Having dominated on the international stage, five Sharks NRLW players and NRL recruit Addin Fonua-Blake have been long-listed for the esteemed IRL Golden Boot award.
Following a memorable season in which they advanced to a maiden NRLW Grand Final, Cronulla stars Tiana Penitani (Australia), Annessa Biddle (New Zealand), Talei Holmes (Fiji), Cassie Staples (Fiji) and Filomina Hanisi (Tonga) have been announced as women's Golden Boot contenders.
The quintet have performed strongly for their countries in the ongoing Pacific Championships. Penitani's Jillaroos are set to tackle Biddle's Kiwi Ferns in the women's Pacific Cup final as part of a blockbuster quadruple-header at CommBank Stadium on Sunday.
World-class prop Fonua-Blake, who has signed a four-year deal with the Sharks from 2025, is among a star-studded field of nominees for the men's award having inspired Tonga to the men's Pacific Cup decider against Australia.
The IRL Golden Boot is awarded to the best player in sanctioned rugby league international matches each year. Short lists for the men's and women's awards will be announced after this weekend's fixtures.
The long list of men's and women's candidates were chosen by members of the international media.
Golden Cap recipients Darren Lockyer (Australia), James Graham (England) and Petero Civoniceva (Australia/Fiji), who are among just nine players to have played 50 internationals, will choose the men's IRL Golden Boot winner.
The women's Golden Boot winner will be judged by Australian Jillaroos great Karyn Murphy, New Zealand dual-code superstar Honey Hireme-Smiler and England international Danika Priim.
The recipients of the 2024 IRL Golden Boot awards will be announced in early December.
2024 IRL Golden Boot long list
Women
- Taryn Aiken (Australia)
- Elsie Albert (Papua New Guinea)
- Annessa Biddle (New Zealand)
- Gayle Boughton (New Zealand)
- Yasmin Clydesdale (Jillaroos)
- Jodie Cunningham (England)
- Bethan Daintan (Wales)
- Anna Davies (England)
- Millie Elliott (Jillaroos)
- Georgia Hale (New Zealand)
- Amber Hall (New Zealand)
- Filomina Hanisi (Tonga)
- Talei Holmes (Fiji)
- Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala (Samoa)
- Carys Marsh (Wales)
- Evah McEwen (Samoa)
- Vitalina Naikore Fiji)
- Evania Pelite (Samoa)
- Tiana Penitani (Jillaroos)
- Ua Ravu (Papua New Guinea)
- Julia Robinson (Jillaroos)
- Isabelle Rowe (England)
- Cassie Staples (Fiji)
- Crystal Tamarua (Cook Islands)
- Tamika Upton (Jillaroos)
Men
- Herbie Farnworth (England)
- Addin Fonua-Blake (Tonga)
- Harry Grant (Australia)
- Lachlan Lam (Papua New Guinea)
- Zac Lomax (Australia)
- Jarome Luai (Samoa)
- Keano Kini (New Zealand)
- Nene Macdonald (Papua New Guinea)
- Esan Marsters (Cook Islands)
- Taane Milne (Fiji)
- Haumole Olakau'atu (Tonga)
- Harry Smith (England)
- Jason Taumalolo (Tonga)
- Tom Trbojevic (Australia)
- Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Samoa)
- George Williams (England)
- Isaah Yeo (Australia)
Previous IRL Golden Boot Winners
Women
2018 Isabelle Kelly (Australia)
2019 Jess Sergis (Australia)
2020 No award given
2021 No award given
2022 Raecene McGregor (New Zealand)
2023 Georgia Hale (New Zealand)
Men
1984 Wally Lewis (Australia)
1985 Brett Kenny (Australia)
1986 Garry Jack (Australia)
1987 Hugh McGahan (New Zealand)
and Peter Sterling (Australia)
1988 Ellery Hanley (England)
1989 Mal Meninga (Australia)
1990 Garry Schofield (England)
1992 Garry Schofield (England)
1991-98 No award given
1999 Andrew Johns (Australia)
2000 Brad Fittler (Australia)
2001 Andrew Johns (Australia)
2002 Stacey Jones (New Zealand)
2003 Darren Lockyer (Australia)
2004 Andrew Farrell (England)
2005 Anthony Minichiello (Australia)
2006 Darren Lockyer (Australia)
2007 Cameron Smith (Australia)
2008 Billy Slater (Australia)
2009 Greg Inglis (Australia)
2010 Benji Marshall (New Zealand)
2011 Johnathan Thurston (Australia)
2012 Kevin Sinfield (England)
2013 Johnathan Thurston (Australia)
2014 Shaun Johnson (New Zealand)
2015 Johnathan Thurston (Australia)
2016 Cooper Cronk (Australia)
2017 Cameron Smith (Australia)
2018 Tommy Makinson (England)
2019 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (New Zealand)
2020 No award given
2021 No award given
2022 Joey Manu (New Zealand)
2023 James Fisher-Harris (New Zealand)
