Wane congratulates Herbie Farnworth for inclusion in the 2024 IRL Golden Boot shortlist

England head coach Shaun Wane has congratulated Herbie Farnworth for his inclusion on the shortlist for the 2024 International Rugby League Golden Boot.

The 24-year-old centre, who starred for England in their back-to-back victories over Samoa this autumn, has been shortlisted alongside Australian trio Harry Grant, Tom Trbojevic and Isaah Yeo, as well as Tonga prop Addin Fonua-Blake and New Zealand fullback Keano Kini.

Wane said:

“This is deserved recognition for Herbie following a terrific season with the Dolphins in which he was named Dally M Centre of the Year and two fantastic performances in our Test Series victory over Samoa.

“Herbie was a standout player for us in the Rugby League World Cup which was only two years ago, but you can see how much he has progressed and moved forward as a player since then, and is now genuinely in the conversation around the best players in the world as this nomination shows.

“It was great working with Herbie again throughout the Samoa series and we are all hoping he continues to go from strength to strength with the prospect of a huge Ashes Series against Australia on the horizon.”

Grant, Trbojevic and Yeo were key players in the Kangaroos' campaign to regain the Pacific Cup, and will look to become the first Australian player to win the IRL Golden Boot since Cameron Smith in 2017.

Fonua-Blake, the Tongan captain, remains in contention to become the first player from a Pacific islands nation to win the Golden Boot after leading his team from the front, while Kini holds the hopes of a Kiwi once again winning the prestigious award.

2024 IRL Golden Boot short list

• Herbie Farnworth (England)
• Addin Fonua-Blake (Tonga)
• Harry Grant (Australia)
• Keano Kini (New Zealand)
• Tom Trbojevic (Australia)
• Isaah Yeo (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)