Leadership, skill, decision making: Yeo ends Aussie Golden Boot drought

Isaah Yeo has become the first Australian player to win the IRL Golden Boot in seven years and the Kangaroos captain created further history after assuming the award from Panthers team-mate and Kiwis counterpart James Fisher-Harris.

Yeo, who captained the Kangaroos for the first time as they claimed the Pacific Cup from New Zealand, edged out England centre Herbie Farnworth and Australian team-mate Tom Trbojevic by the narrowest of margins in voting for the 2024 IRL Golden Boot.

The award, as the international player of the year, caps the most successful season of the 30-year-old’s career, with Penrith winning a fourth consecutive NRL premiership, NSW triumphing in State of Origin and the Kangaroos beating Tonga in the Pacific Cup final.

The ball-playing lock is also the first Australian to receive the Golden Boot since former Kangaroos captain Cameron Smith in 2017. Smith also won the award in 2007.

Yeo’s win ensures a unique place in the 40-year history of the award for himself and Fisher-Harris, the New Zealand captain, whom he has played alongside at the Panthers since 2016 until this season, with the Kiwi prop returning home in 2025 to join the Warriors.

While Smith and Melbourne team-mates Billy Slater (2008) and Greg Inglis (2009) won the Golden Boot in consecutive years and he and Storm team-mate Cooper Cronk (2016) were back-to-back winners, it is the first time international rivals from the same club have won in successive seasons.

The men’s 2024 IRL Golden Boot was judged by Golden Cap recipients Darren Lockyer (Australia), James Graham (England) and Petero Civoniceva (Australia/Fiji), who are among just nine players to have played 50 internationals.

Lockyer played a record 63 Tests for Australia, captaining the Kangaroos on 38 occasions, and is a two-time winner of the Golden Boot in 2003 and 2006.

Graham made a record 44 international appearances for England, including eight as captain, and played a further nine matches for Great Britain.

Civoniceva played for Australia in 45 internationals before representing his Fijian heritage at the 2013 World Cup and again in 2014, making six appearances for the Bati.

IRL Chair Troy Grant said: “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.

“It underscores the current strength of international rugby league that no Australian had won the award since 2017 and the judges again faced a difficult decision as there were so many strong contenders.

“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.

“International Rugby League is privileged to have Golden Boot judges with the standing and experience of Darren Lockyer, James Graham and Petero Civoniceva, and I wish to thank them for their continued support of the international game.”

The IRL Golden Boot is awarded to the best player in sanctioned international matches each year and Yeo won the 2024 award after his performances in the Pacific Championships.

Since Smith won in 2017, the Golden Boot has been won by England winger Tommy Makinson and Kiwi stars Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (2018), Joey Manu (2022) and Fisher-Harris.

Yeo edged out Farnworth, who starred in England’s 2-0 series defeat of Toa Samoa, Trbojevic and Kangaroos hooker Harry Grant, Tongan prop Addin Fonua-Blake and Kiwis fullback Keano Kini.

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga praised Yeo's leadership, communication skills and decision making at the highest level.

"Isaah had a tremendous year all round, winning Origin, with his club and obviously with the Australian team, and I believe he thoroughly deserves to win the Golden Boot this year," Meninga said.

"He is a very impressive person, a great leader and a great communicator, as well as a really skilful footballer.

"He has got a really good skill set and one of the elements you want in a player at that level is decision making and he understands the game, the role he needs to play and his responsibility.

"He leads by example, and he is the type of leader you want in any team - at state, club or international level - so he would usually be one of the first players picked."  

The IRL has announced England wing Rob Hawkins and Jillaroos halfback Tarryn Aiken as the wheelchair and women's 2024 IRL Golden Boot winners.