As others have said it is awarded solely on performances at international level.

When you look at how Makinson has performed in the mid season test and the first 2 against NZ it’s difficult to argue with the decision.

I find it amusing how the Aussies are whinging about it when they’ve only played 2 games that count towards the voting. A WC final that they won 6 nil and a comprehensive loss against NZ won’t really put their players in the reckoning.

If he's got the Aussies whinging then hes fully justified his award. Well done Tommy.

We seem to have this desperation in RL to give awards and trophys out for everything. Not sure if its lead by UK influences but its extremely devaluing. The GB criteria is wrong. To take into account a game from 1 year ago, a smattering of meaningless tests and one test series between 2 countries, all games of which numerous different players have taken part is ludicrous. Theyd have been better off cancelling the GB. TM should be man of the series instead which he will likely get.

Other examples, the tropy for the England France test. Pointless. The Bev Risman Trophy, Leeds v Leigh. Pointless.

It's got Fitler spewing so it's fine by me. Typical Australian arrogance saying he's only seen him play once so how can he be winner? Don't believe that statement for a second but same logic could be said on Tedesco.Not everyone watches NRL etc. The criteria was set last year. TM wins fair and square.

Its a great quote by Fittler, next years award should be called the golden boot for players Fittler could be bothered to watch.

He's saying Tudesco had a great SOO, what relevance does that have to an international award. Tommy would have no doubt gone well if Lancs had played Yorks.

Going by the new criteria for the award I've no problem with Makinson winning it.

However who approved the change in criteria and what was the rationale for the decision? I'm not sure what benefit the change has had, can someone enlighten me?

Of was it another typical RL change for change's sake?

Yes, I enjoyed reading his rant and his lack of knowledge of the criteria to achieve the award. He still thinks its a world player award when we all know (well most of us) thats it has been devalued to an international appearances award.

The NRL have the Daily M award, Superleague has the Man of Steel Award, and now the RLIF have the Golden Boot Award. I just hope Tommy Mak has a good game in the 3rd test so that Fittler will know him and appreciate his international game, after all Bennett also made a quote saying: Where have been hiding this Guy.

Apologies for my previous post, I wasn't aware of the (nonsensical) criteria that the Golden Boot is awarded on. In which case, based on that criteria TM is fully deserving of the award. Unless I'm missing something, even the Golden Boot article on Wikipedia doesn't describe the criteria correctly does it?

And excuse my ignorance, is there now a World award based on combined performances for club/country/SOO etc? ( With the international calendar being so sp it's not exactly a great criteria to judge on as having 2 or 3 decent games automatically puts you in the running!!!

As it is new criteria being used this year it is not right to compare Makinson with the previous winners selected. Looked at under the new conditions it isn't a bad decision but those conditions are daft - more so in that there is one more match to go this weekend. What happens if Makinson has a stinker this weekend and one of the other contenders rips it up? Does this weekends game count towards next year's award?

Ironically if only international games were used in the past then Farrell and Sinfield wouldn't have won theirs, both couldn't hack it against the Aussies but dominated Super League.

I would imagine the Golden Boot would have more "carat" value when we have a World Cup Competition.

This is a joke surely, this really has to be. If this is the case then whoever picked this has just devalued the golden boot award to the same relevance as a pub raffle. New criteria or not and who decided to change tge criteria into who has played well in 3 games.

The Rfl have already turned the man if steel awards into a joke players vote award that the players don’t take seriously.

Unbelievable what a joke.

Who has made the decision? Before we assume the default position of blaming the RFL do we know it's them? Or is it the RLIF? Or is it just a bunch of journalists?

Well done TM for winning the Golden Boot and being the best International player this year. Doesn’t mean he’s the best player in the world this year. I think with the rule changes the award recognition changes. Think some are over reacting and probably need to stop comparing him to previous players that have won it.

It's a joke.

And a disgrace. I've cancelled my subscription.