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The Rugby League World Cup final should have solved the Golden Boot battle

The Rugby League World Cup final should have solved the Golden Boot battle

Kalyn Ponga has been awarded the Golden Boot as international player of the year but the trophy should not have been given until he and Reece Walsh faced off in the World Cup final.

Fri, 11 Sept, 7:50 pm, Final score, Rabbitohs 10, Knights 20

Sat, 12 Sept, 4:05 pm, Final score, Warriors 16, Dolphins 26

Sat, 12 Sept, 7:50 pm, Final score, Sharks 26, Cowboys 16

Sun, 13 Sept, 4:05 pm, Final score, Panthers 19, Roosters 12

Sat, 19 Sept, 7:50 pm, Final score, Roosters 46, Sharks 10

Sun, 20 Sept, 4:05 pm, Final score, Warriors 10, Knights 12

Fri, 25 Sept, 7:50 pm, Final score, Dolphins 20, Roosters 36

Sun, 27 Sept, 4:00 pm, Final score, Panthers 14, Knights 22

Sun, 4 Oct, 7:30 pm, Final score, Roosters 19, Knights 18

The Golden Boot hasn't gone to the best player in the world for many years now but if it did you can still make the case it should have ended up in Reece Walsh's hands.

The Australian fullback is not always the best, but when he is at his best there's nobody better and his performances for the Kangaroos has been a scorching reminder that nobody in rugby league is as made for the fast lane.

These days the Golden Boot goes to the best player in Test matches for the year and by giving it to Kalyn Ponga after just 150 minutes in international football, the credibility of the award is on the line in Sunday's World Cup final.

In brief

Fri, 11 Sept, 7:50 pm, Final score, Rabbitohs 10, Knights 20 Sat, 12 Sept, 4:05 pm, Final score, Warriors 16, Dolphins 26 Sat, 12 Sept, 7:50 pm, Final score, Sharks 26, Cowboys 16 Sun, 13 Sept, 4:05 pm, Final score, Panthers 19, Roosters 12 Sat, 19 Sept, 7:50 pm, Final score, Roosters 46, Sharks 10 Sun, 20 Sept, 4:05 pm, Final score, Warriors 10, Knights 12 Fri, 25 Sept, 7:50 pm, Final score, Dolphins 20, Roosters 36 Sun, 27 Sept, 4:00 pm, Final score, Panthers 14, Knights 22 Sun, 4 Oct, 7:30 pm, Final score, Roosters 19, Knights 18 The Golden Boot hasn't gone to the best player in the world for many years now but if it did you can still make the case it should have ended up in Reece Wals…

This is the opening of the story, shared with credit to ABC News Australia. The rest of the report — with every detail — continues on the publisher’s website.

Continue reading at ABC News Australia ↗

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