Smith’s season to get a grand finale

CAMERON Smith is set to join an elite group of Australian stars with the Kangaroos skipper today tipped to clinch the coveted Golden Boot Award.

Test teammates Billy Slater and Aaron Woods have declared Smith at unbackable odds to win another prestigious gong in the lead-up to Saturday night’s World Cup final against England.

The Golden Boot winner will be unveiled at a gala World Cup luncheon today in Brisbane, with Smith, England’s Jermaine McGillvary, Tonga’s Jason Taumalolo and Fiji’s Suliasi Vunivalu vying for the award.

Smith is the raging favourite.

Smith won his first Golden Boot in 2007 and another victory today – a decade later – would catapult the Maroons champion into the rarefied company of multiple winners.

Since the award’s inception 33 years ago, just three players have celebrated two or more Golden Boot triumphs – Andrew Johns (1999 and 2001), Darren Lockyer (2003 and 2006) and Johnathan Thurston (2011, 2013 and 2015).

“I’d be surprised if Cam didn’t get it,” Slater said.

“The other guys in contention have had a great year (as well).”