Sam Burgess’ defection to rugby union shouldn’t stop him receiving the 2014 Golden Boot award as the best player in rugby league.
It would create a few headlines, put a couple of noses out of joint, but so what. Burgess deserves the accolade after an outstanding season.
Johnathan Thurston won the award in 2013, and he also claimed it in 2011. He was a worthy winner last year after killing it at the World Cup, in State of Origin and leading the Cowboys to the NRL semi-finals.
Burgess, Greg Inglis, James Graham, Shaun Johnson and Jess Bromwich join Thurston as the six candidates for the gong. Each have valid claims to the Golden Boot, but Burgess should get it.
‘Slamming Sammy’ was simply sensational in 2014. He led South Sydney to its first grand final in four decades. He dominated the NRL, the toughest competition in the world. He scored 10 tries in 23 appearances, an impressive effort for a forward.
This season the 25-year old ran for an average of 168 metres per game. Burgess got through 14.7 hit-ups every 80 minutes, 34.5 tackles and averaged 2.3 offloads per match. Whether he was in the front or the back row, those are some herculean numbers.
In contrast his compatriot, James Graham, crossed for four tries in 24 games. Graham averaged 141.8 run metres, 14.3 hit-ups, 35.3 tackles and 0.4 offloads.
The other forward in the list, Kiwi Jesse Bromwich, recorded two tries in 21 appearances, averaged 145.4 run metres, 12.7 hit-ups, 28 tackles and 2.1 offloads.
Burgess, like his Rabbitohs teammate Inglis, was a standout in club colours. But the Golden Boot is considered on international and club performances, not just one of those two.
The Englishman missed the Four Nations, where others starred.
Inglis, while carving it up at the NRL level, didn’t enjoy his best Origin series or Four Nations. You could say at the end of the year tournament he looked tired and out of sorts.
Bromwich and Kiwi halfback Shaun Johnson are on the list because they were the key members who led New Zealand to the Four Nations crown. Johnson was outstanding in the four games of the competition, but his NRL season was inconsistent, with the Warriors failing to make the eight again.
Thurston missed the Four Nations, was quiet in Origin compared with his norm, but utterly brilliant in the NRL. Again North Queensland were knocked out in the semi-finals, unable to reach the grand final.
Graham was also a revelation for the Bulldogs, leading them into the decider. But ultimately his team fell short, as England did at the Four Nations.
Burgess deserves the Golden Boot because of not only what he did on the field, but the way he inspired his teammates, playing through pain and injury to deliver long-awaited premiership glory.
He was a weapon in both defence and attack, able to pump up his players with either a bone-rattling hit or set up a try with a line-breaking run. His strength, his skill, his determination, his passion, Burgess was the complete package this year.
He shrugged off any doubts about Souths’ handling of big-game pressure, cast aside the weight of the club’s history and got the Redfern outfit over the line. He put aside the poor on-field acts that dogged him in 2013 to deliver the Rabbitohs the ultimate prize. When he got the Clive Churchill medal – the first Pom to do so – it was a just reward.
So would be the Golden Boot. He might be a Bath player now, with an eye on the 2015 Rugby World Cup and meetings with ex-leaguies like Sonny Bill Williams and Israel Folau, but that doesn’t erase what he achieved on the field this year.
Enforcer, entertainer, England’s finest, the best rugby league player in the world – all titles Samuel Burgess deserves.
Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
Russell Johnson
Guest
Plus he played in the four nations. + have performed all year. Now that is 2014 Golden Boot or any other year come to that!
JayBob
Guest
Although Graham's stats are slightly down on Burgess, as shown above. You need to also take into account stats not normally associated with front rower's, due to Graham. His Try and Line break assists, plus general control of the Dogs team and selective passing, puts him so far in front. He's also more influential to his side. Plus he played in the four nations. Personally I think it should be JT or Hayne but they didn't play four nations either, plus I think they'll give it to non-Aussie. Let's just hope it's not Shaun Johnson based on a cpl of good games, when others have performed all year.
Russell Johnson
Guest
If not Johnson then Bromwich fair enough for mine!
Russell Johnson
Guest
The long dark close season of the soul is here and I have little patience for escapees from the home for the terminally determined to change the rules to suit their prejudices. We don't count 4 Nations cos he wasn't there but do count origin cos he was! OUR sport is replete with this kind of double speak nonsense at the best of times. SB good player gone to kick and clap so pick someone else! Funny onion would never ever give their golden boot or Vichy trophy to someone who jumped ship cos they have more pride and a lot less self doubt even though their product's suspect!
Muzz
Guest
This is what happens when there's no new articles. The natives get restless.
mushi
Guest
Wow that escalated quickly
Russell Johnson
Guest
Then James or Bromwich? Or maybe is should only include Aussies who spurn international games and we should stop pretending that its a golden boot of any interest to anyone more than 50 miles from Bondi or that it's one sport and go our separate ways! Then you could change 500 rules a year amalgamate with AFL and your insular tendencies can achieve their ultimate goals to go with their limited horizons! Cheers!
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Pass!!!!
Russell Johnson
Guest
Added to this the reason there may be players in the "someone because they are not eligible for an International team that happens to be playing that year." is largely due to Aussie attitude to International Game which you so eloquently represented in what you wrote!
Russell Johnson
Guest
Same old same old condescension, and I didn't exempt someone I made clear rational decisions about what the criteria should be. And including someone who's been injured all year because they're a tremendous player when they're on the park is ludicrously illogical. And nominating someone who hasn't played in the international set up for what is the international player of the year is appalling nonsense. Try not to assume the model for a modern sport is symbolised by AFL and it's cul de sac future. Sorry AFL fan this is not an attack on your sport but it's international standing and development chances!
jbundy
Guest
Picking burgess I feel would be saying, this is our best player in the world, oh and he didn't think our sport was challenging enough so he left. Jt has to be favourite with a tied second to Inglis and Graham
maximillian
Guest
I think Bromwich deserves the award. He was voted the Melbourne Storms player of the year, also selected for SMH's NRL team of the year & NRL.com 4 Nations team of the year. He was statistically the best forward in the 4 nations & the top metre eater in the final so even though Shaun Johnson gets alot of the plaudits, the Kiwis won that tournament on the back of the Bromwich-lead forward pack. A deserved golden boot winner IMO.
Jay C
Roar Guru
Shaun Johnson was ordinary all year and barely the best player for NZ in the World Cup. He isn't going to win it.
Jay C
Roar Guru
The best of the best play in the NRL, week in, week out. The best of the best play well, week in, week out. Getting up for a game against England or Australia isn't a challenge. Getting up for a game against Canberra in June. Now that's a challenge. Representative matches factor in but you can't preclude someone because they are not eligible for an International team that happens to be playing that year.
Russell Johnson
Guest
Can you ever see, imagine or dream of a world where the rugby football boredion would give their golden boot to someone who had left for RL or that they would hold a debate like this one? Of course not because for them their sport comes first last and anything in between whereas for us we like to win the war for them by being ambivalent, undecided and completely equivocal even when Shaun Johnson is the obvious choice!
Russell Johnson
Guest
No just pick Shaun Johnson because he's earned it at The World Cup and the 4 nations and at NRL level. Been there, done that, got the Warriors' Shirt! Nuff Said! Past decisions right or wrong have no bearing on this decision! But if it's up to TotalRL it'll be Sam cos they like to keep the RFU sweet!
Russell Johnson
Guest
preferences rather than real performances!
Russell Johnson
Guest
Is it that you prefer words and ideas in any order or is there a point to this as it certainly isn't a logical argument. Showing you're the best against the best is the key feature of "Golden" boot candidature and anything else is smoke mirrors and preferences rather than real performances!
Russell Johnson
Guest
Spot on top players from the top events all year and not just cos we think they're brilliant even when they spent 90% of the year injured!
Russell Johnson
Guest
No it wouldn't! Picking anyone who for whatever reason did not appear in the four Nations is simply that. Surely the golden boot should be given to someone who has shone out in all levels of the game not just club level. And your "albeit feeble" remark says more about your attitudes than the competition it refers to. Shaun Johnson fits the bill not Sam. But the spitting the dummy out bit of your post makes you a candidate for yawnion apologist of the year or you could write for TotalRL which seems to be muck the same thing these days! "With the help of our friends we won every battle and because of those same friends we lost the war!"