Kalyn Ponga has won the 2026 International Rugby League Golden Boot, capping a remarkable first campaign for the Kiwis, while Kiwi Ferns star Stacey Waaka took out the women’s award to complete a New Zealand double.
The pair received their awards at a function at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Thursday night, AAP reported, three days before both play Australia in the men’s and women’s Rugby League World Cup finals at the same ground on Sunday.
The Golden Boot recognises the best international player of the year. This year’s awards don’t take into account Sunday’s finals.
Ponga’s comeback
Ponga, who led Newcastle to the NRL grand final, made an immediate impact on his Kiwis debut in the World Cup opener against Australia. He scored two tries, made two line breaks and ran for 254 metres, according to New Zealand Rugby League.
A broken arm forced him off early in that match and he needed immediate surgery, missing the pool games against the Cook Islands and Fiji.
Read more: Kalyn Ponga Needs Surgery on Broken Arm After Kiwis Debut
Just three weeks after surgery, he returned for the semi-final against Tonga and was named Player of the Match. He set up three tries, ran for 198 metres and made several try-saving tackles as the Kiwis reached their first World Cup final since 2013.
The ABC reported Ponga beat a shortlist that included his opposite number in Sunday’s final, Kangaroos fullback Reece Walsh, as well as Samoa’s Francis Manulelua, Tonga centre Robert Toia and Kiwis centre Casey McLean.
Waaka’s try-scoring tournament
Waaka, a cross-code star, scored nine tries in 10 NRLW appearances for the Warriors this season, the ABC reported. She has added nine more in four World Cup matches, including hat-tricks against France and Samoa, and was twice named Player of the Match.
The Kiwi Ferns are unbeaten at the tournament and are chasing their first World Cup title since 2008.
Read more: Kangaroos Team Unchanged for World Cup Final Against Kiwis
Ponga and Waaka are the first New Zealand winners since 2023, when James Fisher-Harris and Georgia Hale took out the awards.
England’s Rob Hawkins won the wheelchair Golden Boot ahead of Friday night’s wheelchair World Cup final against France in Wollongong.
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