Hail Georgia: Ferns skipper, Jillaroos stars head Golden Boot nominees

Kiwi Ferns captain Georgia Hale is in contention to become the first woman to win the IRL Golden Boot in back-to-back years after a long list for the 2024 award was announced.

Hale is one of four New Zealand players nominated, along with five-eighth Gayle Broughton and star forwards Annessa Biddle and Amber Hall.

The quartet will be key players in the Kiwi Ferns’ bid to win the Pacific Cup in Sunday’s final against Australia at CommBank Stadium.

The Jillaroos, who beat New Zealand 14-0 in Christchurch two weeks ago and are yet to concede a point in the 2024 Pacific Championships, have six candidates for the 2024 IRL Golden Boot.

They include halfback Tarryn Aiken, who won the Karyn Murphy Medal as NRLW grand final player of the match.

The others are fullback Tamika Upton, second-rower Yasmin Clydesdale, centre Tiana Penitani, prop Millie Elliott and winger Julia Robinson, who scored a record five tries against the Orchids.

England captain Jodie Cunningham, teenage halfback Isabelle Rowe and winger Anna Davies, who scored five tries against Wales last weekend, have also been nominated.  

Fetū Sāmoa skipper Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala, fullback Evania Pelite and forward Evah McEwen are in contention after their efforts in helping the Pacific nation qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Samoa will on Sunday play-off for a place in next year’s Pacific Cup against Papua New Guinea, whose inspirational captain Elsie Albert has also been nominated, along with playmaker Ua Ravu.

Fiji Bulikula trio Cassie Staples, Talei Holmes and Vitalina Naikore have also made the long list.

Cook Islands forward Crystal Tamarua, Tonga’s Filomina Hanisi and Wales pair Bethan Daintan and Carys Marsh round out the nominations.

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. 

Murphy, who made 27 international appearances and led the Jillaroos to their first World Cup triumph in 2013, was earlier this year among the first six female players inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame. She is a former NRL head of integrity and currently coaches the Gold Coast Titans in the NRLW.

Hireme-Smiler played in four World Cups for the Kiwi Ferns, including 2013 when she was captain and player of the tournament. She is now a leading commentator for Sky Sport NZ’s coverage of NRL, NRLW and rugby union.

Priim represented England at the 2017 World Cup and won Challenge Cup and Super League titles with Leeds before moving into commentary and media after her retirement in 2021. She was earlier this year appointed as a vice-president of the Rugby Football League.

IRL Chair Troy Grant said: “The strength of women’s rugby league has been on full display in 2024 as nations have fought for World Cup spots or those who already qualified have continued to lift standards.

“This has resulted in some great matches and performances that showcased women’s rugby league and the passion of the players to represent their nations.

“Australia and New Zealand will play in the Pacific Cup final, and we know after last year that either team can win, but other nations are rising, particularly in the Pacific.

“Congratulations to Fetu Samoa, Wales and France who have earned their spots in RLWC2026 through qualifying tournament and will join the Jillaroos, Kiwi Ferns, England and Papua New Guinea.

“Fiji has a second chance to qualify through the 2025 World Series, along with Ireland, Nigeria and the winner of this weekend’s play-off between Canada and the United States.

“On behalf of International Rugby League, I would like to thank Karyn Murphy, Honey Hireme-Smiler and Danika Priim for their continued support and the added credibility they bring to the IRL Golden Boot.”

The IRL Golden Boot is awarded to the best player in sanctioned rugby league international matches each year.

The long list of women’s 2024 Golden Boot candidates was chosen by members of the international media after matches during the Pacific Championships and the England-Wales fixture.

The 2023 IRL Golden Boot winners were New Zealand’s Georgia Hale and James Fisher-Harris, and French Wheelchair star Jeremy Bourson.

Short lists for the men’s, women’s 2024 IRL Golden Boot awards will be announced after the Pacific Championships quadruple header in Sydney on Sunday, November 10.

Nominations for the wheelchair 2024 IRL Golden Boot will be announced after the second international between France and England on Saturday, November 23.

The winners of the 2024 IRL Golden Boot awards will be announced in early December.

2024 IRL GOLDEN BOOT LONG LIST

Women

• Tarryn Aiken (Australia)
• Elsie Albert (Papua New Guinea)
• Annessa Biddle (New Zealand)
• Gayle Boughton (New Zealand)
• Yasmin Clydesdale (Jillaroos)
• Jodie Cunningham (England)
• Bethan Dainton (Wales)
• Anna Davies (England)
• Millie Elliott (Australia)
• 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 (Australia)
• Ua Ravu (Papua New Guinea)
• Julia Robinson (Australia)
• Isabelle Rowe (England)
• Cassie Staples (Fiji)
• Crystal Tamarua (Cook Islands)
• 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)