Sharks duo Tiana Penitani and Annessa Biddle are among six women's stars shortlisted for the IRL Golden Boot award presented to the most outstanding international player of the year.
The exciting news comes after Penitani's Jillaroos defeated Biddle's Kiwi Ferns 24-4 in the Pacific Cup final last Sunday to conclude an incredible season.
Penitani (Australia) and Biddle (New Zealand) are jostling with Tarryn Aiken (Australia), Tamika Upton (Australia), Jodie Cunningham (England) and Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala (Samoa) to be crowned the 2024 Golden Boot recipient.
The winner will be announced in early December.
Penitani, who represented Tonga in last year's Pacific Championships, was selected to play for Australia for the first time since 2019 after captaining the Sharks to their inaugural NRLW Grand Final against the Roosters.
After scoring a team-high nine tries throughout a dominant NRLW campaign, Penitani crossed the line for the Jillaroos in their qualifying wins against Papua New Guinea and New Zealand before touching down in the Cup decider.
Biddle, Penitani's powerful centre partner at club level, showed her versatility by slotting into the second row for her country. She averaged 101 metres in two appearances against Australia while making 56 tackles at 93% efficiency.
Biddle's nomination continues a stunning rise for the Otara Scorpions product, who stormed onto the scene as the 2023 NRLW Dally M Rookie of the Year.
The women's 2024 IRL 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.
A 25-player long list of women's Golden Boot contenders, chosen by members of the international media and featuring Sharks guns Talei Holmes (Fiji), Cassie Staples (Fiji) and Filomina Hanisi (Tonga), was announced last week.
The men's Golden Boot short list will be revealed imminently.
2024 IRL GOLDEN BOOT SHORT LIST
Tarryn Aiken (Australia)
Annessa Biddle (New Zealand)
Jodie Cunningham (England)
Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala (Samoa)
Tiana Penitani (Australia)
Tamika Upton (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)
