Jarome Luai caught in ugly fallout as Andrew Voss blasts 'farcical' Golden Boot nominations

NRL fans and commentators have questioned the relevancy of the Golden Boot award after some of the nominations raised eyebrows on Thursday. The Golden Boot used to be awarded to the best player in the world and was judged across the whole year, taking into account club footy and representative matches.

But it's now only judged from the international period after the end of the NRL and Super League seasons, and in some instances countries only play two games during that time. Players from Australia, England, New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, PNG, Fiji and Cook Islands are all eligible, and the nominations revealed on Thursday include at least one from each team.

Isaah Yeo, Harry Grant, Tom Trbojevic and Zac Lomax are the Australian players on the shortlist, while Tongan players Addin Fonua-Blake, Jason Taumalolo and Haumole Olakau’atu have all been nominated. The other players in contention are Herbie Farnworth, George Williams and Harry Smith from England, Jarome Luai and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck from Samoa, Keano Kini (New Zealand), Nene Macdonald and Lachlan Lam (PNG), Taane Milne (Fiji) and Esan Marsters (Cook Islands).

Australia, Tonga, New Zealand and PNG will all have played three games by the time the winner is decided by the panel of Darren Lockyer, James Graham and Petero Civoniceva. But England, Samoa, Fiji and Cook Islands will only have played two.

NRL fans question Golden Boot nominations

NRL fans took to social media on Thursday to question if the prestigious award still carries the same relevancy it once used to, especially considering some of the players nominated. Samoan players Luai and Tuivasa-Sheck were beaten comfortably in both games they played against England, and struggled to have any meaningful impact.

The fact at least one player from each nation received a nomination also raised eyebrows, with many of the belief that Milne and Marsters aren't in the same league as some of their counterparts. An award for the best player of the international period is fair enough, but some of the nominations seemed to carry some tokenism about them.

Commentator Andrew Voss blasted the situation on SEN radio on Friday morning, saying: "The Golden Boot is now a participation award. I make no apologies for saying this. Taane Milne for Fiji, Esan Marsters for Cook Islands have been nominated. The premise is the best player in the world. You don't have to put everyone in. It's a farce."

International Rugby League Chair Troy Grant said on Thursday: “International rugby league has never been more competitive, and this is reflected by the players in contention for the IRL 2024 Golden Boot. In the past month, international rugby league has been played at the highest level in Australia, England, Fiji, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea before big crowds and large television audiences.

“The passion of the players to represent their nations and cultures has been on full display and this has ensured some great matches headlined by last weekend’s Tonga-New Zealand clash. Tonga are in their first final of a major tournament and it is fitting to have Jason Taumalolo among the players in contention for the Golden Boot given what he has done for the international game."

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Tonga out to shock Australia in Pacific Championship final

Luai, Tuivasa-Sheck, Fonua-Blake, Taumalolo and Olakau’atu are all among those in line to become the first player from a pacific nation to win the gong. And a Tonga win over the Kangaroos in Sunday's Pacific Championship final would go a long way to making sure it eventuates.

"This is probably the biggest game that Tonga has ever played in. All the boys are aware of it and we're just pinching ourselves," Fonua-Blake said on Thursday. "This is more than just a game for me.

"This represents what my family came to Australia for, they came here for a better life and I'm the one reaping the rewards for all their hard work and all their sacrifices. I'm just happy that I get to repay them and show them it was the right decision."