Rugby League Coaching Manuals

Seven players who will play in this weekend's Rugby League World Cup final between Australia and New Zealand are on a shortlist of eight to win the sport's most prestigious individual honour.

The 'Rugby League World' magazine Golden Boot, which is given annually to the individual adjudged to be the best player in the world, will be presented in Sydney on Saturday 29 November at the annual Players'Association dinner.

It will not be presented in Brisbane as incorrectly stated in an Australian newspaper over the weekend.

Five players who have helped to guide Australia to the final - last year's winner Cameron Smith, Greg Inglis, Brent Kite, Billy Slater and Johnathan Thurston - are contenders as are the Kiwi duo Benji Marshall and Manu Vatuvei.

England's captain Jamie Peacock, who was last year's runner-up, is the other shortlisted player.

The shock omission from this year's list of nominees is Brisbane and Australian captain Darren Lockyer, who won the Golden Boot in 2003 and 2006, but has this year failed to attract any nominations.

12 Rugby League writers and former international stars, including Wally Lewis, Garry Schofield, Peter Sterling and Hugh McGahan, will each vote for their first, second and third choices. Lewis told 'Rugby League World'

earlier this year that winning the inaugural Golden Boot in 1985 was "the greatest honour that I had in Rugby League."

Additionally, the members of two Rugby League fans' forums will be invited to cast the final two votes.

Members of the Totalrl.com fans' forum, and the Rleague.com fans' forum, based in England and Australia respectively, will hold a vote to give Rugby League supporters on both sides of the world the chance to participate in the Golden Boot voting process.

The eight players nominated for the award, in alphabetical order, are: Greg Inglis (Melbourne Storm and Australia); Brent Kite (Manly Sea Eagles and Australia); Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers and New Zealand); Jamie Peacock (Leeds Rhinos and England); Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm and Australia); Cameron Smith (Melbourne Storm and Australia); Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys and Australia); Manu Vatuvei (New Zealand Warriors and New Zealand).

List of Golden Boot winners
1985 Wally Lewis (Australia)
1986 Brett Kenny (Australia)
1987 Garry Jack (Australia)
1988 Hugh McGahan (New Zealand) & Peter Sterling (Australia)
1989 Ellery Hanley (Great Britain)
1990 Mal Meninga (Australia)
1991-1998 No award given
1999 Andrew Johns (Australia)
2000 Brad Fittler (Australia)
2001 Andrew Johns (Australia)
2002 Stacey Jones (New Zealand)
2003 Darren Lockyer (Australia)
2004 Andrew Farrell (Great Britain)
2005 Anthony Minichiello (Australia)
2006 Darren Lockyer (Australia)
2007 Cameron Smith (Australia)