ENGLAND star Rob Hawkins still believes he can get even better after making a remarkable piece of Golden Boot history.
In winning the wheelchair version of the award for the second year running, Hawkins has become the first player to ever secure back-to-back Golden Boots.
He has joined Andrew Johns, Darren Lockyer and Cameron Smith, all greats of the men’s game, as two-time winners and trails only Johnathan Thurston’s record of three.
Hawkins, a World Cup winner in 2022, scored five tries in England’s two-match Ashes series against Australia down under.
That helped him see off competition from international team-mates Jack Brown and Nathan Collins, Australia pair Bayley McKenna and Zac Schumacher, plus Ireland’s Joe Calcott.
“I’m proud to know that I’m a history-maker by being the first ever back-to-back Golden Boot winner,” said the 23-year-old, who also enjoyed a treble-winning domestic season with Halifax Panthers.
“I pride myself on being in the conversation for the best in the world, but it’s difficult to say (who is).
”I’d love to be the best in the game, but it’s one of those debates, you won’t get a solid answer.
“I’m just happy with my performances at the minute, at a young age, and I know that I can improve further.”
Hawkins credits club-and-country team-mate Brown as one of the two greatest influences on his career, alongside Panthers player-coach Wayne Boardman, and the motivation to keep growing comes from within that team.
”At Halifax we have a healthy competition against each other,” added Hawkins.
”We all want to be better. We’re all chasing each other. I love the boys at Fax, I think of them as brothers.
“Just being the best at Halifax is a challenge but as long as we’re all going out there and winning trophies, I’m happy with that.”
The men’s and women’s awards both went to Australians, with Kangaroos hooker Harry Grant recognised following an Ashes whitewash over England and Jillaroos winger Julia Robinson a unanimous choice from the expert judges after their Pacific Cup success.
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 backpedalling 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.
”Julia confirmed her status as one of the truly great outside backs of the women’s game with standout performances against England in Las Vegas, Samoa at Suncorp Stadium and New Zealand at Eden Park and in the Pacific Cup final at CommBank Stadium.
”Rob knows how to produce the big moments when they matter and he was sensational for England in a closely fought Ashes series against the Wheelaroos.
“In the end, it was the experience of the world champions and the skill, speed and ability of players like Rob that proved the difference.”