League: Marshall accolade crowns Kiwi year

Benji Marshall celebrates after the Four Nations final against the Kangaroos last month. Photo / Getty Images

Being crowned league's Golden Boot winner - a magazine award that recognises the game's greatest player - rounded out a fantastic season for Kiwis captain Benji Marshall.

"To win this award, after coming back from three shoulder reconstructions, winning the Four Nations, and having my best ever year since I've started in the NRL, is pretty overwhelming," Marshall said.

"I'm pretty excited. It is something I definitely won't take for granted."

Having endured an injury-blighted career, Marshall played in all 27 matches for the Wests Tigers this season before leading the Kiwis to the Four Nations title.

Marshall, who constructed the Kiwis' last-gasp winning try in the dramatic 16-12 final victory over the Kangaroos in Brisbane, was a runaway winner of the award.

The voting panel included three former Golden Boot winners in Wally Lewis, Hugh McGahan and Stacey Jones, former Great Britain international Garry Schofield, former England coach Phil Larder, ex-NSW coach turned broadcaster Phil Gould and former France coach Louis Bonnery, as well as journalists and supporters from both hemispheres.

"It was a landslide victory for Benji Marshall, who achieved maximum points from 11 of the 13 members of the voting panel," Rugby League World magazine editor John Drake said.

"Benji's match-winning performance in the biggest game of the season, the Four Nations final, proved his undoubted class. The very best players produce their very best performances on the biggest stages."

Fellow Kiwi Shaun Kenny-Dowall, the New Zealand Rugby League's 2010 player of the year and the Rugby League International Federation's centre of the year, finished second in the voting.

Australians Paul Gallen, Billy Slater and Sam Thaiday, and England's James Graham, were the other players in contention.

As well as Marshall and Kenny-Dowall, Kiwis wingers Manu Vatuvei and Jason Nightingale plus halfback Nathan Fien made the team of the year.

The only non-Kiwis in the backline were Australians Slater at fullback and Brent Tate in the centres.

Marshall becomes the third New Zealander to win the Golden Boot after Hugh McGahan (1987) and Stacey Jones (2002).

New Zealand Rugby League chief executive Jim Doyle said the award rounded out a great period for the game in this country.

"With winning the World Cup, the Four Nations and now the Golden Boot as the world's best player, the game is in really good heart."

* Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah has refused to comment on speculation that the club is close to signing a former Kangaroos international. The club are in the market for a centre and a hooker. Shaun Berrigan can play both positions and has been linked with a return to the NRL from Hull.

However, he says he has no plans to leave the club.

GOLDEN BOOT AWARDS
2010 Team of the Year:

* Fullback: Billy Slater (Australia)

* Wingers: Manu Vatuvei (New Zealand), Jason Nightingale (New Zealand)

* Centres: Shaun Kenny-Dowall (New Zealand), Brent Tate (Australia)

* Standoff: Benji Marshall (New Zealand)

* Halfback: Nathan Fien (New Zealand)

* Loose Forward: Paul Gallen (Australia)

* Second Rowers: Sam Thaiday (Australia), Sam Burgess (England)

* Props: David Shillington (Australia), James Graham (England)

* Hooker: Cameron Smith (Australia)