Golden Boot Winners List
The Golden Boot Award is decided annually by the Rugby League World magazine (originally awarded by British magazine Open Rugby), for the player judged to be the best in the world. The voting panel is made up of former players and international rugby league journalists.
The winners of the 2023 IRL Golden Boot awards will be announced in early December
Men's Golden Boot
For the men's award, there have been six New Zealand players who have won, six from England, the rest from Australia. Several players have won the award twice, though it is only Johnathan Thurston who has won it three times (2011, 2013, 2015).
No award was given between 1990 and 1998, and also in 2020 and 2021. In 1987 the Golden Boot award was shared by two winners. Up until 2014 there was also an award for the International Player of the Year by RLIF.
| Year | Player | Nationality | Position | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Joseph Manu | New Zealand | Fullback | Sydney Roosters |
| 2021 | no award given | |||
| 2020 | no award given | |||
| 2019 | Roger Tuivasa-Sheck | New Zealand | Fullback | New Zealand Warriors |
| 2018 | Tommy Makinson | England | Wing | St Helens |
| 2017 | Cameron Smith | Australia | Hooker | Melbourne Storm |
| 2016 | Cooper Cronk | Australia | Half Back | Melbourne Storm |
| 2015 | Johnathan Thurston | Australia | Half Back | North Queensland Cowboys |
| 2014 | Shaun Johnson | New Zealand | Half Back | New Zealand Warriors |
| 2013 | Johnathan Thurston | Australia | Halfback, Five-eighth | North Queensland Cowboys |
| 2012 | Kevin Sinfield | England | Five-Eighth | Leeds |
| 2011 | Johnathan Thurston | Australia | Halfback | North Queensland Cowboys |
| 2010 | Benji Marshall | New Zealand | Five-Eighth | Wests Tigers |
| 2009 | Greg Inglis | Australia | Centre | Melbourne Storm |
| 2008 | Billy Slater | Australia | Fullback | Melbourne Storm |
| 2007 | Cameron Smith | Australia | Hooker | Melbourne Storm |
| 2006 | Darren Lockyer | Australia | Five-Eighth | Brisbane Broncos |
| 2005 | Anthony Minichiello | Australia | Fullback | Sydney Roosters |
| 2004 | Andrew Farrell | England | Lock | Wigan Warriors |
| 2003 | Darren Lockyer | Australia | Fullback | Brisbane Broncos |
| 2002 | Stacey Jones | New Zealand | Halfback | New Zealand Warriors |
| 2001 | Andrew Johns | Australia | Halfback | Newcastle Knights |
| 2000 | Brad Fittler | Australia | Five-Eighth | Sydney Roosters |
| 1999 | Andrew Johns | Australia | Halfback | Newcastle Knights |
| 1991-98 | No award given | |||
| 1990 | Garry Schofield | England | Five-Eighth | Leeds |
| 1989 | Mal Meninga | Australia | Centre | Canberra Raiders |
| 1988 | Ellery Hanley | England | Five-Eighth | Wigan |
| 1987 | Peter Sterling | Australia | Halfback | Parramatta Eels |
| 1987 | Hugh McGahan | New Zealand | Second Row | Eastern Suburbs |
| 1986 | Garry Jack | Australia | Fullback | Balmain Tigers |
| 1985 | Brett Kenny | Australia | Five-Eighth | Parramatta Eels |
| 1984 | Wally Lewis | Australia | Five-Eighth | Wynnum Manly Seagulls |
Related Pages
- Who is the Greatest Rugby League Player Ever?
- International Player of the Year winners list.
- Dally M Medal — presented annually to the player voted as the best and fairest throughout the Australian National Rugby League (NRL) season.
- Rugby League Awards & Competitions
- European Golden Boot — for the leading football (soccer) goalscorer from the top division of the European national leagues.
Any comments, suggestions, or corrections? Please let us know.
Current Events