Rob Hawkins makes Golden Boot history as Ponga and Waaka win awards

Rob Hawkins has become the first rugby league player to win three consecutive Golden Boot awards, while New Zealand's Kalyn Ponga and Stacey Waaka have taken the men's and women's honours. BBC Sport reported that the International Rugby League winners were announced in Brisbane, with England's Hawkins retaining the wheelchair award.

Hawkins, 25, is only the second player to collect the award three times, following Australia's Johnathan Thurston, according to the BBC. His latest recognition comes during a World Cup campaign in which he has scored 19 tries for England. Five came in Tuesday's 86-28 semi-final victory over Australia, which secured England another meeting with France in the final.

The wheelchair shortlist also included England team-mate Joe Coyd, France's Jeremy Bourson, Nicolas Clausells and Dany Denuwelaere, Ireland captain Joe Calcott and Australians Bayley McKenna and Adam Tannock. England coach Tom Coyd praised Hawkins' grounded approach and sustained standards. The IRL's awards announcement criteria specify performances in sanctioned international matches, rather than club competitions, as the basis for the Golden Boot.

New Zealand Rugby League said Ponga and Waaka had both made their national-team debuts during this World Cup campaign. Ponga scored twice against Australia in the opening match before a broken arm required surgery and ruled him out of the remaining pool games. He returned against Tonga in the semi-final, recording three try assists and 198 running metres to earn player-of-the-match recognition.

Waaka has played every match of the Kiwi Ferns' campaign, appearing on the wing and at centre. NZRL credited her with nine tries and four try assists across four games, including hat-tricks against France and Samoa. She was named player of the match against Fiji and Samoa as New Zealand progressed unbeaten to a seventh consecutive World Cup final.

The governing body said the pair were New Zealand's first Golden Boot winners since James Fisher-Harris and Georgia Hale took the awards in 2023. Their performances have helped both national teams reach this year's finals against Australia, with the men returning to the decider for the first time since 2013.