Six England players have been nominated for the 2024 IRL Golden Boot Award following a successful Test series victory over Samoa.
England pair George Williams and Harry Smith are in the running, as well as centre Herbie Farnworth - one of Shaun Wane’s standout performers during the autumn internationals.
For the Women’s Award, England captain and veteran Jodie Cunningham has been nominated, alongside her international teammates Isabelle Rowe and Anna Davies. Wales captain Bethan Dainton and her teammate Carys Marsh are also among those named - all five are stars in the current Betfred Women's Super League.
The Men's Golden Boot list also features a number of Betfred Super League players who competed in this year's Pacific Championships – Lachlan Lam, who recently captained his Papua New Guinea side for the first time, and Nene Macdonald who also stole the show for PNG, as well as Esan Marsters of the Cook Islands.
A panel comprising some of the most accomplished players in international rugby league will select the Men’s and Women’s 2024 IRL Golden Boot winners after nominations were finalised following the recent Pacific Championships and historic England v Samoa series.
Golden Cap recipients Darren Lockyer (Australia), James Graham (England) and Petero Civoniceva (Australia/Fiji), who are among just nine players to have played 50 internationals, will choose the Men’s IRL Golden Boot winner.
IRL Chair Troy Grant said: “International rugby league has never been more competitive, and this is reflected by the players in contention for the IRL 2024 Golden Boot.
“In the past month, international rugby league has been played at the highest level in Australia, England, Fiji, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea before big crowds and large television audiences.
“The passion of the players to represent their nations and cultures has been on full display and this has ensured some great matches.
“In the 40th year since the Golden Boot was awarded for the first time in 1984, to Wally Lewis, we are grateful to have three other greats in Darren Lockyer, James Graham and Petero Civoniceva judge the 2024 award.
“Their involvement adds to the prestige and credibility of the Golden Boot, which is now awarded to the International Player of the Year.”
The Women’s 2024 IRL Golden Boot winner will be judged by Australian Jillaroos great Karyn Murphy, New Zealand dual code superstar Honey Hireme-Smiler and England international Danika Priim.
IRL Chair Troy Grant also said: “The strength of women’s rugby league has been on full display in 2024 as nations have fought for World Cup spots or those who already qualified have continued to lift standards.
“This has resulted in some great matches and performances that showcased women’s rugby league and the passion of the players to represent their nations.
“On behalf of International Rugby League, I would like to thank Karyn Murphy, Honey Hireme-Smiler and Danika Priim for their continued support and the added credibility they bring to the IRL Golden Boot.”
The IRL Golden Boot is awarded to the best player in sanctioned rugby league international matches each year.
Shortlists for the Men's and Women's 2024 IRL Golden Boot awards will be announced shortly.
Nominations for the wheelchair 2024 IRL Golden Boot will be announced after the second international between France and England on Saturday, November 23.
The winners of the 2024 IRL Golden Boot awards will be announced in early December.
2024 IRL Golden Boot Awards long lists
Men: Herbie Farnworth (England), Addin Fonua-Blake (Tonga), Harry Grant (Australia), Lachlan Lam (Papua New Guinea), Zac Lomax (Australia), Jarome Luai (Samoa), Keano Kini (New Zealand), Nene Macdonald (Papua New Guinea), Esan Marsters (Cook Islands), Taane Milne (Fiji), Haumole Olakau’atu (Tonga), Harry Smith (England), Jason Taumalolo (Tonga), Tom Trbojevic (Australia), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Samoa), George Williams (England), Isaah Yeo (Australia)
Women: Tarryn Aiken (Australia), Elsie Albert (Papua New Guinea), Annessa Biddle (New Zealand), Gayle Boughton (New Zealand), Yasmin Clydesdale (Jillaroos), Jodie Cunningham (England), Bethan Dainton (Wales), Anna Davies (England), Millie Elliott (Australia), Georgia Hale (New Zealand), Amber Hall (New Zealand), Filomina Hanisi (Tonga), Talei Holmes (Fiji), Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala (Samoa), Carys Marsh (Wales), Evah McEwen (Samoa), Vitalina Naikore (Fiji), Evania Pelite (Samoa), Tiana Penitani (Australia), Ua Ravu (Papua New Guinea), Julia Robinson (Australia), Isabelle Rowe (England), Cassie Staples (Fiji), Crystal Tamarua (Cook Islands), Tamika Upton (Australia)
Previous IRL Golden Boot Award Winners
Men: 1984 Wally Lewis (Australia), 1985 Brett Kenny (Australia), 1986 Garry Jack (Australia), 1971 Hugh McGahan (New Zealand) and Peter Sterling (Australia) 1988 Ellery Hanley (England), 1989 Mal Meninga (Australia), 1992 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 No award given, 2021 No award given, 2022 Joey Manu (New Zealand), 2023 James Fisher-Harris (New Zealand)
Women: 2018 Isabelle Kelly (Australia), 2019 Jess Sergis (Australia), 2020 No award given 2021, No award given, 2022 Raecene McGregor (New Zealand), Georgia Hale (New Zealand)
Wheelchair: 2019 Jack Brown (England), 2020 No award given, 2021 No award given, 2022 Sebastien Bechara (England), Jeremy Bourson (France)
