Wheelaroos pair in line for Golden Boot history

Bayley McKenna and Zac Schumacher of the Wheelaroos are in the running to be Australia's inaugural Wheelchair Golden Boot winners, having been nominated for the 2025 award.

The two players showcased exceptional performances during the recent Wheelchair Ashes Series against England on the Gold Coast.

Despite their efforts, England, the reigning World Cup champions, managed to secure the Ashes by coming from behind to win both matches, with scores of 56-28 and 48-42, thanks to a crucial last-minute try by Joe Coyd.

In the second match of the Ashes, McKenna earned the title of player-of-the-match after scoring 22 points, which included two tries and seven successful conversions. Meanwhile, Schumacher excelled in the series opener, scoring three tries and achieving four successful goals across the two games.

Also in the running for the upcoming Golden Boot are England players Jack Brown and Rob Hawkins, both of whom have been listed for the 2025 award and are vying to be the first Wheelchair athletes to win a second Golden Boot.

Brown was the inaugural winner of the IRL Wheelchair Golden Boot in 2019, while Hawkins claimed the title in 2024. Should Hawkins secure the award again, he would be the first to achieve consecutive wins in any category since the Golden Boot was established in 1984.