Kalyn Ponga Wins the Golden Boot After Two Tests, and Now Faces Fellow Nominee Reece Walsh in the World Cup Final
Kalyn Ponga has won the International Rugby League’s Golden Boot, the award for the best player in the world this year, three days before he meets Reece Walsh in the World Cup final.
Walsh was one of the men he beat. The other nominees were Tonga’s Robert Toia, Samoa’s Francis Manuleleua and Ponga’s Kiwis teammate Casey McLean, Fox Sports reported. Ponga did it with just two Tests for New Zealand.
23 days after a broken arm
The second of those Tests made his case. Ponga starred in the Kiwis’ 34-10 semi-final win over Tonga only 23 days after breaking his forearm, the BBC reported. He had also shone in the NRL grand final, which Newcastle lost 19-18 to the Roosters.
The 28-year-old plays in headgear, and he will be the first player Australia look for at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday. Our Kalyn Ponga page has his injury timeline and contract.
A New Zealand double
Stacey Waaka won the women’s Golden Boot ahead of Australia’s Tamika Upton, Abbi Church and Olivia Kernick and her Kiwi Ferns teammates Raecene McGregor and Apii Nicholls. The 31-year-old scored a hat-trick in the 32-0 semi-final win over Samoa. She already has two Olympic golds in sevens and a 2025 World Cup bronze in union.
Hawkins makes history
England’s Rob Hawkins won the wheelchair Golden Boot for the third year running, the first player in any form of rugby league to win three in a row. Only one other player has won three at all: Johnathan Thurston.
Hawkins, 25, has scored 19 tries at this World Cup and plays France in the wheelchair final in Wollongong on Friday.
The first Hall of Legends
The IRL also named 42 players in its first Hall of Legends, including Wally Lewis, Darren Lockyer, Cameron Smith, Thurston, Ellery Hanley, Sir Billy Boston, Ruben Wiki, Stacey Jones and Ali Brigginshaw. “This is long overdue recognition for these players,” IRL chairman Troy Grant said.
Ponga and Walsh go head to head on Sunday. Our World Cup final kick-off times page has the start time where you are.
