New Zealand rugby league celebrated a historic international double act on Thursday night as Kalyn Ponga and Stacey Waaka secured the prestigious men’s and women’s Golden Boot awards at Suncorp Stadium ahead of the World Cup finals.
Fantasy & Market Impact
- Ponga’s Value Surge: Following his recovery from a broken arm and dominant Test displays, Newcastle’s fullback claimed the Golden Boot award.
- World Cup Final Stakes: With Golden Boot honors awarded before Sunday’s final, debate surrounds the announcement timing.
The Miracle Recovery Behind Ponga’s Triumph
Kalyn Ponga secured the men’s 2026 Golden Boot after two breathtaking World Cup performances at fullback, edging out Cup final counterpart Reece Walsh, Samoa powerhouse Francis Manuleleua, Tonga centre Robert Toia, and Kiwi centre Casey McLean, 1News reported. The award recognizes feats in their debut tournaments for their national teams.
“I definitely made the right choice and I knew that from the moment I made it.”
said Kalyn Ponga, after receiving the award from his father Andre, as noted by NRL.com.
The fullback suffered a broken arm during the opening World Cup fixture against Australia, playing on for 20 minutes before leaving the field in the 70th minute of a tight 24-20 defeat. He returned 23 days later after a miracle recovery to earn player-of-the-match honors in a 34-10 thrashing of Tonga.
| Golden Boot Recipient | National Team | Position | Tournament Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalyn Ponga | New Zealand Kiwis | Fullback | Returned from broken arm to inspire semi-final victory |
| Stacey Waaka | Kiwi Ferns | Centre | Scored nine tries across four matches |
| Rob Hawkins | England | Wheelchair | Won third successive Golden Boot award |
Waaka’s Remarkable Cross-Code Transition
To cap off a massive night for New Zealand rugby league, Kiwi Ferns centre Stacey Waaka picked up the women’s award, according to the NZ Herald. The 31-year-old only switched to league in 2024 following a trophy-laden decade in rugby union that featured two Olympic gold medals in sevens, a Commonwealth Games gold, and two 15-a-side World Cup titles.
Waaka scored nine tries in four matches during the tournament, featuring a standout hat-trick and four try assists in a 32-0 semi-final demolition of Samoa. She becomes the third New Zealand woman to claim the honor since its inception in 2018, following Raecene McGregor in 2022 and Georgia Hale in 2023.
“I have never been in front of that haka and it hit me. It got me good.”
“I am not an emotional person, but they nearly got tears out of me. I am super proud to have them by my side.” Stacey Waaka said reflecting on the traditional tribute performed by her Kiwi Ferns teammates, as reported by 1News.
Controversy Over Timing and Global Recognition
The decision to hand out the Golden Boot awards on Thursday night—just three days before Sunday’s World Cup finals at Suncorp Stadium where New Zealand and Australia clash in both men’s and women’s brackets—drew sharp criticism. Yahoo News Australia detailed complaints from figures like Shane Flanagan, who called the scheduling “crazy” because it discounted performances in the ultimate fixture.
Meanwhile, in the wheelchair division, England’s Rob Hawkins claimed the Golden Boot for the third year, becoming only the second player in rugby league history alongside Johnathan Thurston to win the award three times, as detailed by BBC Sport. Hawkins secured the honor ahead of Friday’s final between England and France in Wollongong.
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