KP Golden Boot winner

Replies

- LB > JC November 13, 2026 at 10:00am
  
  It is only judged on international footy. So yes it's judged on the WC as that's the only international games Ponga has played this year.
- Poppa > JC November 13, 2026 at 11:24am
  
  yes JC you are right and KP was a worthy winner, did he not win the Dally M as well?
  - JC > Poppa November 13, 2026 at 11:44am
    
    I just read that he only played 2 games for the kiwis this year and seeing that the award is judged on international performances than him winning g is a bit of a joke really.
    - LB > JC November 13, 2026 at 11:47am
      
      I think they should make it rep duties overall. I know the argument would be that some players cannot play Origin so unfair, but with new rules a lot more can play Origin. Plus if English players have an issue, 99/100 best players in the world would all be playing in NRL anyway. Maybe more.
      - Poppa > LB November 13, 2026 at 12:03pm
        
        JC I decided to put this to bed....interesting background was Brett Kenny was a winner as well. The other thing is that it has changed since 2018 which explains all our confusion.
        
        How the Golden Boot is Decided
        
        International Form Only. Since the International Rugby League (IRL) took over the award in 2018, judges only assess performances in senior international fixtures. Club competitions (NRL, Super League, Challenge Cup) and State of Origin are excluded so the award does not duplicate domestic honours like the Dally M Medal or Man of Steel.
        
        Pre-2018 Criteria. Prior to 2018, when the award was run by Open Rugby and Rugby League World, judges considered a player's entire calendar year across club, Origin, and Test football.
        
        Judging Panel. A shortlist of nominees is selected from international media nominations. The final winner is voted on by a panel of international rugby league legends, specifically Golden Cap recipients who have played 50 or more Test matches (such as Darren Lockyer, James Graham, Ruben Wiki, Petero Civoniceva, and Adrian Morley). [1, 2]
        
        Why Bevan French and Other UK-Based Aussies Haven't Won
        
        No Australian Overseas Winners. Every Australian winner of the Golden Boot—from inaugural recipient Wally Lewis (1984) to recent winners Isaah Yeo (2024) and Harry Grant (2025)—was playing for an Australian-based club at the time.
        
        Bevan French's Eligibility. Despite dominating the English game with Wigan Warriors—winning the 2023 Man of Steel and sweeping the Player of the Match awards in the 2024 World Club Challenge, Challenge Cup Final, and Super League Grand Final—French has not played senior Test football for Australia. Without international appearances, he is ineligible under the IRL's criteria.
        
        Super League Winners. Only five England-based players have ever won the Golden Boot, and all five were English nationals representing Great Britain or England:
        
        Ellery Hanley (1988 – Wigan / Balmain)
        
        Garry Schofield (1990 – Leeds)
        
        Andy Farrell (2004 – Wigan Warriors)
        
        Kevin Sinfield (2012 – Leeds Rhinos)
        
        Tommy Makinson (2018 – St Helens) [1, 2]
        
        (Note: While 1985 winner Brett Kenny played a short off-season stint with Wigan in early 1985, he was contracted to and primarily based with the Parramatta Eels in Australia.)
        
        Wizard “Alcatraz “Sleeve > Poppa November 13, 2026 at 12:54pm
        
        Bevan French again lol . What is it with you and wanting to boof this poor kid . I hope he has the relevant legal protection from you .
        
        Your fettish is strong for poor Bev ..
        
        Poppa > Wizard “Alcatraz “Sleeve November 13, 2026 at 1:02pm
        
        " Despite dominating the English game with Wigan Warriors—winning the 2023 Man of Steel and sweeping the Player of the Match awards in the 2024 World Club Challenge, Challenge Cup Final, and Super League Grand Final"
        
        Yep he is pretty ordinary Wiz, if only you could be as good and as funny as you are intoduced as the "softdrink salesman" "coach" of the year.....
        
        I heard you have won it as coach for the past 10 years, which is understandable when its you and 3 graduates from their paper runs.....a bit of concern just the same when you start undermining them on social media when they look like surpassing your sales record.
        
        Wizard “Alcatraz “Sleeve > Poppa November 13, 2026 at 5:25pm
        
        You know who else carved it up in that comp ? Jake Arthur .
        
        sit down . Our reserve grade team would beat the majority of those teams.
        
        French would struggle to make the starting squad of almost every NRL team.
        
        Poppa > Wizard “Alcatraz “Sleeve November 13, 2026 at 5:34pm
        
        More Hyperbole Wiz......try telling that to your new master RUSH, he will explain how wrong you are.
        
        The French we had would walk into our team now, the French that he has become, the player he is now would be a superstar, but why, he is paid as well and recognised more without cheap little deadshits like you belittling his ability or performances.
        
        Back to your cell and dream about Jake Arthur, he never did or has achieved anything like French but then again back in the day you were saying what a good player he was and a worthy backup to Moses.....short memories little brains!
        
        PS Our reserve grade team would be flat out beating our 3rd grade team and have a look at the Club Challenges and how well some of our teams have gone, one of which French cut to ribbons.
        
        Wizard “Alcatraz “Sleeve > Poppa November 14, 2026 at 3:27am
        
        So Rush I'm sure will have him on a plane before 2027 kicks off yeah ?
        
        World club challenge lol, that's cute. Have you even watched one ? If you had you'd know that the Aussie teams are always super underdone. It's a piss up trip.
        
        That aside , if you're correct if anyone's going to get French here to dominate the nrl , it's Rush. I'll bet you a years silence that he doesn't ? Ok? We are talking about paying wingers and centres a mil a year . So it's nothing to do with money.

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"So Rush I'm sure will have him on a plane before 2027 kicks off yeah ?
World club challenge lol, that's cute. Have you even watched one ? If you had you'd know that the Aussie teams are always super underdone. It's a piss up trip.

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