15 November 2022
New Zealand’s Joey Manu and Raecene McGregor, and England’s Sebastien Bechara, are the 2022 IRL Golden Boot winners as the Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair international player of the year.
Manu, McGregor and Bechara received the Golden Boot awards in Manchester on Tuesday after a comprehensive judging process involving former Test greats, rugby league pioneers and members of the media.
Golden Cap recipient Adrian Morley, who is one of just nine players to have played 50 or more Tests, presented the Men’s Golden Boot to Manu – the sixth Kiwi to win the award since its inception in 1984.
McGregor is the first New Zealander to be awarded the Women’s Golden Boot, which was introduced in 2018 and won by Jillaroos centre Isabelle Kelly, who passed the honour to team-mate Jessica Sergis the following year.
The Wheelchair Golden Boot was introduced in 2019, with Bechara’s England team-mate Jack Brown being the inaugural winner but due to COVID the award has not been presented for the past two years.
Manu has been a revelation at fullback for the Kiwis – a position he doesn’t usually play for the Sydney Roosters – and was a stand-out in the mid-season Test against Tonga, as well as each of New Zealand’s World Cup matches.
Significantly, McGregor and Bechara also played mid-season Tests and their performances helped them to edge out Golden Boot rivals.
“Joey and Raecene have been a standout players for New Zealand this entire year,” said NZRL CEO Greg Peters.
“Out of the six Test matches the Kiwis have played, Joey has been MVP of half of those (v Tonga, Lebanon and Fiji) and has been one of our best throughout the World Cup. Raecene was only recently crownded Dally M Player of the Year and to add the best player in the international game to her calibre of awards is outstanding.
“Players like Joey and Raecene inspire generations of young Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns coming through at every level. They wear the jersey with pride and play an integral role in our game.
“I can’t think of any two more deserving, this is a great day to be a Kiwi and they have both done their countries proud.”
IRL chair Troy Grant said: “The IRL Golden Boot is one of the oldest and most prestigious awards in rugby league, and recognises performances at international level.
“In the past it has been won by some of the greatest players to have played the game, such as Wally Lewis, Mal Meninga, Ellery Hanley, Andy Farrell, Peter Sterling, Andrew Johns, Benji Marshall, Stacey Jones, Darren Lockyer, Johnathon Thurston and Cameron Smith.
“Now Joey, Raecene and Sebastien join them after each producing a series of outstanding performances for their nations, from the mid-season internationals to the World Cup.
“On behalf of the IRL, I would like to congratulate Joey, Raecene and Sebastien, as well as the players who were selected on the short lists for the Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair Golden Boot awards.
“In each case, the stand-out performances of the winner in the mid-season Test gave them an edge over other contenders coming into the World Cup, which may have helped to decide the awards.
“I would also like to thank all who helped participate in the judging process, including giants of the international game, Cameron Smith, Honey Hireme-Smiler, James Graham, Karen Murphy and Ruben Wiki.”
Smith (Australia), Graham (England and Great Britain) and Wiki (New Zealand), who are Golden Cap recipients, helped selected Manu as the Men’s Golden Boot winner after a panel of journalists and commentators chose a short list of candidates.
Manu ran a world record 401 metres with the ball in New Zealand’s mid-season Test against Tonga and has ran more than 300 metres in each of his five World Cup appearances.
Kiwis Head Coach Michael Maguire says, “Joey has definitely been a standout this year. He set the bar high in a great mid-year Test match against Tonga and continued on the form throughout the World Cup.
“Joey has a big career in the Kiwi jersey ahead of him. If he keeps going the way he is, I’m sure he will get a few more Golden Boots, along with going down as one of the greats for the Kiwis.”
The Women’s Golden Boot was chosen by a panel, which included Jillaroos and Kiwi Ferns greats Murphy and Hireme-Smiler, commentator and former England star Danika Priim, refereeing pioneer Julia Lee, and members of the media.
McGregor’s award caps a stunning year for the Kiwi Ferns halfback, who was uncontracted for the postponed 2021 NRLW season until winning player-of-the match for the Māori All Stars.
After helping Sydney Roosters to the NRLW Premiership early in the year, she was awarded the Dally M Medal as the best player of the 2022 NRLW season.
Kiwi Ferns Head Coach Ricky Henry commented, “Rae is a special player, she’s one of those rare players, it’s been a fantastic year for her.
“She’s grown in this space not only as a leader but as a playmaker, she’s quality and the best in her position.
“Having her in our campaign has given us a lot of confidence not only with her ability to game manage but how she makes the players around her look good too.
“To be awarded Golden Boot is a massive achievement considering the amount of high-profile players that have been around the game for a long time.”
The Women’s Golden Boot award was presented to McGregor, who was accompanied by sister and Test team-mate Page, by long serving RFL executive and RLWC2021 director Karen Moorhouse.
Bechara has also been consistently one of the best players every time he has played, starring in England’s mid-season Test win over France, who they will again meet in the World Cup final at Manchester Central on Friday night.
He edged England team-mate Jack Brown, who is based in Australia and did not play the mid-season Test, and France’s Jérémy Bourson.
The IRL Wheelchair Golden Boot was presented by Wheelchair Rugby League pioneer, Malcolm Kielty, MBE, who was on a panel of officials, coaches, referees and members of the media to choose the award.
Short lists:
Men: Josh Addo-Carr (Australia), Jarome Luai (Samoa), Joey Manu (New Zealand), Victor Radley (England), George Williams (England).
Women: Elsie Albert (Papua New Guinea), Tarryn Aiken (Australia), Amber-Paris Hall (New Zealand), Raecene McGregor (New Zealand), Courtney Winfield-Hill (England).
Wheelchair: Sebastien Bechara (England), Jérémy Bourson (France), Jack Brown (England), Nicolas Clausells (France), Diab Karim (Australia).
Golden Boot Winners
MEN’S 1984 Wally Lewis (AUS) 1985 Brett Kenny (AUS) 1986 Garry Jack (AUS) 1987 Hugh McGahan (NZL) 1987 Peter Sterling (AUS) 1988 Ellery Hanley (ENG) 1989 Mal Meninga (AUS) 1992 Garry Schofield (ENG) 1991-98 No award given 1999 Andrew Johns (AUS) 2000 Brad Fittler (AUS) 2001 Andrew Johns (AUS) 2002 Stacey Jones (NZL) 2003 Darren Lockyer (AUS) 2004 Andrew Farrell (ENG) 2005 Anthony Minichiello (AUS) 2006 Darren Lockyer (AUS) 2007 Cameron Smith (AUS) 2008 Billy Slater (AUS) 2009 Greg Inglis (AUS) 2010 Benji Marshall (NZL) 2011 Johnathan Thurston (AUS) 2012 Kevin Sinfield (ENG) 2013 Johnathan Thurston (AUS) 2014 Shaun Johnson (NZL) 2015 Johnathan Thurston (AUS) 2016 Cooper Cronk (AUS) 2017 Cameron Smith (AUS) 2018 Tommy Makinson (ENG) 2019 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (NZL) 2020 No award given 2021 No award given 2022 Joey Manu (NZL)
WOMEN’S 2018 Isabelle Kelly (AUS) 2019 Jessica Sergis (AUS) 2020 No award given 2021 No award given 2022 Raecene McGregor (NZL)
WHEELCHAIR 2019 Jack Brown (ENG) 2020 No award given 2021 No award given 2022 Sebastien Bechara (England)
New Zealand Rugby League congratulates Kiwi #779, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, on winning the prestigious IRL Golden Boot Award for 2019.
The Otahuhu Leopards junior is now recognised as the best current player in international rugby league, beating fellow Kiwis teammate Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Tonga star (and former NZ Kiwi) Siosiua Taukeiaho.
Roger is no stranger to success, the 2017 Kiwis Player of the Year was awarded the Dally M Player of the Year and Fullback of the Year in 2018, he also received Warriors Player of the Year this season, making history as the first player to win the award across three successive years.
Roger debuted for the Kiwis back in 2013 and to date has scored an impressive 14 tries in 20 tests totalling 56 points.
“I can’t think of anyone more deserving to receive such an accolade,” says NZRL CEO, Greg Peters.
“Roger has always worn the Kiwis Jersey with pride and this is reflected in his on-field performances and by his impressive and evergrowing list of accolades.
“We talk about the Kiwi Way and he completely optimises this, he acts as a role model to so many Kiwi kids not only in New Zealand but abroad and his impact on our game and those who play it is monumental.
“It’s exciting we have players of this calibre wearing the Black and White jersey and inspiring the next generation of Kiwis to come. We are extremely proud of Roger and all that he’s achieved and we can’t thank him enough for his ongoing dedication and service to the Kiwis jersey,” Peters concludes.
“Receiving this Golden award is a huge honour,” says Sheck.
“Thank you to all those who voted, the players in the shortlist are all world-class and I’m very honoured to have been considered alongside them.
“Putting on the Black and White jersey and representing my country is always a privilege and winning this Golden Boot award is a huge honour. Thank you to the IRL, NZRL and of course my family as without their love and support none of this would be possible. This year’s campaign has been one to remember, and although being away from my family was difficult, this makes it all worth it, this award is for them.”
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s key milestone achievements:
Dally M Winger Of The Year – 2013
RLIF Winger Of The Year – 2013
Dally M Fullback Of The Year – 2015, 2018
RLW Player of the Year – 2015
NZRL / Kiwis Player of the Year – 2017
Dally M Player Of The Year – 2018
IRL Golden Boot Winner – 2019
