England players Harry Smith and Lewis King have both been shortlisted for international rugby league’s Golden Boot awards.
Wigan half-back Smith is shortlisted for the men’s award with New Zealand’s James Fisher-Harris and Joseph Tapine and Australia prop Payne Haas.
The quartet were selected from a long list of 20 players after the Pacific Championships and England-Tonga games.
King will go up against France’s Jeremy Bourson for the wheelchair Golden Boot.
The London Roosters player won the inaugural Wheels of Steel, given to the leading player in the Wheelchair Super League, last month.
Kiwi Ferns trio Georgia Hale, Mele Hufanga, Apii Nicholls and Jillaroos fullback Tamika Upton have been shortlisted for the women’s award.
Fisher-Harris and Tapine helped New Zealand to a record 30-0 defeat of Australia in the inaugural Pacific Cup final. They, along with Haas, are bidding to become the first running forward to win the award since former Great Britain captain and now Ireland rugby union coach Andy Farrell 20 years ago.
Smith helped the Warriors to Grand Final victory before playing a key role for Shaun Wane’s England side as they completed a 3-0 series win over Tonga.
The 2022 Golden Boot winners were New Zealand’s Joey Manu and Raecene McGregor, while England star Sebastien Bechara took the wheelchair award.
The winners of the 2023 awards will be announced in early December.
