DURING the week of what he has described as the most significant match of a distinguished 13-year career, Andy Farrell, the Wigan Warriors and Great Britain captain, was presented last night with the “Golden Boot” as world player of the year by Ellery Hanley, the only other British recipient of the award in two decades.

A month after Farrell, 29, was named Man of Steel for a second time, the sport’s highest international individual honour reflects an outstanding season, which he hopes to complete by ending Australia’s 31-year reign of dominance over Britain, on his 34th Lions appearance, in the Gillette Tri-Nations final at Elland Road on Saturday.

Pipping Shane Webcke and Darren Lockyer, Australia’s veteran prop and captain respectively, to the award and joining such Kangaroos greats as Wally Lewis, Brett Kenny, Mal Meninga, Brad Fittler and Lockyer last year among past winners, Farrell was also named international forward of the year, while Brian Noble, having strung together a rare run of three victories to reach the final in his first year in charge of the national team, collected the coach’ s prize.

Paying tribute to Farrell, who became the country’s youngest captain at 21 and has led Britain in an unbroken 28-match sequence since 1996, Noble described him as the ultimate leader. “As a captain, I don’t think there’s an equal in this country in any sport. With the utmost respect, that includes David Beckham, Martin Johnson, Jonny Wilkinson and Jason Robinson. This guy is head and shoulders above those people,” Noble said.

When he took the job in May, Noble toyed with the idea of appointing another captain. “My thought processes were we’d two or three with captaincy material in the team,” he said. “But over the last 30-odd years there have been some exemplary captains and we still haven’t managed to beat the Australians, so I quickly worked out that it wasn’t a captaincy issue.

“In any other sport, Andy Farrell would be the epitome of what a captain should be. His performances reflect his status as captain. The best captains are those who lead by example. When it’s tough, he’s the one who rolls his sleeves up; when it needs a pass, he’ll find a pass play; when it needs someone belting to give people a lift, he does it. I wish I could coach him every week.”

Farrell has tended to carry the hopes and aspirations single-handed, but with the best team that Britain have had for ten years and with Farrell revelling in his new role at prop this year, Noble felt that his club and country were now seeing the best of him. “Sometimes because he’d had to carry the mantle of ball player at Wigan, it detracted from what he does best: terrorising defences with his presence, footwork and skill. He’s an awesome player,” he said.

As a former Britain captain himself, Noble’s award reflects Britain’s improvement in 2004, having beaten Australia once and New Zealand twice to top the series group table. The Kangaroos have another point to prove after Britain’s success at the Gillette international awards ceremony in Leeds, where Lockyer, the Lions’ nemesis in last year’s Ashes whitewash and several series past, collected Australia’s only award as back of the year.

A knee injury in the 26-24 defeat of New Zealand has ruled out Matt Diskin, the Leeds Rhinos hooker, from Noble’s plans for the final, but other than Gareth Ellis nursing a sore ankle, Britain have few worries. Noble also played down Lockyer’s return after the Australia stand-off proved his fitness against France after a month out with a rib injury. “We’ll focus on ourselves. We’ve got some good players in our team as well,” he said.

Thomas Leuluai, the New Zealand scrum half, rejoined his team-mates for the journey to Auckland yesterday after he agreed a contract with London Broncos for next season.

GILLETTE 2004 INTERNATIONAL AWARDS: Rugby League World Golden Boot: A Farrell (Great Britain). Back of the year: D Lockyer (Australia). Forward: A Farrell. Newcomer: S B Williams (New Zealand). Developing nations player: D Fakir (France). Coach: B Noble (Great Britain). Referee: R Smith (England).

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ANDREW FARRELL

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