2025 IRL Golden Boot: Men's long list announced

Kiwis playmaker Dylan Brown, Toa Samoa prop Payne Haas and Kangaroos pair Cameron Munster and Reece Walsh are among the leading contenders to win the 2025 IRL Golden Boot.

Brown, who will join Newcastle next season on a 10-year contract, has been a standout for New Zealand in their turn-around of fortunes to reach Sunday’s Pacific Cup final against Samoa after being in a promotion-relegation play-off with Papua New Guinea 12 months ago.

Haas, the Brisbane Broncos premiership winning prop, has made a huge impact for Samoa since switching his international allegiances to the Pacific nation and will be an influential figure in the sold-out final at CommBank Stadium.

Walsh and Munster have played starring roles in Australia’s domination of the Ashes against England, with the Broncos fullback making a stunning Test debut at Wembley in the series opener and the Storm five-eighth leading the Kangaroos to victory at Everton last weekend.

Kumuls hooker Edwin Ipape also features on the 2025 Golden Boot long list of candidates after his performance and leadership as a youthful PNG side retained the Pacific Bowl for a third consecutive season against Fiji and Cook Islands.

New Zealand are the most heavily represented team, with Canberra Raiders forward Joseph Tapine another strong contender. Penrith Panthers forwards Isaiah Papali’i and Moses Leota also feature, along with backs Matt Timoko (Raiders) and Casey McLean (Panthers).

There are five Australian players on the long list – Munster, Walsh, Storm hooker Harry Grant, Sydney Roosters second-rower Angus Crichton and Cowboys forward Reuben Cotter, who had a huge impact off the bench in last weekend’s 14-4 Second Test win.

Samoa co-captains Junior Paulo and Jarome Luai join Haas and injured secondrower Jeremiah Nanai as nominations from the 2022 World Cup finalists, who are chasing the nation’s first silverware in the Pacific Cup final.

Fiji Bati fullback Jahream Bula, from Wests Tigers, and Kumuls halfback Lachlan Lam, who plays with Ipape at Leigh Leopards) have also been nominated after their performances in the Pacific Bowl.

Golden Cap recipients Darren Lockyer (Australia), Cameron Smith (Australia), Ruben Wiki (New Zealand), James Graham (England) and Petero Civoniceva (Australia/Fiji), who are among just nine players to have played 50 or more internationals, will choose the 2025 IRL Golden Boot winner.

Darren Lockyer played a record 59 Tests for Australia, captaining the Kangaroos on 38 occasions, and is a two-time winner of the Golden Boot in 2003 and 2006.

Cameron Smith captained Australia in 33 of his 56 Test appearances and led the Kangaroos to World Cup success in 2013 and 2017. He won the Golden Boot in 2007 and 2017.

Ruben Wiki, who has Maori and Samoan heritage, played a record 55 Tests for New Zealand and captained the Kiwis on 18 occasions, including their historic 2005 Tri-Nations triumph.

James Graham made a record 44 international appearances for England, including eight as captain, and played a further nine matches for Great Britain.

Petero Civoniceva played for Australia in 45 internationals before representing his Fijian heritage at the 2013 World Cup and again in 2014, making six appearances for the Bati.

The 2024 IRL Golden Boot winners were Kangaroos captain Isaah Yeo, Jillaroos playmaker Taryn Aiken and England Wheelchair star Rob Hawkins.

Short lists for the 2025 IRL Golden Boot awards will be announced after the Pacific Cup final in Sydney on Sunday, November 9, with the possibility of other players being included.

2025 IRL GOLDEN BOOT LONG LIST (men)

• Dylan Brown (New Zealand)
• Jahream Bula (Fiji)
• Reuben Cotter (Australia)
• Angus Crichton (Australia)
• Harry Grant (Australia)
• Edwin Ipape (Papua New Guinea)
• Payne Haas (Samoa)
• Lachlan Lam (Papua New Guinea)
• Moses Leota (New Zealand)
• Jarome Luai (Samoa)
• Casey McLean (New Zealand)
• Cameron Munster (Australia)
• Jeremiah Nanai (Samoa)
• Isaiah Papali’i (New Zealand)
• Junior Paulo (Samoa)
• Jeremiah Nanai (Samoa)
• Joseph Tapine (New Zealand)
• Matthew Timoko (New Zealand)
• Reece Walsh (Australia)

Previous IRL Golden Boot Winners

Men

• 1984 Wally Lewis (Australia)
• 1985 Brett Kenny (Australia)
• 1986 Garry Jack (Australia)
• 1987 Hugh McGahan (New Zealand) and Peter Sterling (Australia)
• 1988 Ellery Hanley (England)
• 1989 Mal Meninga (Australia)
• 1990 Garry Schofield (England)
• 1992 Garry Schofield (England)
• 1991-98 No award given
• 1999 Andrew Johns (Australia)
• 2000 Brad Fittler (Australia)
• 2001 Andrew Johns (Australia)
• 2002 Stacey Jones (New Zealand)
• 2003 Darren Lockyer (Australia)
• 2004 Andrew Farrell (England)
• 2005 Anthony Minichiello (Australia)
• 2006 Darren Lockyer (Australia)
• 2007 Cameron Smith (Australia)
• 2008 Billy Slater (Australia)
• 2009 Greg Inglis (Australia)
• 2010 Benji Marshall (New Zealand)
• 2011 Johnathan Thurston (Australia)
• 2012 Kevin Sinfield (England)
• 2013 Johnathan Thurston (Australia)
• 2014 Shaun Johnson (New Zealand)
• 2015 Johnathan Thurston (Australia)
• 2016 Cooper Cronk (Australia)
• 2017 Cameron Smith (Australia)
• 2018 Tommy Makinson (England)
• 2019 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (New Zealand)
• 2020 No award given
• 2021 No award given
• 2022 Joey Manu (New Zealand)
• 2023 James Fisher-Harris (New Zealand)
• 2024 Isaah Yeo (Australia)