Superstar fullbacks Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga headline the short list of nominations for the 2026 IRL Golden Boot as they prepare to go head-to-head in Sunday’s World Cup final between Australia and New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium.

Players from eight countries feature on the shortlists for the Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair Golden Boots awards, which will be announced in Brisbane on Thursday night, along with the inaugural inductees to the IRL Hall of Legends.

Walsh and Ponga lit up IRL Rugby League World Cup 2026 with an exhilarating personal duel in the opening match at Allianz Stadium that set the tournament on the path to success.

Ponga, who may not have been playing at the World Cup if he hadn't been granted permission to change his eligibility from Australia to New Zealand, returned just 23 days after breaking his arm to spearhead the Kiwis into their first final since 2013.

Walsh also starred for the Kangaroos in their semi-final defeat of Samoa

Tonga centre Rob Toia, Toa Samoa lock Francis Manuleleua and Kiwis tryscoring machine Casey McLean are the other players vying for the Men’s Golden Boot.

The short list for the Women’s Golden Boot includes Jillaroos fullback Tamika Upton, lock Olivia Kernick and winger Abbi Church, who got her chance after last year’s winner Julia Robinson was ruled out by injury and has scored eight tries in three World Cup games.

Kiwi Ferns halfback Raecene McGregor, who won the Golden Boot at the last World Cup in 2022, fullback Apii Nicholls and centre Stacey Waaka have also been nominated, along with inspirational Fetu Samoa utility Evania Isa'ako and Fiji Bulikula playmaker Luisa Yaranamua.

The Wheelchair nominations also include a previous winner in England’s Rob Hawkins, who last year became the first players in any form of the game to win the Golden Boot in back-to-back years.

Another former Golden Boot winner, Jeremy Bourson, is one of three French players nominated for the award, along with Nicolas Clausells and Dany Denuwelaere, who are preparing for Friday night’s World Cup final against England in Wollongong.

England’s Joe Coyd, Ireland captain Joe Calcott and Wheelaroos pair Bayley McKenna and Adam Tannock round out the short list.

The Wheelchair Golden Boot winner will be announced on Thursday at Suncorp Stadium, along with the Men’s and Women’s awards.

In addition, 42 greats of the game will become the first inductees into the IRL Hall of Legends - a recognition of their contributions to international rugby league.

IRL 2026 Golden Boot shortlist

Men

Casey McLean (New Zealand)
Francis Manuleleua (Samoa)
Kalyn Ponga (New Zealand)
Rob Toia (Tonga)
Reece Walsh (Australia)

Women

Abbi Church (Australia)
Evania Isa'ako (Samoa)
Olivia Kernick (Australia)
Raecene McGregor (New Zealand)
Apii Nicholls (New Zealand)
Tamika Upton (Australia)
Stacey Waaka (New Zealand)
Luisa Yaranamua (Fiji)

Wheelchair

Jeremy Bourson (France)
Joseph Calcott (Ireland)
Nicolas Clausells (France)
Joe Coyd (England)
Dany Denuwelaere (France)
Rob Hawkins (England)
Bayley McKenna (Australia)
Adam Tannock (Australia)

About the judges

Golden Cap recipients Darren Lockyer (Australia), Ruben Wiki (New Zealand), James Graham (England), Petero Civoniceva (Australia/Fiji) and Adrian Morley (England), who are among just nine players to have played 50 or more internationals, will choose the men’s 2026 IRL Golden Boot winner.

The Women’s 2026 IRL Golden Boot winner will be judged by Australian Jillaroos greats Karyn Murphy, Tahnee Norris and Ali Brigginshaw, New Zealand dual code superstar Honey Hireme-Smiler and fellow Kiwi Ferns legends Trish Hina and Luisa Avaiki, who also played for Samoa.

The Wheelchair 2025 IRL Golden Boot is chosen by a judging panel which comprises of Malcolm Kielty MBE, who is one of Wheelchair Rugby League's founding fathers and a former Ireland team manager, World Cup winner and England heritage player #1 Wayne Boardman, ex-Wheelaroos captain Brad Grove, former France coach Sylvain Crismanovich and IRL Wheelchair Rugby League Advisory Group Secretary David Butler.

The IRL Golden Boot is awarded to the best player in sanctioned rugby league international matches each year.

Previous IRL Golden Boot Winners

Men

1984 Wally Lewis (Australia)
1985 Brett Kenny (Australia)
1986 Garry Jack (Australia)
1987 Hugh McGahan (New Zealand) and Peter Sterling (Australia)
1988 Ellery Hanley (England)
1989 Mal Meninga (Australia)
1990 Garry Schofield (England)
1991-98 No award given
1999 Andrew Johns (Australia)
2000 Brad Fittler (Australia)
2001 Andrew Johns (Australia)
2002 Stacey Jones (New Zealand)
2003 Darren Lockyer (Australia)
2004 Andrew Farrell (England)
2005 Anthony Minichiello (Australia)
2006 Darren Lockyer (Australia)
2007 Cameron Smith (Australia)
2008 Billy Slater (Australia)
2009 Greg Inglis (Australia)
2010 Benji Marshall (New Zealand)
2011 Johnathan Thurston (Australia)
2012 Kevin Sinfield (England)
2013 Johnathan Thurston (Australia)
2014 Shaun Johnson (New Zealand)
2015 Johnathan Thurston (Australia)
2016 Cooper Cronk (Australia)
2017 Cameron Smith (Australia)
2018 Tommy Makinson (England)
2019 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (New Zealand)
2020 No award given
2021 No award given
2022 Joey Manu (New Zealand)
2023 James Fisher-Harris (New Zealand)
2024 Isaah Yeo (Australia)
2025 Harry Grant (Australia)

Women

2018 Isabelle Kelly (Australia)
2019 Jess Sergis (Australia)
2020 No award given
2021 No award given
2022 Raecene McGregor (New Zealand)
2023 Georgia Hale (New Zealand)
2024 Tarryn Aiken (Australia)
2025 Julia Robinson (Australia)

Wheelchair

2019 Jack Brown (England)
2020-2021 No award
2022 Seb Bechara (England)
2023 Jeremy Bourson (France)
2024 Rob Hawkins (England)
2025 Rob Hawkins (England)