On a Thursday night in Brisbane, two New Zealanders stood together to receive the sport's highest individual honours for the year, and in doing so the rugby league world paused to recognise players whose first seasons in black had already rewritten the tournament's story. Kalyn Ponga and Stacey Waaka, each arriving on the international stage by a route few would have predicted, were honoured not for the final still to come on Sunday but for the work that carried their nations there. It is a reminder that awards often look backward even as the game moves forward toward its last, decisive contes
Ponga and Waaka Claim IRL Golden Boot Awards After Standout World Cup Campaigns
Broke his forearm, played on 20 minutes, and returned to win player of the match
Mark
Two debutants winning the game's top individual awards in the same year. Why does that stand out?
Mimi
Because neither was a long-time international. This was the first time either pulled on a New Zealand jersey, and the awards recognise the tournament itself.
Luke
Worth noting that's partly because Test football was thin this year. The judging pool was small, so the World Cup carried most of the weight.
Mark
Ponga's story is unusual. He plays Origin for Queensland but chose the Kiwis.
Mimi
Eligibility rule changes made it possible. He never played for Australia, and he said he wanted to honour his Maori heritage, which he'd already done with the Maori All Stars.
Luke
The motive is the report's account of his reasoning, which is fine, but it is his stated reason, nothing more.
Mark
And the broken forearm?
Mimi
He kept playing about 20 minutes, left in the 70th minute of a 24-20 loss to Australia, then returned 23 days later and was player of the match against Tonga.
Luke
The 'miracle recovery' is a description, not a medical detail. We don't know what treatment he had.
Mark
Waaka comes from rugby union and sevens.
Mimi
Gold at two Olympics, a Commonwealth Games and a sevens World Cup, plus two 15-a-side World Cups. Then nine tries in four matches at centre here.
Luke
Impressive, and the awards exclude Sunday's finals, so the final could still change how this year is remembered.
O Pulso
- Ponga broke his forearm in the World Cup opener against Australia yet kept playing for twenty more minutes before leaving the field.
- Just twenty-three days later he returned from what was described as a miracle recovery and won player of the match against Tonga.
- Waaka's nine tries in four matches at centre pushed the Kiwi Ferns relentlessly into the World Cup final.
- With little Test football played this year, the judges leaned on the tournament, and both winners were chosen for their debut seasons.
- Sunday's finals in Brisbane will decide the World Cup as New Zealand and Australia meet in both the men's and women's deciders.
On a Thursday night in Brisbane, two New Zealanders stood together to receive the sport's highest individual honours for the year, and in doing so the rugby league world paused to recognise players whose first seasons in black had already rewritten the tournament's story. Kalyn Ponga and Stacey Waaka, each arriving on the international stage by a route few would have predicted, were honoured not for the final still to come on Sunday but for the work that carried their nations there. It is a reminder that awards often look backward even as the game moves forward toward its last, decisive contest.
On Thursday night at Suncorp Stadium, two New Zealanders collected the International Rugby League Golden Boot awards for 2026. Kalyn Ponga took the men's honour and Stacey Waaka the women's, both recognised for debut seasons that carried their national teams through a demanding World Cup. The judges could not look to much Test football this year, so they looked to the tournament.
Ponga, 28, beat a shortlist that included Reece Walsh, Francis Manulelua, Robert Toia and Casey McLean. He reached the Kiwis through a change in international eligibility that let him play for New Zealand while continuing with Queensland in State of Origin. He chose New Zealand to honour his Maori heritage. In the opening 24-20 loss to Australia he broke his forearm, played on for another 20 minutes, and then returned twenty-three days later to be named player of the match in a 34-10 semi-final win over Tonga.
Waaka arrives from rugby union, where she has won sevens gold at two Olympics, a Commonwealth Games and a World Cup, along with two 15-a-side World Cup titles. Her move to the NRLW with the Warriors has been striking, and at this tournament her nine tries from centre were a major reason the Ferns reached the final. Her coaches describe her as a quick, agile athlete who uses any space she is given.
The awards do not count Sunday's finals in Brisbane, where both New Zealand teams will try to add a World Cup to these honours against Australia.
On Thursday night at Suncorp Stadium, two New Zealanders stood together to collect the sport's highest individual honours for the year. Kalyn Ponga won the men's International Rugby League Golden Boot for 2026, and Stacey Waaka took the women's award, both of them present to receive their trophies at the function in Brisbane.
The awards go to the best international male and female player of the year, and they do not take into account Sunday's World Cup finals in Brisbane, where New Zealand and Australia meet in both the men's and women's deciders. With little Test football played this year, the judging leaned heavily on the tournament, and both winners were recognised for what they did in their first appearances for their national teams.
Ponga, 28, beat out a shortlist that included Reece Walsh, his counterpart at fullback in the men's final, along with Samoa's Francis Manulelua, Tonga centre Robert Toia and Kiwi centre Casey McLean. His path to the Kiwi jersey came through a change in international eligibility rules, which allowed him to represent tier one nation New Zealand while also playing State of Origin for Queensland. He never played for Australia. He wanted to link with the Kiwis to honour his Maori heritage, having previously played for the Maori All Stars.
His two games in black have been remarkable. In the World Cup opener, a 24-20 loss to Australia, he was on track for man of the match when he broke his forearm, then played on for another 20 minutes before leaving the field in the 70th minute. Twenty-three days later he was back after what the report calls a miracle recovery, and was named player of the match in a 34-10 semi-final win over Tonga.
Kiwis coach and club great Stacey Jones searched for words when asked about his fullback. Players like Ponga, he said with a grin, are ones you know are really good, but when they are in your team, you know? He added that Ponga has had a huge impact, and that coming back from a broken arm and slotting in the way he did last week was unbelievable.
Waaka arrives in rugby league with a résumé from another code. A legend of New Zealand rugby union, she has won sevens gold medals at two Olympic Games, one Commonwealth Games and one World Cup, plus two World Cup titles in the 15-a-side game. Her move to the NRLW with the Warriors has been breathtaking. At this tournament she scored nine tries in four matches playing centre, a major reason the Kiwi Ferns reached the final.
The source describes her as an incredible athlete with quick feet and great agility, someone who makes good use of any space she is given, having done so for a long time on the sevens circuit, and as the ultimate professional.
The wheelchair Golden Boot went to England's Rob Hawkins, ahead of Friday night's wheelchair final between England and France in Wollongong. Then comes Sunday in Brisbane, where Ponga and Waaka will try to add a World Cup to their awards against Australia in both finals.
Citações Notáveis
He's had a huge impact for us... just unbelievable to come back from a broken arm and slot in like that.— Stacey Jones, Kiwis coach
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