIF.

In 2011, Rugby League World magazine began to award retrospective Golden Boots to fill in "the missing years" starting with Garry Schofield who was adjudged to have won the 1990 Golden Boot. Schofield was due to receive the award at the time, until the sponsors, Adidas, withdrew their backing.

Winners - Men

YearNatPlayerClub(s)Position
1984AustraliaWally Lewis Wynnum-Manly Seagulls
Wakefield Trinity		Five-eighth/Stand-off
1985AustraliaBrett Kenny Parramatta Eels
Wigan		Five-eighth/Stand-off
1986AustraliaGarry Jack Balmain TigersFullback
19871New ZealandHugh McGahan Eastern Suburbs RoostersSecond-row
AustraliaPeter Sterling Parramatta EelsHalfback
1988EnglandEllery Hanley Wigan
Balmain Tigers		Five-eighth/Stand-off
1989AustraliaMal Meninga Canberra RaidersCentre
19902EnglandGarry Schofield LeedsFive-eighth/Stand-off
1991–98 No award given
1999AustraliaAndrew Johns Newcastle KnightsHalfback/Scrum-half
2000AustraliaBrad Fittler Sydney RoostersFive-eighth/Stand-off
2001AustraliaAndrew Johns (2) Newcastle KnightsHalfback/Scrum-half
2002New ZealandStacey Jones New Zealand WarriorsHalfback/Scrum-half
2003AustraliaDarren Lockyer Brisbane BroncosFullback
2004EnglandAndrew Farrell Wigan WarriorsLoose forward
2005AustraliaAnthony Minichiello Sydney RoostersFullback
2006AustraliaDarren Lockyer (2) Brisbane BroncosFive-eighth
2007AustraliaCameron Smith Melbourne StormHooker
2008AustraliaBilly Slater Melbourne StormFullback
2009AustraliaGreg Inglis Melbourne StormCentre
2010New ZealandBenji Marshall Wests TigersFive-eighth
2011AustraliaJohnathan Thurston North Queensland CowboysHalfback/Scrum-half
2012EnglandKevin Sinfield Leeds RhinosFive-eighth
2013AustraliaJohnathan Thurston (2) North Queensland CowboysFive-eighth
2014New ZealandShaun Johnson New Zealand WarriorsHalfback/Scrum-half
2015AustraliaJohnathan Thurston (3) North Queensland CowboysHalfback/Scrum-half
2016AustraliaCooper Cronk Melbourne StormHalfback/Scrum-half
2017AustraliaCameron Smith (2) Melbourne StormHooker
Rugby League International Federation Golden Boot (For International Performances)
2018EnglandTommy Makinson St HelensWing
2019New ZealandRoger Tuivasa-Sheck New Zealand WarriorsFullback
2020–21 No award given
2022New ZealandJoseph Manu Sydney RoostersFullback
2023New ZealandJames Fisher-Harris Penrith PanthersProp
Source:[4]
  • 1 The 1987 Golden Boot was shared by two winners
  • 2 Retrospective award made in 2011

By nationality

WinsNationality
19Australia Australia
7New Zealand New Zealand
5England England

By position

WinsPosition
9Five-eighth/Stand-off
8Halfback/Scrum-half
5Fullback
2Centre
Hooker
1Lock/Loose forward
Prop
Second-row
Wing

By club

NOTE: Clubs shared the award in 1984, 1985 and 1988

WinsClubYears
5Australia Melbourne Storm2007, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2017
4Australia Sydney Roosters1987, 2000, 2005, 2022
3New Zealand New Zealand Warriors2002, 2014, 2019
Australia North Queensland Cowboys2011, 2013, 2015
England Wigan Warriors1985, 1988, 2004
2Australia Balmain Tigers1986, 1988
Australia Brisbane Broncos2003, 2006
England Leeds Rhinos1990, 2012
Australia Newcastle Knights1999, 2001
Australia Parramatta Eels1985, 1987
1Australia Canberra Raiders1989
Australia Penrith Panthers2023
England St Helens2018
England Wakefield Trinity1984
Australia Wests Tigers2010
Australia Wynnum Manly Seagulls1984

Multiple winners

NumberPlayerYearsNationality
3Johnathan Thurston2011, 2013, 2015Australia
2Andrew Johns1999, 2001Australia
Darren Lockyer2003, 2006Australia
Cameron Smith2007, 2017Australia

Winners - Women

YearNatPlayerClub(s)Position
2018AustraliaIsabelle Kelly Sydney RoostersCentre
2019AustraliaJessica Sergis St. George Illawarra DragonsCentre
2020–21No award given
2022New ZealandRaecene McGregor Sydney RoostersHalfback
2023New ZealandGeorgia Hale Gold Coast TitansLock
Source:[5]

By nationality

WinsNationality
2Australia Australia
New Zealand New Zealand

By position

WinsPosition
2Centre
1Halfback
Lock

By club

WinsClubYears
2Australia Sydney Roosters2018, 2022
1Australia Gold Coast Titans2023
Australia St George Illawarra Dragons2019

Winners - Wheelchair

YearNatPlayerClub(s)
2019EnglandJack Brown Halifax
2020–21No award given
2022EnglandSebastien Bechara Catalans Dragons
2023FranceJérémy Bourson Catalans Dragons
Source:[6]

By nationality

WinsNationality
2England England
1France France

By club

WinsClubYears
2France Catalans Dragons2022, 2023
1England Halifax Panthers2019

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kangaroos trio shortlisted for Golden Boot, AAP, dated 6 December 2013.
  2. ↑ "RLIF to present 2018 Golden Boot for both male and female players". RLIF. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  3. ↑ "Kelly honoured to create Golden Boot history". NRL. 8 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  4. ↑ "Fisher-Harris, Hale and Bourson named 2023 Golden Boot winners". National Rugby League. 6 December 2023.
  5. ↑ "Fisher-Harris, Hale and Bourson named 2023 Golden Boot winners". National Rugby League. 6 December 2023.
  6. ↑ "Fisher-Harris, Hale and Bourson named 2023 Golden Boot winners". National Rugby League. 6 December 2023.
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