Inglis wins Golden Boot award

Superstar centre Greg Inglis has created history by being named the 2009 Golden Boot recipient – the third successive year a Melbourne Storm star has received the coveted international award.
 
Inglis received the award given to the world’s best player shortly after being named Player of the Tournament in the Four Nations series won by Australia early Sunday morning.
 
The 22-year-old was lauded ahead of five of the best players in the world – including fellow Storm stars, skipper Cameron Smith and fullback Billy Slater.
 
Inglis joins previous winners Smith (2007) and Slater (2008) in capping off a phenomenal trifecta for Victoria’s National Rugby League team.
 
No team has ever before had three Golden Boot recipients on its playing list.
 
“It’s an incredible honour,” said Inglis, who joins the likes of Wally Lewis, Andrew Johns, Darren Lockyer and Mal Meninga in claiming the award.
 
“I’m very humbled by it to be honest. To see the names of the players who have won this award before me makes this very special.”
 
The award, the brainchild of Rugby League World Magazine, was voted on by some of the best players to have ever laced a boot, including Lewis, England’s Garry Schofield and New Zealand’s Hugh McGahan.
 
Inglis’ stunning season has now seen him claim the Golden Boot award, the Mal Meninga Medal for Player of the Series in this year’s State of Origin, as well as the Player of the Tournament award in the Four Nations.
 
Additionally, he was awarded the Harry Sunderland Medal as the best Australian player in the Four Nations, an award that was revived in 2004.
 
Inglis also played a pivotal role in the Storm’s premiership triumph this year – scoring a brilliant try and kicking the game-winning field goal in Melbourne’s 23-16 win over Parramatta.
 
After starting 2009 at five-eighth, Inglis scored 13 tries in 21 games, thriving after reverting back to his favoured centre position.