New Zealand fullback Kalyn Ponga is awarded the 2026 Golden Boot, the Rugby League World Cup’s top individual honour, with sources reporting that he beats favourite Reece Walsh.
Multiple outlets also add context on what secured the award, pointing to “the 150 minutes of football” that earned Ponga the top recognition. While each report agrees on the winner and the main runner-up, they differ slightly in emphasis: some lead with the headline result, while others frame it around the performance window and the broader field of stars he surpasses. All accounts consistently describe Ponga as the Golden Boot recipient and Reece Walsh as the prominent rival he defeats.
