Rugby League World Golden Boot Award

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 2017 winner is Cameron Smith, who at the age of 34 also became the oldest player to win the award. It was also his second win after winning the award in 2007. Smith's win also saw Melbourne Storm win its fifth as a club, two more than any other club and second consecutive win after Cooper Cronk's award in 2016.

History

The award was founded in early 1985 by the British magazine Open Rugby and 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, but 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

YearNatPlayerClub(s)Position
1984AustraliaWally Lewis Wynnum-Manly Seagulls
Wakefield Trinity		Five-eighth
1985AustraliaBrett Kenny Parramatta Eels
Wigan		Five-eighth
1986AustraliaGarry Jack Balmain TigersFullback
19871New ZealandHugh McGahan Eastern Suburbs RoostersSecond-row
AustraliaPeter Sterling Parramatta EelsHalfback
1988EnglandEllery Hanley Wigan
Balmain Tigers		Five-eighth
1989AustraliaMal Meninga Canberra RaidersCentre
19902EnglandGarry Schofield LeedsFive-eighth
1991-98 No award given
1999AustraliaAndrew Johns Newcastle KnightsHalfback
2000AustraliaBrad Fittler Sydney RoostersFive-eighth
2001AustraliaAndrew Johns (2) Newcastle KnightsHalfback
2002New ZealandStacey Jones New Zealand WarriorsHalfback
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
2012EnglandKevin Sinfield Leeds RhinosFive-eighth
2013AustraliaJohnathan Thurston (2) North Queensland CowboysFive-eighth
2014New ZealandShaun Johnson New Zealand WarriorsHalfback
2015AustraliaJohnathan Thurston (3) North Queensland CowboysHalfback
2016AustraliaCooper Cronk Melbourne StormHalfback
2017AustraliaCameron Smith (2) Melbourne StormHooker

Likely winners from 1991 - 1998 are as follows :-

1991 - Greg Alexander (Penrith Panthers)

1992 - Alan Langer (Brisbane Broncos)

1993- Steve Renouf ( Brisbane Broncos)

1994 - Brett Mullins (Canberra Raiders)

1995 - Andrew Ettingshuasen (Cronulla Sharks)

1996 - Laurie Daley (Canberra Raiders)

1997 - Andrew Johns (Newcastle Knights)

1998 - Brad Fittler (Sydney Roosters)

  • 1 The 1987 Golden Boot was shared by two winners
  • 2 Retrospective award made in 2011

By nationality

WinsNationality
19Australia Australia
4England England
4New Zealand New Zealand

By position

WinsPosition
9Five-eighth / Stand-Off
8Halfback / Scrum-Half
4Fullback
2Centre
2Hooker
1Lock / Loose Forward
1Second Row
0Prop / Front Row
0Wing

By club

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

WinsClubYearsNationality
5Melbourne Storm2007, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2017Australia
3Wigan Warriors1985, 1988, 2004England
3Sydney Roosters1987, 2000, 2005Australia
3North Queensland Cowboys2011, 2013, 2015Australia
2Parramatta Eels1985, 1987Australia
2Balmain Tigers1986, 1988Australia
2Leeds Rhinos1990, 2012England
2Newcastle Knights1999, 2001Australia
2New Zealand Warriors2002, 2014New Zealand
2Brisbane Broncos2003, 2006Australia
1Wynnum Manly Seagulls1984Australia
1Wakefield Trinity Wildcats1984England
1Canberra Raiders1989Australia
1Wests Tigers2010Australia

Multiple winners

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

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kangaroos trio shortlisted for Golden Boot, AAP, dated 6 December 2013.
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