IRL Golden Boot 2023: James Fisher-Harris, Payne Haas headline shortlist for rugby league award

The shortlist for this year's IRL Golden Boot have been announced, with some of the game's top stars in the running for the coveted award.

After a three-match Test series between England and Tonga, as well as the inaugural Pacific Championships, 20 male players and 14 players from the womens game have been shortlisted for the top gong.

Cameron Murray, Harry Grant and Payne Haas were among the original nominees from the Kangaroos lineup, while the likes of James Fisher-Harris, Jahrome Hughes and Ronaldo Mulitalo were in the hunt from the Kiwis.

Lachlan Lam, Jahream Bula, John Bateman and Addin Fonua-Blake were other notable stars to be nominated for the mens award, while the women's list is headlined by Raecene McGregor and Jess Sergis.

Now the nominees are down to four for the men, four for the women and two for wheelchair.

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How is the rugby league Golden Boot decided?

The annual IRL Golden Boot award is decided by a panel of judges - usually ex-players - voting on a short-list of players, which is decided by journalists and commentators. 

This year's judging panel for the men will be Darren Lockyer, Adrian Morley, Ruben Wiki, James Graham and Adam Blair, while the women's panel will be headlined by Titans NRLW coach, Karyn Murphy.

The award recognises the best player across the year in international rugby league, which includes all Test matches and tournaments. 

2023 IRL Golden Boot shortlists announced 🏆
🌐Star forwards eye end to 20-year drought
🌐England's Harry Smith flying flag for backs
📰https://t.co/NtMHLZ96SD pic.twitter.com/HvTAOJlrRA

— International RL (@IntRL) November 28, 2023

Golden Boot 2023 nominees

Shortlisted Men

James Fisher-Harris (New Zealand)
Payne Haas (Australia)
Harry Smith (England)
Joseph Tapine (New Zealand)

Shortlisted Women

Georgia Hale (New Zealand)
Mele Hufanga (New Zealand)
Apii Nicholls (New Zealand)
Tamika Upton (Australia)

Shortlisted Wheelchair

Jeremy Bourson (France)
Lewis King (England)

Men's Golden Boot nominees

• Matty Ashton (England)
• John Bateman (England)
• Jahream Bula (Fiji)
• Su’a Faalogo (Samoa)
• James Fisher-Harris (New Zealand)
• Addin Fonua-Blake (Tonga)
• Harry Grant (Australia)
• Payne Haas (Australia)
• Jahrome Hughes (New Zealand)
• Edwin Ipape (Papua New Guinea)
• Tui Kamikamica (Fiji)
• Lachlan Lam (Papua New Guinea)
• Mikey Lewis (England)
• Esan Marsters (Cook Islands)
• Ronaldo Mulitalo (New Zealand)
• Cameron Murray (Australia)
• Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (New Zealand)
• Harry Smith (England)
• Hamiso Tabuia-Fidow (Australia)
• Joey Tapine (New Zealand)

Women's Golden Boot nominees

• Elisa Akpa (France)
• Toru Arakua (Cook Islands)
• Lauréane Biville (France)
• Belinda Gwasamun (Papua New Guinea)
• Georgia Hale (New Zealand)
• Amy Hardcastle (England)
• Mele Hufanga (New Zealand)
• Raecene McGregor (New Zealand)
• Apii Nicholls (New Zealand)
• Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala(Samoa)
• Tiana Penitani (Tonga)
• Georgia Roche (England)
• Jess Sergis (Australia)
• Tamika Upton (Australia)

When will the Golden Boot be announced?

The nominee lists will shorten on November 25th, before the final awards will be announced in early-December. 

Rugby League Golden Boot past winners

Since its inception in 1984, there have been some outstanding players take out the Golden Boot award.

Wally Lewis was the inaugural winner, while no winner was recorded between 1991 and 1998, as well as 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Johnathan Thurston stands alone as the only three-time Golden Boot winner, while two-time winners include Andrew Johns, Cameron Smith and Darren Lockyer.