Wheelaroos duo nominated for Golden Boot

Wheelaroos stars Bayley McKenna and Zac Schumacher are among 14 players from seven nations in contention for the 2024 IRL Golden Boot.

McKenna and Schumacher were nominated for the prestigious award after starring in the first trans-Tasman series against New Zealand, which coincided with the Pacific Championships.

McKenna scored a record 44-point haul for the Wheelaroos in the series opener, which was the international debut of the Wheel Kiwis, while New Zealand-born Schumacher was player-of-the-match in the second game.

England’s Josh Butler is in contention to add the 2024 IRL Golden Boot to his Wheels of Steel award as Super League Wheelchair player of the year.

Butler is vying for the Golden Boot with England team-mates Nathan Collins, Joe Coyd and Rob Hawkins, as well as players from Australia, France, Ireland, Scotland, Spain and Wales.

Nicolas Clausells, who scored 28 points in France’s gripping 32-28 defeat of England last weekend to regain the Fassolette-Kielty Trophy, is one of three Frenchman on the Golden Boot long list.

The others are Catalans team-mates Damien Dore and Leo Hivernat, who along with Clausells will be hoping to keep the Golden Boot in French hands after Jeremy Bourson won the 2023 award.

Ireland have been recognised for their triumph in the Celtic Cup against Wales and Scotland, as well as last week’s match against France, with the nominations of Joseph Calcott and Peter Johnston.

Wales, who became the first international rugby league wheelchair team to tour the United States earlier this year, are represented by Scott Trigg-Turner.

Scotland’s Callum Davidson has also made the long list, along with Yannick Martin of Spain.

IRL Chair Troy Grant said: “Wheelchair Rugby League is continuing to go from strength to strength and that is reflected in the field of players under consideration for the 2024 IRL Golden Boot.

“This year international wheelchair fixtures have been played for the first time in the United States and New Zealand.

“For the United States the series against Wales built on their debut at RLWC2021, while the two matches against Australia was the first time New Zealand had been represented in Wheelchair Rugby League.

“These developments are significant as the game builds towards the next World Cup in 2026, to be hosted by the Australian Rugby League Commission.

“In addition, France recently played host for matches involving England, Ireland and Spain. The finale last Sunday between France and England the French was a clash that revived memories of the epic 2021 World Cup final in Manchester.

“Elsewhere, Ireland hosted the Celtic Cup for the first time in the 10-year history of the tournament between Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

“Ireland’s win ended seven years of Celtic Cup domination by Wales.

“On behalf of the IRL Board, I congratulate the players nominated for the 2024 IRL Golden Boot and all those whose efforts have helped expand the wheelchair game across the globe.”