Golden Boot 2006: Lockyer tipped to win

[DeeGan]

Golden Boot: Lockyer tipped to win

Snippet from the SMH.com.au

Tonight in Sydney he is set to be named winner of the 2006 Gillette Golden Boot award presented annually to the player voted the world's best by the rugby league media in Australia, England, New Zealand and France.

Former Australia, Queensland and Broncos skipper Wally Lewis, Lockyer's boyhood hero, was the inaugural winner in 1985 with Brett Kenny, Ellery Hanley, Mal Meninga, Andrew Johns, Brad Fittler, Stacey Jones, Anthony Minichiello and Andy Farrell among the other award winners.

Lockyer won in 2003.

This is a no contest - the best player in the world today is Darren Lockyer and it is most fitting that he wins the award for the second time which will put him in elite company.

[SpRiNgWoOd]

1ST Lockyer

2Nd Daylight

[DIEHARD]

Australian captain Darren Lockyer is the favourite to win the Gillette Golden Boot award as the world's best player at a function in Sydney tonight.

With the Tri-Nations tournament being played in Australia and New Zealand, the awards presentation is being held outside of Britain for the first time since Wally Lewis was crowned the inaugural winner in 1985.

Lockyer previously had the honour bestowed upon him in 2003, while Andrew Johns, Brad Fittler, Stacey Jones, Mal Meninga, Ellery Hanley and Peter Sterling are other past winners.

A world XIII and coach of the year will also be announced, while Greg Inglis is expected to be named the best international newcomer.

Source: SMH

[~Wild Child~]

Go Locky..he deserves this title

[DIEHARD]

Come on Locky, he has to be absolute favourite for the title. I can not even think of any rivals...

What a year it would be for Darren if he wins the Golden Boot an the Tri Nations.

Brisbane Broncos Premiership 2006
Queensland State of Origin series victory
Captaining Australia to reclaming the Tri Nations trophy *
Golden Boot winner *

And then the final part....thrashing St Helens in the World Club Challenge in 2007.

Too bad he didn't win the Dally M!

[~Wild Child~]

Come on Locky, he has to be absolute favourite for the title. I can not even think of any rivals...

What a year it would be for Darren if he wins the Golden Boot an the Tri Nations.

Brisbane Broncos Premiership 2006
Queensland State of Origin series victory
Captaining Australia to reclaming the Tri Nations trophy *
Golden Boot winner *

And then the final part....thrashing St Helens in the World Club Challenge in 2007.

Too bad he didn't win the Dally M!

Woot..Could'nt agree more

[Casey's Angel27]

Wow go lockyer...

And inglis for newcomer... he's such a good player

[DIEHARD]

Any tips for the World XIII?

Do any other nations players even stack up to the Kangaroos? haha

Any tips for emerging nation talent?

You couldn't really name any Lions who deserve to be in the World XIII. What about the Kiwis?

Shouldn't this topic be in the international section?

[Grimmace]

well i think James Roby has had a far better series than what smith has even on saturdays game aprt from that you could only put aussies and kiwis in the world XIII.

Congrats to lockyer though he has truly deserved this award this year but i bet the media will still come out next year and say the broncos are too old and too slow like the broken record they are.

[Robbie_Dee]

How Ironic! Lockyer winning the golden boot awards while wearing his golden boots! :lol!:

He and only he deserves to get it! Easily the best player in our game today!

[DIEHARD]

Lockyer Wins Second Golden Boot

Australian Skipper Darren Lockyer has become the second player to win two Gillette International Rugby League Player of the Year ? Golden Boot Awards.

Lockyer joins Andrew Johns as the only other to have claimed the award twice since its inception in 1985.

Darren was also named the Gillette International Rugby league Back of the Year, while his team mate Greg Inglis was named the Gillette International Rugby League Newcomer of the Year.

The first ever Gillette International Rugby League Awards night held in Australia brought together current stars of the Tri Nations series as well as former Golden Boot winners including Johns, Wally Lewis, Garry Jack, Brett Kenny, Peter Sterling Brad Fittler, Stacey Jones and Anthony Minichiello.

While Australia scored the ?Golden Boot?, there was recognition too for their opponents in Saturday night?s Tri Nations Final with Kiwi Coach Brian McClennan named Gillette International Rugby League Coach of the Year.

Great Britain skipper Jamie Pea**** was named the Gillette International Forward of the Year.

Australian born, but English based referee, Ashley Klein, was named the Gillette International Referee of the Year.

The Gillette Developing Nations Rugby League Player of the Year Award went to Wes Naiqama for his performances which were instrumental in Fiji qualifying for the 2008 World Cup.

The Full list of winners in the 2006 International Rugby League Awards are as follows:

Referee of the Year: Ashley Klein, Great Britain

Developing Nations Player of the Year: Wes Naiqama, Fiji

Coach of the Year: Brian McClennan, New Zealand

New Comer of the Year: Greg Inglis, Australia

Back of the Year: Darren Lockyer, Australia

Forward of the Year: James Pea****, Great Britain

Golden Boot Winner: Darren Lockyer, Australia

The Golden Boot Honour Roll is:

1985 Wally Lewis

1986 Brett Kenny

1987 Garry Jack

1988 Hugh McGahan/Peter Sterling

1989 Ellery Hanley

1990 Mal Meninga

1991-98 no award given

1999 Andrew Johns

2000 Brad Fittler

2001 Andrew Johns

2002 Stacey Jones

2003 Darren Lockyer

2004 Andy Farrell

2005 Anthony Minichiello

2006 Darren Lockyer

Source: NRL

[DIEHARD]

Lockyer named RL Player of Year - again

Australian captain Darren Lockyer has added individual glory to captaincy and team success by becoming only the second player to win the Golden Boot award for the International Rugby League Player of the Year.

The Australian, Queensland and Brisbane Broncos captain and five-eighth emulated his 2003 achievement and joined Australian halfback Andrew Johns (1999 and 2001) as the only dual winner of the code's most prestigious international individual award.

Lockyer, who also won the Back of the Year trophy, has already led Brisbane to an NRL title and Queensland to a State of Origin series victory over NSW in 2006.

Leading Australia to a Tri Nations final win over New Zealand in Sydney on the weekend would give him a treble of captaincy success at club, interstate and international level only previously achieved by one other Australian, halfback Allan Langer.

"At the start of the year, I probably could only dream of that (treble), now it's within reach," Lockyer said.

The fullback-turned-five-eighth rated it one of his best years as he silenced any remaining knockers over his transition to the pivot position.

"I think as a captain it's obviously been my best year, I finished off the year strongly as well," Lockyer said after receiving the Golden Boot at Sydney's Hilton Hotel.

Lockyer noted the list of previous winners of the Golden Boot included some of his idols as a schoolboy, including legendary Brisbane, Queensland and Kangaroos five-eighth Wally Lewis, who was among the guests at the awards ceremony.

"My fondest memories of those players are in the green and gold, watching them early in the morning on Kangaroo tours and they were true champions of the game, but Wally (Lewis) stood out for me," Lockyer said.

He felt Australia needed to step up a notch to beat New Zealand in Sydney this weekend but turned coy when asked which areas his team needed to improve in.

"There are small areas in our game, but I don't want to give too much of that away, obviously there's things we'd like to do better and we will be working hard this week to make sure we do that."

Australia has won all three of its tussles against New Zealand this year, but Lockyer felt the Kiwis' form had improved since their last narrow loss to the Kangaroos.

New Zealand and Great Britain were also among the award winners, with Brit skipper Jamie Pea**** named the International Forward of the Year and Kiwi Brian McClennan taking out Coach of the Year.

Australian-born England-based Ashley Klein was named the International Referee of the Year.

Outstanding Australian back Greg Inglis took out the International Rugby League Newcomer of the Year.

There was some good news for Wes Naiqama, who took out the Developing Nations Player of the Year trophy.

Naiqama, who was pictured getting into a car and sitting in the vehicle's driver seat despite being suspended from driving until 2013, was not present to accept his award.

Source: NRL

[DIEHARD]

What the hell?

Don't they do a World XIII anymore?

[Grimmace]

I dont think so DIEHARD but we can do our own anyway.

[~Wild Child~]

Congratulations Locky urdy: Well deserved..he has worked hard to take out this honour.