England boss talks up Ashes after star is named on Golden Boot shortlist with four nations represented

Herbie Farnworth is an England player who has made the cut for the six-man shortlist for the Golden Boot with Australia, Tonga and New Zealand also represented.

That led England head coach Shaun Wane to comment that the Dophins centre is "now genuinely in the conversation around the best players in the world as this nomination shows". Wane added that "we are all hoping he continues to go from strength to strength with the prospect of a huge Ashes Series against Australia on the horizon".

Farnworth recently starred for England in their home success over Samoa, scoring two tries in the win that clinched a 2-0 series win, and there is more good news for him now. The award he has been short-listed for recognises stand-out performers in international rugby league annually, with the other players being Australia trio Harry Grant, Tom Trbojevic and Isaah Yeo, New Zealand's Keano Kini, and Tonga's Addin Fonua-Blake. England half-back pair Harry Smith and George Williams had been on the initial long list.

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After the Samoa series, Wane had spoken about Farnworth, 24, by saying "in both games he’s been outstanding" and described him as "a credit to the Dolphins and the NRL", adding he is "glad he’s English”.

The winner is set to be announced in early December. The outcome is decided by greats who have 50-plus international caps including James Graham, Darren Lockyer and Petero Civoniceva. The last England player to win the Golden Boot was Tommy Makinson in 2018 and it has since been followed by repeated wins from New Zealand players - Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in 2019, Joey Manu in 2022, and James Fisher-Harris in 2023, with there being no award in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.

Makinson's win in 2018 had followed a period of Australian dominance in which three of their star names triumphing in successive years with Johnathan Thurston winning in 2015, Cooper Cronk in 2016 and Cameron Smith in 2017.

As well as the recent England against Samoa series, a major recent international event was the Pacific Championships, in which Australia were triumphant with the qualities of Grant, Trbojevic and Yeo on show. Kini, meanwhile, caught the eye as the Kiwis retained their status in the Pacific Cup, which is contested by the leading teams. Tonga's Fonua-Blake could become the first player from a Pacific islands nation to win the Golden Boot after leading them at the Pacific Cup final.

IRL chair Troy Grant said: "The passion of players for international rugby league has rarely been more evident than in the past month and that has shone through in the quality of matches and individual performances. The atmosphere at CommBank Stadium last Sunday when Tonga played Australia was as good as any in world sport, but the emotions of players and fans has been on display throughout the Pacific Championships and the England-Samoa series.

"From the Samoan and English players coming together during the cultural performance at the start of the first game of their series, to the tears of Tongan and Kiwi players before their match in Auckland, it has been an amazing period for international rugby league. The international game is in strong shape again and excitement is already building for next year, with the first Ashes series since 2003 between Australia and England, while New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga will play in the Pacific Cup.

"On behalf of International Rugby League, I would like to congratulate all of the players who showed such pride and passion representing their nations and particularly those who have been nominated for the 2024 IRL Golden Boot. It is an outstanding field of candidates and any would be a worthy winner."

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