AUSTRALIA hooker Harry Grant is this year’s Golden Boot winner as the best male player in international rugby league, beat off a field a headed by Kangaroos team-mates Reece Walsh and Cameron Munster.
According to the International Rugby League media release, New Zealand’s Dylan Brown and Joe Tapine were the nearest in terms of votes. Walsh, man of the match in the First Test, was not a finalist.
The women’s Golden Boot went to Australia’s Julia Robinson and and the wheelchair award to England’s Rob Hawkins.
Grant and Robinson will be presented with their trophies in Brisbane on Friday, while Hawkins’ presentation will take place in Halifax.
IRL chair Troy Grant said: “Harry showcased his skill and leadership in the first Ashes Series for 22 years and played a key role in Australia’s win over their great rivals.
“He constantly had the England defence backpedalling with his clever dummy half running, topped the tackle count for the Kangaroos, captained Australia at Liverpool and scored a brilliant try to blow the match open at Leeds.
“None of that was a surprise to those of us who are fortunate to watch him play week-in and week-out for Melbourne Storm or for Queensland in State of Origin but for Harry to perform at that level – and with the same consistency – on the international stage, confirms his standing as one of the game’s best players.”
Of Brtisbane’s Robinson, he said: “Julia was another who confirmed her status as one of the truly great outside backs of the women’s game with standout performances against England in Las Vegas, Samoa at Suncorp Stadium and New Zealand at Eden Park and in the Pacific Cup final at CommBank Stadium.
“Her try against Samoa elevated women’s rugby league to another level, as fans around the world marvelled at Julia’s ability to time her run perfectly and fly through the air like a superhero to catch Jesse Southwell’s cross-field kick and score.
“Not many players have the ability to do what Julia did but through a combination of hard work and talent she has been regularly pushing the boundaries and her highlights reel is full of spectacular tries and big plays.”
And regarding the wheelchair awarded, Grant enthused: “Rob also knows how to produce the big moments when they matter and he was sensational for England in a closely fought Ashes Series against the Wheelaroos.
“In the end, it was the experience of the world champions and the skill, speed and ability of players like Rob that proved the difference, but Australia showed they will be a force to reckon with at RLWC26.
“Rob scored five tries in two matches to help secure his second consecutive Golden Boot – a feat that had never previously been done in the 41 years since the legendary Wally Lewis was crowned the inaugural winner in 1984.
“At just 23-years-of-age, Rob could soon be challenging Johnathan Thurston’s record of three Golden Boot awards as he has already joined Andrew Johns, Darren Lockyer and Cameron Smith as dual Golden Boot winners.”