Kangaroos star breaks seven-year drought for Aussies by winning Golden Boot

Isaah Yeo has become the first Australian player in seven years to win the Golden Boot award as international rugby league’s best player.

Penrith lock Yeo assumed the Kangaroos captaincy for the Pacific Championships in a transition period for the national team that saw veterans Jake Trbojevic, James Tedesco and Daly Cherry-Evans snubbed for selection.

Under Yeo’s guidance, the side defeated Tonga in the Pacific Cup final to exorcise any remaining demons from their loss to New Zealand in the 2023 decider.

Yeo is the first Australian player since Cameron Smith in 2017 to win the Golden Boot award – though no award was given in 2020 and 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

New Zealand captain and Yeo’s former Panthers teammate James Fisher-Harris had been the incumbent Golden Boot recipient.

International rugby league legends Darren Lockyer, James Graham and Petero Civoniceva selected Yeo from a shortlist that also included Australia teammates Harry Grant and Tom Trbojevic, Tonga captain Addin Fonua-Blake, recent New Zealand debutant Keano Kini and English centre Herbie Farnworth.

Fonua-Blake, the heart and soul of Tonga’s fairytale push to the Pacific Cup final, had been vying to become the first player to win the award representing a tier-two nation.

Dolphins centre Farnworth had also been considered a strong chance after a stellar campaign in England’s Test series against Samoa.

Isaah Yeo holds aloft the Pacific Championships trophy. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

The award caps a fantastic season for Yeo, who won a fourth consecutive NRL premiership with Penrith and was named Dally M Lock of the Year for the fourth time in five years.

Yeo was also vice-captain of the NSW team that claimed a memorable 2-1 series win in this year’s State of Origin series.

“On behalf of the IRL Board, I wish to congratulate Isaah Yeo for his wonderful season at NRL, Origin and international level, culminating with the 2024 IRL Golden Boot,” said international rugby league chair Tony Grant.

“Isaah’s performances and leadership for the Kangaroos gave him the edge and his name will now be added to the list of greats who have won the Golden Boot in the 40 years since it was first awarded to Wally Lewis.”