North Queensland and Kangaroos superstar Johnathan Thurston wins Golden Boot

NORTH Queensland superstar Johnathan Thurston has been named the Golden Boot winner for the second time.

NORTH Queensland superstar Johnathan Thurston has capped a stellar 2013 rugby league season by being named the Golden Boot international player of the year winner for the second time.

Thurston was the undoubted star of Australia's World Cup triumph in the UK, collecting four man of the match awards as the Kangaroos swept through the event undefeated and largely untroubled.

The superstar five-eighth joins the likes of Darren Lockyer (2003, 2006) and Andrew Johns (1999, 2001) as the only men to have ever won the award twice.

News_Image_File: Johnathan Thurston during Rugby League World Cup final between Australia and New Zealand.

He and Lockyer also hold the distinction of having won the award playing in two different positions, as Thurston was a halfback when he first won the crown in 2011 and is now playing five-eighth for club, state and country.

Lockyer's award came after he had made the successful shift from fullback to five-eighth in the same year he led his club to the NRL premiership and Queensland to State of Origin success.

News_Rich_Media: Rugby league journalist Todd Balym says Johnathan Thurston still has a fair way to go before he is considered one of rugby league's all-time greats despite winning his second Golden Boot for international player of the year.

Thurston won this year's award from an all-star cast which included his Kangaroos teammates in skipper Cameron Smith and Dally M medal winner Cooper Cronk, Kiwi superstar Sonny Bill Williams, South Sydney's English star Sam Burgess and Scotland's Danny Brough.

News_Image_File: South Sydney's Sam Burgess is tackled during the NRL Preliminary Final between South Sydney and Manly at ANZ Stadium.

As much as the Cowboys captain would be thrilled at his individual accolade, Thurston is motivated by his club's lack of NRL premiership success and this week returned to training in Townsville with renewed vigour under new coach Paul Green.

The Golden Boot is awarded by a panel journalists and conducted by Rugby League World magazine. A World XIII team is also named and this year featured an entire team of players based solely in Australia's NRL competition, with no representatives from Super League.

"We asked the panel to consider performances in international matches first and foremost and, given his outstanding World Cup campaign, Johnathan Thurston has emerged as a deserving winner," Rugby League World editor Gareth Walker said.

"It was typical of the way he orchestrated his Australian side superbly in the match that mattered most, though it should be noted that he was excellent for the entire competition.

News_Image_File: Roosters Sonny Bill Williams makes a break during the Sydney Roosters v Manly Sea Eagles NRL Grand Final.

"Ever since breaking onto the international scene almost eight years ago, Thurston has been at the very forefront of the sport at its highest level. During that time he has also collected a host of individual honours domestically and is at the very centre of Queensland's stunning run of wins."

Australia had nine players in the World III, five Queenslanders, three from NSW and Jamie Lyon who has retired from representative football.

2013 WORLD XIII: Billy Slater (Australia), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (New Zealand), Greg Inglis (Australia), Jamie Lyon (Australia), Brett Morris (Australia); Johnathan Thurston (Australia), Cooper Cronk (Australia); Sam Burgess (England), Cameron Smith (Australia), James Graham (England), Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand), Greg Bird (Australia), Paul Gallen (Australia).

GOLDEN BOOT VOTING 2013: Johnathan Thurston - 41 points, Sam Burgess - 34 points, Sonny Bill Williams - 23 points, Cameron Smith - 13 points, Danny Brough - 5 points, Cooper Cronk - 1 point