‘Ain’t no way’: Star NRL trio robbed in Golden Boot award farce
NRL fans couldn’t believe their eyes as several star players were snubbed in a bizarre choice for one of rugby league’s highest honour.
A trio of NRL stars have been overlooked for one of rugby league’s highest honours, with Harry Grant named the 2025 Golden Boot winner, taking many footy fans by surprise.
On Thursday, the International Rugby League (IRL) announced Grant edged out a quality field for the game’s highest international honour, while Jillaroos try-scoring machine Julia Robinson claimed the women’s award.
While Grant and his Storm teammates narrowly missed out on a premiership, the representative No. 9 didn’t let it affect him as he helped the Kangaroos sweep their series in England to celebrate the return of the Ashes.
The dynamic dummy-half narrowly edged out Kiwis duo Dylan Brown and Joseph Tapine for the top gong, with Cameron Munster and Samoa’s Payne Haas also nominated.
Brown can feel hard done by given he was man of the match in all three games for New Zealand, while Munster was Australia’s best attacking weapon and was man of the series in the Ashes.
Brown reached career best form for New Zealand, steering the Kiwis to a dominant Pacific Championship victory, giving Newcastle Knights fans hope as he prepares to start a 10-year contract next season.
Walsh can also consider himself unlucky to miss out on the Golden Boot after he starred on debut for the Kangaroos, bursting through England’s defensive line and scoring four tries across the three games in the Ashes.
The 23-year-old fullback was widely viewed as the best player in the world as he took the Broncos to a droughtbreaking premiership and continued his stellar form for the Kangaroos, taking over Dylan Edwards’ No. 1 jersey.
The Golden Boot is judged purely on international rugby league games, but even so, the decision to give Grant the award raised eyebrows given he wasn’t Australia’s best player across the three games they played in 2025.
NRL premiership winner Chad Townsend wrote on X: “Yo I love Harry Grant but ain’t no way he deserved the Golden Boot award. Dylan Brown robbed!
“We need more from the people who judge this award. It’s announced way too late and quite often they just get it all wrong.”
The Golden Boot judges are Darren Lockyer, Cameron Smith, New Zealand games record holder Ruben Wiki, former England captain James Graham and Petero Civoniceva.
Grant joins Billy Slater, Greg Inglis, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith as Storm players to win the Golden Boot.
The 27-year-old has a World Cup win and several State of Origin series victories to his name, but he is still yet to win a premiership with the Storm.
He had a superb year for the Melbourne Storm but was ruled ineligible for the NRL’s Dally M Team of the Year because of suspension late in the season.
IRL chair Troy Grant said: “Harry showcased his skill and leadership in the first Ashes Series for 22-years and played a key role in Australia’s win over their great rivals. He constantly had the England defence back-pedalling with his clever dummy half running, topped the tackle count for the Kangaroos, captained Australia at Liverpool and scored a brilliant try to blow the match open at Leeds.
“None of that was a surprise to those of us who are fortunate to watch him play week-in and week-out for Melbourne Storm or for Queensland in State of Origin but for Harry to perform at that level – and with the same consistency - on the international stage, confirms his standing as one of the game’s best players.”
The IRL Golden Boot is awarded to the best player in sanctioned rugby league international matches each year.
Golden Boot winners
2015 - Johnathan Thurston (Australia)
2016 - Cooper Cronk (Australia)
2017 - Cameron Smith (Australia)
2018 - Tommy Makinson (England)
2019 - Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (New Zealand)
2020-21 - No award given
2022 - Joey Manu (New Zealand)
2023 - James Fisher-Harris (New Zealand)
2024 - Isaah Yeo (Australia)
2025 - Harry Grant (Australia)
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