RTS wins Golden Boot, as Jessica Sergis wins women’s award

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Jessica Sergis have won the men’s and women’s Golden Boot awards as the best international players of 2019.

Tuivasa-Sheck, the Kiwis and Warriors fullback, edged out Tonga prop Siosiua Taukeiaho and New Zealand team-mate Jared Waeraa-Hargreaves, the Sydney Roosters front-row pairing, while Sergis beat Jillaroos halfback Ai Brigginshaw and England captain Emily Rudge for the honour.

After a 12-month absence from the international scene, Tuivasa-Sheck returned in style to help the Kiwis to a 34-14 defeat of Tonga in the mid-season Oceania Cup Test and a 2-0 series triumph against Great Britain.

The 2018 Dally M Medalist also performed strongly in New Zealand’s 26-4 loss to Australia, running 167 metres with the ball and setting up his side’s only try, which was scored by centre Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.

Tuivasa-Sheck ran a game-high 234 metres in New Zealand’s 12-8 first Test defeat of the touring Lions at Eden Park and his 201 metres was also the most by any player in last week’s 23-8 second Test win in Christchurch.

The 26-year-old is just the fifth Kiwi to win the Golden Boot since the inception of the award in 1984 by Britain’s Open Rugby magazine, joining Hugh McGahan (1987), Stacey Jones (2002), Benji Marshall (2010) and Shaun Johnson (2014).

Sonny Bill Williams also won the 2013 International Player of the Year award, which has been replaced by the Golden Boot after the IRL took control of the award from Rugby League World magazine.

The criteria for selection was as follows:

The Golden Boot is awarded to the best international player of the year;
Players were considered for their performances in any and all sanctioned international matches, not including the World Cup 9s, and;
The period under consideration included last year’s final Test between England and New Zealand, which was played after the 2018 Golden Boot awarded, through to the 2021 World Cup qualifier between USA v Cook Islands.
Tuivasa-Sheck also becomes the fifth fullback to win the Golden Boot and the first since Billy Slater in 2008. Garry Jack (1986), Darren Lockyer (2003) and Anthony Minichiello (2005) are the other fullbacks to have received the award.

The decision of the international judging panel to award the Golden Boot to Tuivasa-Sheck means a front-rower is still yet to receive the honour, but Taukeiaho only missed out by the narrowest of margins.

Taukeiaho carried the ball 254 metres in Tonga’s historic 14-6 defeat of Great Britain in Hamilton and also made 43 tackles, while he ran for 183 metres in the stunning 16-12 win against the Kangaroos at Eden Park.

Waerea-Hargreaves has consistently been New Zealand’s best forward in the past two seasons under the coaching of Michael Maguire and his performances were acknowledged with selection on the final short-list of three.

Other players under consideration included Kangaroos hooker Damien Cook and prop Payne Haas, Tonga five-eighth Tui Lolohea and Great Britain forward John Bateman.

Meanwhile, the awarding of the Golden Boot to Sergis reinforces her standing as the best female player in the game after winning the Dally M Medal and the RLPA’s Players’ Champion awards as the NRLW player of the year for her performances with St George Illawarra.

The 22-year-old centre starred in Australia’s 28-8 defeat of the Kiwi Ferns at WIN Stadium, scoring a try and making three line breaks as the New Zealand defence struggled to contain her.

Fellow Jillaroos centre Isabelle Kelly was last year’s inaugural female Golden Boot winner.

The Golden Boot honour roll
Men’s winners
2019 – Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (New Zealand)
2018 – Tommy Makinson (England)
2017 – Cameron Smith (Australia)
2016 – Cooper Cronk (Australia)
2015 – Johnathan Thurston (Australia)
2014 – Shaun Johnson (New Zealand)
2013 – Johnathan Thurston (Australia)
2012 – Kevin Sinfield (England)
2011 – Johnathan Thurston (Australia)
2010 – Benji Marshall (New Zealand)
2009 – Greg Inglis (Australia)
2008 – Billy Slater (Australia)
2007 – Cameron Smith (Australia)
2006 – Darren Lockyer (Australia)
2005 – Anthony Minichiello (Australia)
2004 – Andy Farrell (England)
2003 – Darren Lockyer (Australia)
2002 – Stacey Jones (New Zealand)
2001 – Andrew Johns (Australia)
2000 – Brad Fittler (Australia)
1999 – Andrew Johns (Australia)
1991-98 – No award given
1990 – Garry Schofield (England)
1989 – Mal Meninga (Australia)
1988 – Ellery Hanley (England)
1987 – Hugh McGahan (New Zealand)/Peter Sterling (Australia)
1986 – Garry Jack (Australia)
1985 – Brett Kenny (Australia)
1984 – Wally Lewis (Australia)

Women’s winners
2019 – Jessica Sergis (Australia)
2018 – Isabelle Kelly (Australia)