GOLDEN Boot Tommy Makinson still harbours ambitions to play in the NRL - but will not be moving anywhere in the next two years.

The 27-year-old Saints wing, who displays in the autumn test series created a wave of speculation, is contracted until the end of 2020.

Makinson says reports that he was close to agreeing a move to the NRL were wide of the mark, although he says it could happen in 2021.

"It sparked a few rumours," he said. "I've always said it's a bit of a dream to play over there one day.

"But I'm still under contract with Saints for two more years and I don't think they'll let me go, which is fair enough."

Makinson's form in the test series earned him the Golden Boot under the award's new selection criteria.

It did spark some controversy Down Under.

"I got a bit of stick in Oz over it," he said. "People dubbed it as being one of the best players ever but I know I'm not in that category.

"It's a new award for international player of the year which I'll take with open arms because I worked a helluva lot last year on my game.

" I was able to hold my own with some of the best players in the game."

Makinson, who profited from the absence of England's record try-scorer Ryan Hall through injury, says his aim for 2019 is to retain his international jersey and believes there is more to come from him.

"Ryan Hall is still there and there's so many good outside backs nowadays," he said, "It's always going to be hard.

"But I think I'm a good player and I want to prove to everyone how good I am.

"Just having a couple of good years is not acceptable, I want to carry on pushing to become a great player, which I know I can be.

"It was a memorable year in 2018 and a special few months for me but there's a few things to improve on, especially with not winning much at Saints.

"That's the main aim for me this year, to kick on and help this club win things."

Saints lifted the League Leaders' Shield in 2018 but fell at the semi-final hurdle in both Super League and the Challenge Cup.

With the addition of NRL trio Kevin Naiqama, Lachlan Coote and Joseph Paulo, Justin Holbrook's men are fancied to take home the title in 2019.

"We are always going to be up there challenging but we want to go one step further and start winning things," Makinson said. "We want to bring silverware to this great club."