North Queensland Toyota Cowboys and Tonga lock Jason Taumalolo has been shortlisted for the Rugby League International Federation Golden Boot for the second year running.

Taumalolo has been the talisman for Tonga’s remarkable Rugby League World Cup campaign, leading the Mate Ma'a from the front with impressive performances in their wins over Scotland, Samoa, New Zealand and Lebanon.

He played 26 games for the Cowboys in season 2017, all the way to the NRL Grand Final, and became the first forward in NRL history to run for over 5,000 metres in a season.

Taumalolo joins Cameron Smith (Australia), Jermaine McGillvary (England) and Suliasi Vunivalu (Fiji) in the running for the most prestigious individual accolade in international rugby league.

The 2017 Golden Boot, to be awarded at the Gala Finals luncheon on Wednesday 29 November in Brisbane, will recognise outstanding performance in, and contribution to international rugby league.

Six players from the Australian team, three England players and one each from Fiji, Lebanon, New Zealand and Tonga were nominated, whittled down to a four-man shortlist based on those receiving the most nominations.

The nominating panel comprised Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga, Scotland coach Steve McCormack and journalists Steve Mascord and Martyn Sadler.