It used to be the ultimate accolade in rugby league, awarded to the best player in the game across all formats of club and representative competition each calendar year.
However in more recent seasons the IRL ‘Golden Boot’ selection criteria has undergone a significant change—and not everyone is happy about it.
Nowadays the Golden Boot is awarded to the best player in international matches only, meaning the prestigious title is bestowed to a player on the basis of just a handful of matches each year.
When the 2024 shortlist was announced including Taane Milne for Fiji and Esan Marsters for Cook Islands, SEN radio’s Andrew Voss said what many in the game were thinking.
“The Golden Boot is now a participation award,” Voss lamented.
“The premise is the best player in the world, you don’t have to put everyone in, it’s a farce.”
Farce or otherwise, Australian captain Isaah Yeo took out the men’s award in 2024 after leading the Kangaroos to a successful Pacific Championships campaign that culminated in victory over New Zealand.
Yeo finished just ahead of England’s Herbie Farnworth and Australian teammate Tom Trbojevic in the voting, becoming the first Australian player to win the Golden Boot since Cameron Smith in 2017.
Sydney Roosters and Jillaroos halfback Tarryn Aiken received the women’s Golden Boot for 2024, with both Aiken and Yeo collecting their awards in a low-key ceremony in Sydney last December.
The 2025 Golden Boot shortlists will be revealed at the conclusion of the current Ashes series and Pacific Championships.
Brisbane and Australian fullback Reece Walsh is currently the hot favourite for the men’s award following his mesmerising debut against England in the first Ashes test.
Golden Boot Winners 1984-2024
- 1984 Wally Lewis (Australia)
- 1985 Brett Kenny (Australia)
- 1986 Garry Jack (Australia)
- 1987 Hugh McGahan (New Zealand) & Peter Sterling (Australia)
- 1988 Ellery Hanley (England)
- 1989 Mal Meninga (Australia)
- 1990 Garry Schofield (England)
- 1991-98 No award given
- 1999 Andrew Johns (Australia)
- 2000 Brad Fittler (Australia)
- 2001 Andrew Johns (Australia)
- 2002 Stacey Jones (New Zealand)
- 2003 Darren Lockyer (Australia)
- 2004 Andrew Farrell (England)
- 2005 Anthony Minichiello (Australia)
- 2006 Darren Lockyer (Australia)
- 2007 Cameron Smith (Australia)
- 2008 Billy Slater (Australia)
- 2009 Greg Inglis (Australia)
- 2010 Benji Marshall (New Zealand)
- 2011 Johnathan Thurston (Australia)
- 2012 Kevin Sinfield (England)
- 2013 Johnathan Thurston (Australia)
- 2014 Shaun Johnson (New Zealand)
- 2015 Johnathan Thurston (Australia)
- 2016 Cooper Cronk (Australia)
- 2017 Cameron Smith (Australia)
- 2018 Tommy Makinson (England)
- 2019 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (New Zealand)
- 2020-21 No award given
- 2022 Joey Manu (New Zealand)
- 2023 James Fisher-Harris (New Zealand)
- 2024 Isaah Yeo (Australia)