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.”
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.
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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.
Tony
Roar Guru
Now you’ve over-complicated it for him
Pete
Guest
I think you need to read up on how the Dally M works. The votes are only counted during the regular season. Therefore there is no need to wait until the GF is played as finals matches have no impact on who wins the award. On the other hand the World Cup Final would be factored into the votes for the Golden Boot if it were announced after the game was played.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
The opening 2 paragraphs from that link refute that: “The Golden Boot was originally created by Open Rugby magazine and was presented to the “best player in the world”. Open Rugby was purchased by League Publications (LP), and they continued the tradition. In 2017 IRL purchased the Golden Boot from LP and changed the criteria to being awarded to the best international player in the world, therefore only international performance was included in the consideration”
Tony
Roar Guru
? What has the Dally M got to do with the Golden Boot?
PeterCtheThird
Guest
So unlike, say, the Dally M, hey? You see masses of complaints about that!
PeterCtheThird
Guest
Yeah, you’re right, wasn’t it a total disgrace that the Dally M was handed out in September when the biggest game of the year was not played until October?
3 R M
Roar Rookie
Manu probably owned this since the 400 m v Tonga. Bronco's/Titans/Dogs/Raiders/Dragons/ Tigers, throw him the money.
Christov
Guest
For those who are saying Manu is not the best player in the world then please consider what the Golden Boot is based on - https://www.intrl.sport/golden-boot-awards/#:~:text=The%20Golden%20Boot%20criteria%20is%20as%20follows%3A&text=That%20candidates%20for%20consideration%20uphold,the%20world%27s%20leading%20current%20players.
Tom
Guest
Teddy to number 3 at roosters.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Yes but that was based on the past month, ie GB form, we know Teddy's injured and it's hampering him horribly- not the entire season. There wont be many dry eyes in the house if Samoa get up that's for sure.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Yeah the Golden Boot is the best player in Internationals for the year. It definitely is not the best player in the world for 2022. Until we see more than a couple of Test friendlies per year (outside of a RLWC year) the Golden Boot doesn’t have much meaning IMO. Joey Manu a deserved winner in 2022 though.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Haha if only I got paid for it :laughing: Well you’ve put forward some suggestions but was hard to find an alternative, right? Not being funny, but didn’t you say the other day that Teddy is now the 3rd best fullback at his club? :silly: wouldn’t that imply that you think Manu is better? I think if Samoa is somehow able to win on the weekend, as crazy as it sounds – Luai might actually have a case.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Either way you’re worth more. Manu gets the GB.. fair enough best International this year. But that award is completely separate in criteria to Worlds Best Player. Breaching that criteria, fair questions may include how is he best in world when he is NOT even considered the best in ‘22 at his own club? Was he a serious candidate for the most treasured award of all. the RLPA ? His lack of Dally recognition. Both Papenhyuzen and Cleary, in equally competitive sides, played half as many games for better point recognition. Who was the best player over the entire season (which must include but not be governed by the WC )? Honestly don’t know.. but first thoughts I wouldn’t whinge if Teddy or Ben Hunt got it.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Not the World Cup, more an ambassador for international footy and rugby league in general. See my post above, given Nicho didn’t play rep games - how could he possibly even be considered? Who would you give it to then?
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Renegade you seem to be working as an ambassador for the WC and good on you for that. I’m not arguing about him being the best REP player thus far, but he wasn’t the best player over a full year in the toughest and premier competition of the world a far better indicator than the games used to judge this.. and probably indicated by it’s declining prestige of late. There’s no difference in stature of the judges who decided this award and the Dally M’s for example. In that contest he got a season total of 7 points. Yes it judged differently, but the best footballer in the world should surely win more best on fields than that against far stronger opponents. He’s a great footballer inarguably and no doubt thus far in this tournament the standout player, but no, he wasn’t this years best player in the game over the entire season
Renegade
Roar Guru
Ahh yeah I can - I think his had outstanding year in many positions… on top those 5 games. But your point around those 5 games - you could literally say the same for anyone else… and George Williams should probably have got it then.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Can you really refer to Joey as the 'best player in the world' as MMW has in Line 1 based on 5 games , 4 that against Tier 2 or worse? Anyway. as others have suggested if any Samoan turns on a couple of Hail Mary's to win this against the fair dinkum best side in the world, that would be really something of worth.
Pete
Guest
Didn't expect the award to be handed out before the final was played but well deserved for Manu. Thought Luai was the only other real option but Joey's performance in the mid season match against Tonga probably gave him the edge.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Yes Luai would have to play an all-time great game to overtake Manu for the tournament, IMHO. And it has to be based on an average, ie performance per game measure, otherwise it favours players in teams that go deeper into the finals.
Fraser
Roar Rookie
Congratulations to Manu. He's an absolute beast. I was actually a little surprised to learn he was part of the 2018 and 2019 premierships. He still seems like a rookie in my head for some reason. George Williams must have come close. He has had a ripper tournament. No real standouts from the Kangaroos in my opinion.