IRL Golden Boot Award explained

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.

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.

Winners - Men

Year Nat Player Club(s) Position
Open Rugby Golden Boot
1984
1985 Garry JackBalmain Tigers
1986 Brett Kenny Parramatta Eels
19871
1988
1989
19902
1991–98No award given
Rugby League World Golden Boot
1999
2000
2001 Andrew Johns (2)
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006 Darren Lockyer (2)
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013 Johnathan Thurston (2)
2014
2015 Johnathan Thurston (3)
2016
2017 Cameron Smith (2)
IRL Golden Boot
2018
[3]
St Helens
2019
[4] [5]
New Zealand Warriors
2020–21colspan="7"
2022
[6]
Sydney Roosters
2023
[7] [8]
Penrith Panthers
Source:[9]

By nationality

Wins Nationality
19
7 New Zealand
5 England

By position

Wins Position
9
8
5
2
1

By club

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

Wins Club Years
5 2007, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2017
4 1987, 2000, 2005, 2022
3 New Zealand Warriors2002, 2014, 2019
2011, 2013, 2015
1985, 1988, 2004
2 1986, 1988
2003, 2006
1990, 2012
1999, 2001
1985, 1987
1 1989
2023
2018
1984
2010
1984

Multiple winners

Number Player Years Nationality
3 2011, 2013, 2015 Australia
2 1999, 2001 Australia
2003, 2006 Australia
2007, 2017 Australia

Winners - Women

Year Nat Player Club(s) Position
2018
2019
2020–21colspan="4"
2022
2023
Source:

By nationality

Wins Nationality
2
New Zealand

By position

Wins Position
2
1

By club

Wins Club Years
2 2018, 2022
1 2023
2019

Winners - Wheelchair

Year Nat Player Club(s)
2019
Jack Brown Halifax
2020–21colspan="3"
2022
Sebastien Bechara Catalans Dragons
2023
Jérémy Bourson Catalans Dragons
Source:

By nationality

Wins Nationality
2
1 France

By club

Wins Club Years
2 Catalans Dragons 2022, 2023
1 Halifax 2019

See also

External links

Notes and References

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