League: Johnson in line for Golden Boot award

Shaun Johnson. Photo / Getty Images

Four Nations final man of the match Shaun Johnson is among six nominees for the 2014 Rugby League World Golden Boot.

The halfback is joined on the list by Kiwis prop Jesse Bromwich, Australian duo Greg Inglis and Johnathan Thurston and England forwards James Graham and Sam Burgess.

Burgess and eventual winner Thurston were also among the six nominees last year.

The same 13-man panel who chose Thurston will again vote for the winner and the World XIII, which will both be revealed in next month's Rugby League World.

Among the panel is former Golden Boot winner Garry Schofield, ex-Great Britain coach Brian Noble and past Kiwi internationals Robbie Hunter-Paul and Daryl Halligan.

The votes will be submitted during the first week in December.

"These are the six players who we feel have had the biggest impact on the sport during 2014," Rugby League World editor Gareth Walker explained.

"Johnson was the Kiwis' go-to player throughout and produced a man of the match performance in the final, while Bromwich was statistically the leading forward by some distance both in the whole competition and in the Wellington decider against Australia.

"As always, we will ask our 13-man voting panel to consider performances at international level first and foremost, but such was the impact of both Sam Burgess and Johnathan Thurston in the NRL this season that we felt it was impossible to overlook either of them.

"Thurston did take part in an international game, earning the man of the match in the Anzac test win over New Zealand in May, before jointly winning the prestigious Dally M award in Australia for his performances for North Queensland Cowboys.

"Sam Burgess, of course, was unavailable for the Four Nations due to his move to rugby union. But his contribution to South Sydney's NRL title win was considerable, not least in the Grand Final, when his man of the match display with a fractured cheekbone and eye socket was one of the most iconic rugby league performances of the modern era."

New Zealanders Kieran Foran and Jason Taumalolo, Daryl Clark, Cameron Smith and Jarryd Hayne were among players considered before the final six were confirmed.

Kiwis in the running for top honour

Jessie Bromwich
Statistically the prop was the best forward in the Four Nations, not least in the final, where his 23 carries yielded an outstanding 150 metres. His form for the Storm and Kiwis led ex-Australian test front rower Robbie Kearns to state Bromwich could become a better player than respected former Kangaroos prop Glenn Lazarus.

Shaun Johnson
Instrumental in the Warriors' mid-season recovery in the NRL. But it was during the Four Nations that he really burst into life. The 24-year-old has matured into a halfback that can control a game as well as provide the spectacular plays. Showed his breathtaking pace in a man of the match performance in the final, including a brilliant try.

Past five winners
2009: Greg Inglis
2010: Benji Marshall
2011: Johnathan Thurston
2012: Kevin Sinfield
2013: Johnathan Thurston