New Zealand might have missed out on the men's World Cup final but Kiwi superstar Joseph Manu has earned a fair consolation prize after he was named the men's Golden Boot winner for international player of the year.
It was a banner evening for New Zealand, with halfback Raecene McGregor taking home the women's award while England's Sebastien Bechara claimed the wheelchair award.
It was a fitting reward for Manu, who was superb in each of the Kiwis' matches through the tournament as well as their mid-season Test victory over Tonga.
"It's definitely special. I'm truly honoured. Coming over here I didn't really think about it, I was more focused on winning the World Cup but that didn't happen for us," Manu said.
"Just playing the game is what I love to do, ever since a young age I've been playing rugby league and that's what I enjoy doing – playing with my best mates every weekend.
"That's what paid off the most, playing for my nation, my country, representing my family. I'm proud to be from New Zealand. They always stick with me."
The star of New Zealand's run to the semifinals, where they were narrowly beaten by the Kangaroos, Manu outpointed Australia's Josh Addo-Carr, Samoa's Jarome Luai and England pair George Williams and Victor Radley to win the prestigious award.
The quintet were all named to the men's team of the tournament alongside Papua New Guinea's Edwin Ipape and Samoa's Stephen Crichton, Brian To'o, Junior Paulo and Tim Lafai. Addo-Carr was joined in the side by teammates Liam Martin, Cameron Murray and Harry Grant.
McGregor still up for the Cup
McGregor's World Cup dream is still alive with the Kiwi Ferns to take on Australia in Sunday morning's (AEDT) final.
She is the first New Zealand winner of the award, which has previously been won by Australians Isabelle Kelly and Jess Sergis.
A scintillating World Cup edged the Dally M winner in front of Papua New Guinea's Elsie Albert, Australia's Tarryn Aiken, England's Courtney Winfield-Hill and New Zealand teammate Amber Hall.
"I'm really honoured to receive this award but I wouldn't have done it without the girls around me," McGregor said.
"We're all really excited to make the final and run out on that historic field.
"I don't have any doubt in my mind we can beat Australia. As long as we stick to our processes, go up the middle and execute on the edge we can win."
Old rivals in wheelchair final
Bechara shapes as a key player for the English against France in Saturday morning's (AEDT) wheelchair final in a rematch of their clash in the 2017 decider.
"It's been the biggest rivalry in wheelchair rugby league forever," Bechara said.
"You can expect a very tight game and either team can win because it's the best two teams in the world and anything could happen on that day."
Formerly awarded to the best player in the world, since 2018 the Golden Boot has been given to the player judged best in that year's Test matches.
Previous men's winners since the rebrand include New Zealand's Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and England's Tommy Makinson.
RLWC teams of the tournament
Women |
Men |
Wheelchair |
|
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Apii Nicholls (NZ) |
Joseph Manu (NZ) |
Lionel Alazard (FRA) |
2 |
Tara Jane Stanley (ENG) |
Brian To'o (SAM) |
Seb Bechara (ENG) |
3 |
Mele Hufanga (NZ) |
Tim Lafai (SAM) |
Jeremy Bourson (FRA) |
4 |
Isabelle Kelly (AUS) |
Stephen Crichton (SAM) |
Jack Brown (ENG) |
5 |
Evania Pelite (AUS) |
Josh Addo-Carr (AUS) |
Nicholas Clausells (FRA) |
6 |
Tarryn Aiken (AUS) |
Jarome Luai (SAM) |
Joe Coyd (ENG) |
7 |
Raecene McGregor (NZ) |
George Williams (ENG) |
Theo Gonzalez (ESP) |
8 |
Elsie Albert (PNG) |
Tom Burgess (ENG) |
MacKenzie Johnson (USA) |
9 |
Lauren Brown (AUS) |
Edwin Ipape (PNG) |
Bayley McKenna (AUS) |
10 |
Vicky Whitfield (ENG) |
Junior Paulo (SAM) |
Stuart Williams (WAL) |
11 |
Vicky Molyneux (ENG) |
Cameron Murray (AUS) |
|
12 |
Amber Hall (NZ) |
Liam Martin (AUS) |
|
13 |
Megan Pakulis (CAN) |
Victor Radley (ENG) |
|
14 |
Franciny Amaral (BRA) |
Harry Grant (AUS) |
|
15 |
Courtney Winfield-Hill (ENG) |
Sunia Turuva (FIJ) |
|
16 |
Emma Tonegato (AUS) |
Keaon Koloamatangi (TON) |
|
17 |
Annetta Nu’uausala (NZ) |
James Fisher-Harris (NZ) |
