IRL Golden Boot Award

The IRL Golden Boot Award (previously Open Rugby Golden Boot Award and Rugby League World Golden Boot Award)[1] is an annual rugby league award, presented by the International Rugby League (IRL), awarded to the best player of the calendar year. There are categories for men's, women's, and wheelchair players.

The IRL purchased the rights to the award from League Publications Ltd. in 2017, who in turn purchased it from its original awarders Open Rugby in 1998 who started the award in 1984.[1]

Upon purchase IRL introduced a women's category starting in 2018,[2] with the wheelchair category coming a year later.

History

The award was founded in early 1985 by the British magazine Open Rugby. It was first awarded to Wally Lewis for his performances throughout 1984.

No award was made between 1990 and 1998 due to organisational difficulties.

League Publications Ltd bought the rights to the award in 1999 and began awarding the Golden Boot on the same year it was assessed.

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.

In 2011, Rugby League World magazine began to award retrospective Golden Boots to fill in "the missing years" of 1990 to 1998, starting with Garry Schofield who was adjudged to have won the 1990 Golden Boot.

No further Golden Boots were retrospectively awarded as sponsors Adidas withdrew their backing.

The International Rugby League purchased the rights to award the Golden Boot in 2017.[1]

Winners - Men
YearNatPlayerClub(s)Position
Open Rugby Golden Boot
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
Rugby League World Golden Boot
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
IRL Golden Boot
2018
[3]		EnglandTommy Makinson St HelensWing
2019
[4][5]		New ZealandRoger Tuivasa-Sheck New Zealand WarriorsFullback
2020–21 No award given due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2022
[6]		New ZealandJoseph Manu Sydney RoostersFullback
2023
[7][8]		New ZealandJames Fisher-Harris Penrith PanthersProp
Source:[1][9]
  • 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
2018
[3]		AustraliaIsabelle Kelly Sydney RoostersCentre
2019
[4][5]		AustraliaJessica Sergis St. George Illawarra DragonsCentre
2020–21No award given due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2022
[6]		New ZealandRaecene McGregor Sydney RoostersHalfback
2023
[7][8]		New ZealandGeorgia Hale Gold Coast TitansLock
Source:[1][9]

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)
2019
[4][5]		EnglandJack Brown Halifax
2020–21No award given due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2022
[6]		EnglandSebastien Bechara Catalans Dragons
2023
[7][8]		FranceJérémy Bourson Catalans Dragons
Source:[1][9]

By nationality
WinsNationality
2England England
1France France

By club
WinsClubYears
2France Catalans Dragons2022, 2023
1England Halifax2019

See also

References
  1. "International Rugby League Golden Boot Awards". Rugby League International Federation. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  2. "RLIF to present 2018 Golden Boot for both male and female players". RLIF. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  3. "England's Makinson wins Golden Boot". 7 November 2018.
  4. "Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Jessica Sergis win 2019 Golden Boot". 17 November 2019.
  5. "Tuivasa-Sheck wins 2019 Golden Boot". 17 November 2019.
  6. "Seb Bechara and Jack Brown have been shortlisted for the 2022 IRL Golden Boot award".
  7. "Golden Boot: England internationals Harry Smith and Lewis King make men's and wheelchair shortlists".
  8. "2023 IRL Golden Boot winners announced".
  9. "Fisher-Harris, Hale and Bourson named 2023 Golden Boot winners". National Rugby League. 6 December 2023.
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