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IRL Golden Boot Award

International rugby league award

International rugby league award

The IRL Golden Boot Award (previously Open Rugby Golden Boot Award and Rugby League World Golden Boot Award) 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, 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

YearNat.PlayerClub(s)PositionRef.Open Rugby Golden BootRugby League World Golden BootIRL Golden Boot
1984AUSWynnum-Manly Seagulls
Wakefield Trinity
1985AUSParramatta Eels
1986AUSBalmain Tigers
1987NZLEastern Suburbs Roosters
AUSParramatta Eels
1988ENGWigan
Balmain Tigers
1989AUSCanberra Raiders
1990ENGLeeds
1991–98No award given
1999AUSNewcastle Knights
2000AUSSydney Roosters
2001AUS(2)Newcastle Knights
2002NZLNew Zealand Warriors
2003AUSBrisbane Broncos
2004ENGWigan Warriors
2005AUSSydney Roosters
2006AUS(2)Brisbane Broncos
2007AUSMelbourne Storm
2008AUSMelbourne Storm
2009AUSMelbourne Storm
2010NZLWests Tigers
2011AUSNorth Queensland Cowboys
2012ENGLeeds Rhinos
2013AUS(2)North Queensland Cowboys
2014NZLNew Zealand Warriors
2015AUS(3)North Queensland Cowboys
2016AUSMelbourne Storm
2017AUS(2)Melbourne Storm
2018ENGSt Helensurl=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/46132021title=England's Makinson wins Golden Bootdate=7 November 2018 }}
2019NZLNew Zealand Warriorsurl=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/roger-tuivasa-sheck-and-jessica-sergis-win-2019-golden-boottitle=Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Jessica Sergis win 2019 Golden Bootdate=17 November 2019 }}
2020–21No award given due to the COVID-19 pandemic}}
2022NZLSydney Roostersurl=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/61232/seb-bechara-and-jack-brown-have-been-shortlisted-for-the-2022-irl-golden-boot-awardtitle=Seb Bechara and Jack Brown have been shortlisted for the 2022 IRL Golden Boot award }}
2023NZLPenrith Panthersurl=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/15314/13017879/golden-boot-england-internationals-harry-smith-and-lewis-king-make-mens-and-wheelchair-shortliststitle=Golden Boot: England internationals Harry Smith and Lewis King make men's and wheelchair shortlists }}
2024AUSPenrith Panthers
2025AUSMelbourne Stormurl=https://www.nrl.com/news/2025/12/11/superstar-wonder-woman-history-maker-golden-boot-winners-announced2/title=Superstar, wonder woman, history maker: Golden Boot winners announceddate=11 Dec 2025website=NRLpublisher=International Rugby League Media Releaseaccess-date=11 Dec 2025}}
Additional references:

Notes:

By nationality

WinsNationality
21
7
5

By position

WinsPosition
9
8
5
3
2
1

By club

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

WinsClubYears
6
4
3
AUS North Queensland Cowboys
ENG Wigan Warriors
2
AUS Brisbane Broncos
ENG Leeds Rhinos
AUS Newcastle Knights
AUS Parramatta Eels
AUS Penrith Panthers
1
ENG St Helens
ENG Wakefield Trinity
AUS Wests Tigers
AUS Wynnum Manly Seagulls

Multiple winners

NumberPlayerYearsNationality
3
2
Darren Lockyer
Cameron Smith

Winners - Women

YearNat.PlayerClub(s)PositionRef.
2018AUSSydney Roosters
2019AUSSt. George Illawarra Dragons
2020–21No award given due to the COVID-19 pandemic}}
2022NZLSydney Roosters
2023NZLGold Coast Titans
2024AUS
2025AUS
Additional references:

By nationality

WinsNationality
4
2

By position

WinsPosition
2
1

By club

WinsClubYears
3
1
AUS St. George Illawarra Dragons
AUS Brisbane Broncos

Winners - Wheelchair

YearNat.PlayerClub(s)Ref.
2019ENGHalifax
2020–21No award given due to the COVID-19 pandemic}}
2022ENGCatalans Dragons
2023FRACatalans Dragons
2024ENGHalifax
2025ENGHalifax
Additional references:

By nationality

WinsNationality
4
1

By club

WinsClubYears
3
2

References

References

  1. "International Rugby League Golden Boot Awards".
  2. (22 October 2018). "RLIF to present 2018 Golden Boot for both male and female players". RLIF.
  3. (7 November 2018). "England's Makinson wins Golden Boot".
  4. (17 November 2019). "Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Jessica Sergis win 2019 Golden Boot".
  5. (17 November 2019). "Tuivasa-Sheck wins 2019 Golden Boot".
  6. "Seb Bechara and Jack Brown have been shortlisted for the 2022 IRL Golden Boot award".
  7. "Golden Boot: England internationals Harry Smith and Lewis King make men's and wheelchair shortlists".
  8. "2023 IRL Golden Boot winners announced".
  9. (6 December 2023). "Fisher-Harris, Hale and Bourson named 2023 Golden Boot winners".
  10. (11 December 2024). "Leadership, skill, decision making: Yeo ends Aussie Golden Boot drought".
  11. (11 Dec 2025). "Superstar, wonder woman, history maker: Golden Boot winners announced". International Rugby League Media Release.
  12. (10 December 2024). "Tarryn Aiken Wins 2024 Golden Boot".
  13. (9 December 2024). "Hawkins lands wheelchair Golden Boot award". BBC Sport.
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