James Fisher-Harris, Georgia Hale, and Jérémy Bourson won the 2023 Golden Boot, making international rugby league history.
Kiwis captain Fisher-Harris (Ngāpuhi) had a successful 2023, winning his third NRL Premiership with the Penrith Panthers and leading his team to a Pacific Cup medal.
His leadership with the Kiwis was crucial in the Pacific Cup final, when they defeated trans-Tasman foes the Kangaroos 30-0, the largest victory over Australia to date.
JFH’s victory gives him the first prop in almost 40 years of Golden Boot history, joining the likes of previous Kiwi winners Stacey Jones, Benji Marshall, Shaun Johnson, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and
Joseph Manu—all of whom paid respect to the sixth Kiwi Golden Boot winner.Kiwis coach Michael Maguire praised Fisher-Harris at a news conference, saying, “I can’t think of a better bloke to take out such a prestigious award”.
“In our time together, throughout the years, I’ve seen you progress from a young player to winning grand finals and now guiding the Kiwis to an impressive triumph over Australia, making history.
“You led right from the start, from the moment you entered into the month-long campaign that we had together. You’re an incredible champion in the way you approach things, and there are many reasons why you’re so successful in rugby league.”
Given the talent on the men’s shortlist, including Kiwis teammate Joseph Tapine, Australian dynamo Payne Haas, and English league halfback Harry Smith, Fisher-Harris’ victory adds not just to his impressive resume, but also to New Zealand rugby league history.
Although the women’s roll of honor is brief, stretching only to 2018, Georgia Hale’s win is New Zealand’s second in a row, following Raecene McGregor in 2022.
Hale was also the first forward to win the Golden Boot.
“I don’t think.”This award could go to a player more deserving than Georgia,” Kiwi Ferns coach Ricky Henry stated. “She is a professional both on and off the field.”
“Georgia does the things other players don’t want to do on the footy field; the things that people don’t get rewarded for or recognised for.”
Hale, who led her team to a hard-fought 12-6 victory over the Jillaroos in this year’s Pacific Cup, defeated opposition fullbacks Tamika Upton and Apii Nicholls, as well as teammate Mele Hufanga, in the final.
The Golden Boot summarizes an extremely busy 2023 in which the 28-year-old lock competed in the UK’s women’s Super League and the NRLW, helping the Kiwi Ferns win their first game against the Jillaroos since 2016 and the Gold Coast Titans win their first grand final as a team.
She was also co-captain of the Kiwi Ferns with Raecene McGregor.
Jérémy Bourson, the wheelchair Golden Boot winner, is the first French player to win a Golden Boot in any of the three league categories.
