The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Double delight for Kiwis as Manu and McGregor pick up Men's & Women's Golden Boot

Autoplay in... 6 (Cancel)
Up Next No more videos! Playlist is empty -
Replay
Cancel
Next
Editor
15th November, 2022
28

MANCHESTER – Joey Manu has been named the best men’s rugby league player in the world, picking up the Golden Boot at a ceremony at Manchester’s glitzy Midland Hotel.

The New Zealand fullback had to race back from a holiday in Greece to attend in person, but on hand to pick up the award ahead of fellow nominees Josh Addo-Carr, Jarome Luai, George Williams and Victor Radley.

He becomes the sixth New Zealander to pick up the award after Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Shaun Johnson, Benji Marshall, Stacey Jones and Hugh McGahan.

“It’s definately worth it!” joked Manu about returning from his holiday. “It’s special to win the award, especially when you look at the players that have won it in the past. I was enjoying my holiday time but this is good to come back for.

“Foxx has had an awesome World Cup, he’s scored a lot of tries and fans love to watch him. There’s a lot of players like Luai who are deserving of this and anyone could have won it.

“As a Kiwi, I grew up watching Benji and when I saw him win his, I never thought I’d be where he was.”

It was a double for the Kiwis as Raecene McGregor backed up her Women’s Dally M with a Women’s Golden Boot, cementing her place as the best player in the game ahead of Saturday’s meeting with the Jillaroos in the World Cup Final.

“It’s awesome, and great to see Raecene win it because she’s had an awesome year,” said Manu. “Two Kiwis and two Roosters too, so it’s nice to see her win. She’s one of the best in the women’s comp, I’m happy for her and how she’s going.”

Advertisement

In the other awards, Seb Bechara of England was named Wheelchair Golden Boot, beating out England teammate and Queensland coach Jack Brown, as well as Australia’s Diab Karim and France’s Jérémy Bourson and Nicolas Clausells.

The Golden Boot is awarded to the best player in the international game each year, with only international fixtures taken into consideration. The previous winner in the men’s game was Roger Tuivasa-Sheck of New Zealand, based on performances in the 2019 international season.

The award was chosen through a panel of journalists, voting throughout the tournament to identify a longlist across all three tournaments, which was then whittled down to a shortlist that was handed to an expert panel of former players to decide.

CLICK HERE for a seven-day free trial for your favourite sport on KAYO

In the men’s tournament, that panel was three players to have received the prestigious Golden Cap award for 50 international appearances: James Graham of England, Cameron Smith of Australia and Ruben Wiki of New Zealand.

In the women’s, that was Honey Hireme-Smiler of New Zealand, Karyn Murphy of Australia, Danika Priim of England and Julia Lee, the first woman to referee a men’s game and the Chair of the Women & Girls group with IRL.

Advertisement
close