The Golden Boot Awards
The Golden Boot was originally created by Open Rugby magazine and was presented to the “best player in the world”. Open Rugby was purchased by League Publications (LP), and they continued the tradition.
In 2017 IRL purchased the Golden Boot from LP and changed the criteria to being awarded to the best international player in the world, therefore only international performance was included in the consideration.
The award has always been awarded after consideration by a group of the world’s media. In 2018, IRL formalised the panel and the judging to create a clear and open system with contenders published and whittled down throughout the end of season international window.
2018 also saw the award of the Golden Boot for female players and in 2019, we awarded the first Wheelchair Golden Boot
In 2019 Steve Winterburn, the sculptor responsible for the statue at Wembley Stadium, was commissioned to create perpetual trophies in bronze for the winners – Roger Tuivasa Sheck and Jess Sergis were the first recipients, and they will receive a replica once they return the perpetual trophy for presentation to the 2022 winners.
The Golden Boot criteria is as follows:
- To recognise individual player performances and contribution in sanctioned rugby league international matches in a specified period.
- To give additional weighting to performances in IRL Global Events such as the RLWC.
- That candidates for consideration uphold the best values and integrity of rugby league.
- That there be no restriction in respect of previous winners of the award.
- That the recipient is recognised by their peers as one of the world's leading current players.
Recent Winners
Men's Winners
1984 Wally Lewis (AUS)
1985 Brett Kenny (AUS)
1986 Garry Jack (AUS)
1971 Hugh McGahan (AUS)
and Peter Sterling (AUS)
1988 Ellery Hanley (ENG)
1989 Mal Meninga (AUS)
1990 Garry Schofield (ENG)
1992 Garry Schofield (ENG)
1991-98 No award given
1999 Andrew Johns (AUS)
2000 Brad Fittler (AUS)
2001 Andrew Johns (AUS)
2002 Stacey Jones (NZL)
2003 Darren Lockyer (AUS)
2004 Andrew Farrell (ENG)
2005 Anthony Minichiello (AUS)
2006 Darren Lockyer (AUS)
2007 Cameron Smith (AUS)
2008 Billy Slater (AUS)
2009 Greg Inglis (AUS)
2010 Benji Marshall (NZL)
2011 Johnathan Thurston (AUS)
2012 Kevin Sinfield (ENG)
2013 Johnathan Thurston (AUS)
2014 Shaun Johnson (NZL)
2015 Johnathan Thurston (AUS)
2016 Cooper Cronk (AUS)
2017 Cameron Smith (AUS)
2018 Tommy Makinson (ENG)
2019 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (NZL)
2020 No award given
2021 No award given
2022 Joey Manu (NZL)
WOMen's Winners
2018 Isabelle Kelly (AUS)
2019 Jess Sergis (AUS)
2020 No award given
2021 No award given
2022 Raecene McGregor (NZL)
WHEELCHAIR Winner
2019 Jack Brown (ENG)
2020 No award given
2021 No award given
2022 Sebastien Bechara (ENG)
