True Blue and Australian Kangaroos captain Isaah Yeo has won this year’s IRL Golden Boot award becoming the seventh NSW Origin player to win the prestigious Rugby League trophy.
Yeo, who captained the Kangaroos for the first time this year as they claimed the Pacific Cup from New Zealand Kiwis, was joined by fellow True Blue Tom Trbojevic on the short-list of six players for the honour.
Yeo has become the first Australian player to win the Golden Boot since Cameron Smith in 2017 and the first NSW player since Anthony Minichiello in 2005.
The other True Blues to win the award are Brett Kenny (1985), Garry Jack (1986), Peter Sterling (1987), Andrew Johns (1999, 2001), and Brad Fittler (2000).
The award, acknowledging 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, the Westpac NSW Blues claiming the Ampol State of Origin series 2-1 and the Kangaroos beating Tonga in the Pacific Cup final.
Yeo’s win has special significance for the Penrith Panthers as last year’s winner was former club teammate and current New Zealand captain James Fisher-Harris, who is joining the Warriors in 2025.
IRL Chair Troy Grant said: “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.”
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga said: "Isaah is a very impressive person, a great leader and a great communicator, as well as a really skilful footballer.”
Earlier the IRL announced Rob Hawkins (England) and Jillaroos and Maroons halfback Tarryn Aiken as the 2024 wheelchair and women's Golden Boot winners respectively.
Yeo and Aiken will be presented with their awards on Friday 13 December in the Museum at Rugby League Central in Sydney.
