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
editThe 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
editBy nationality
edit| Wins | Nationality |
|---|---|
| 21 |  Australia |
| 7 |  New Zealand |
| 5 |  England |
By position
edit| Wins | Position |
|---|---|
| 9 | Five-eighth/Stand-off |
| 8 | Halfback/Scrum-half |
| 5 | Fullback |
| 3 | Hooker |
| 2 | Centre |
| Lock/Loose forward | |
| 1 | Prop |
| Second-row | |
| Wing |
By club
editNOTE: Clubs shared the award in 1984, 1985 and 1988
| Wins | Club | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Melbourne Storm | 2007, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2017, 2025 |
| 4 | Sydney Roosters | 1987, 2000, 2005, 2022 |
| 3 | New Zealand Warriors | 2002, 2014, 2019 |
| North Queensland Cowboys | 2011, 2013, 2015 | |
| Wigan Warriors | 1985, 1988, 2004 | |
| 2 | Balmain Tigers | 1986, 1988 |
| Brisbane Broncos | 2003, 2006 | |
| Leeds Rhinos | 1990, 2012 | |
| Newcastle Knights | 1999, 2001 | |
| Parramatta Eels | 1985, 1987 | |
| Penrith Panthers | 2023, 2024 | |
| 1 | Canberra Raiders | 1989 |
| St Helens | 2018 | |
| Wakefield Trinity | 1984 | |
| Wests Tigers | 2010 | |
| Wynnum Manly Seagulls | 1984 | |
Multiple winners
edit| Number | Player | Years | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Johnathan Thurston | 2011, 2013, 2015 | Australia |
| 2 | Andrew Johns | 1999, 2001 | Australia |
| Darren Lockyer | 2003, 2006 | Australia | |
| Cameron Smith | 2007, 2017 | Australia |
Winners - Women
edit| Year | Nat. | Player | Club(s) | Position | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | | Isabelle Kelly | Sydney Roosters | Centre | [3] |
| 2019 | | Jessica Sergis | St. George Illawarra Dragons | Centre | [4][5] |
| 2020–21 | No award given due to the COVID-19 pandemic | ||||
| 2022 | | Raecene McGregor | Sydney Roosters | Halfback | [6] |
| 2023 | | Georgia Hale | Gold Coast Titans | Lock | [7][8] |
| 2024 | | Tarryn Aiken | Sydney Roosters | Five-eighth | [12] |
| 2025 | | Julia Robinson | Brisbane Broncos | Wing, Centre | [11] |
| Additional references:[1][9] | |||||
By nationality
edit| Wins | Nationality |
|---|---|
| 4 | Australia |
| 2 | New Zealand |
By position
edit| Wins | Position |
|---|---|
| 2 | Centre |
| 1 | Halfback |
| Lock | |
| Five-eighth | |
| Wing |
By club
edit| Wins | Club | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Sydney Roosters | 2018, 2022, 2024 |
| 1 | Gold Coast Titans | 2023 |
| St. George Illawarra Dragons | 2019 | |
| Brisbane Broncos | 2025 |
Winners - Wheelchair
edit| Year | Nat. | Player | Club(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | | Jack Brown | Halifax | [4][5] |
| 2020–21 | No award given due to the COVID-19 pandemic | |||
| 2022 | | Seb Bechara | Catalans Dragons | [6] |
| 2023 |  | Jérémy Bourson | Catalans Dragons | [7][8] |
| 2024 | | Rob Hawkins | Halifax | [13] |
| 2025 | | Rob Hawkins | Halifax | [11] |
| Additional references:[1][9] | ||||
By nationality
editBy club
edit| Wins | Club | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Halifax | 2019, 2024, 2025 |
| 2 | Catalans Dragons | 2022, 2023 |
See also
editReferences
edit- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "International Rugby League Golden Boot Awards". Rugby League International Federation. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
- ↑ "RLIF to present 2018 Golden Boot for both male and female players". RLIF. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
- 1 2 "England's Makinson wins Golden Boot". 7 November 2018.
- 1 2 3 "Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Jessica Sergis win 2019 Golden Boot". 17 November 2019.
- 1 2 3 "Tuivasa-Sheck wins 2019 Golden Boot". 17 November 2019.
- 1 2 3 "Seb Bechara and Jack Brown have been shortlisted for the 2022 IRL Golden Boot award".
- 1 2 3 "Golden Boot: England internationals Harry Smith and Lewis King make men's and wheelchair shortlists".
- 1 2 3 "2023 IRL Golden Boot winners announced".
- 1 2 3 "Fisher-Harris, Hale and Bourson named 2023 Golden Boot winners". National Rugby League. 6 December 2023.
- ↑ "Leadership, skill, decision making: Yeo ends Aussie Golden Boot drought". National Rugby League. 11 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
- 1 2 3 "Superstar, wonder woman, history maker: Golden Boot winners announced". NRL. International Rugby League Media Release. 11 Dec 2025. Retrieved 11 Dec 2025.
- ↑ "Tarryn Aiken Wins 2024 Golden Boot". Sydney Roosters. 10 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
- ↑ "Hawkins lands wheelchair Golden Boot award". BBC Sport. 9 December 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.