Tarryn Aiken’s standing as one of the best players in the game has been confirmed after the Jillaroos halfback was unanimously voted as the winner of the women’s 2024 IRL Golden Boot.
The award, as the international player of the year, caps a season in which Aiken helped Australia to victory in the Pacific Cup, Queensland to an historic State of Origin series win and Sydney Roosters to NRLW premiership glory.
The 25-year-old playmaker was also awarded the Karyn Murphy Medal as grand final player of the match and won the player of the match in the Pacific Cup final defeat of New Zealand.
Murphy, who earlier this year became one of the six female greats inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame, was a Golden Boot judge, along with New Zealand dual code superstar Honey Hireme-Smiler and England international Danika Priim.
Aiken is the first Australian player to win the Golden Boot since Jillaroos and Roosters team-mates Jessica Sergis in 2019 and Isabelle Kelly in 2018.
Jillaroos fullback Tamika Upton and centre Tiana Penitani were short listed for the award, along with Fetu Samoa captain Annetta-Claudia Nu’uausala, Kiwi Ferns second-rower Annessa Biddle and England skipper Jodie Cunningham.
IRL Chair Troy Grant said: "On behalf of the IRL Board I wish to congratulate Tarryn Aiken for adding the 2024 IRL Golden Boot to the collection of awards and accolades she has received this season.
"Tarryn has enjoyed a season which most players can only dream of, and she shone on the biggest stage at every level of the game, including internationally in the Pacific Cup.
"The standard of women's rugby league continues to rise at a rapid pace and players like Tarryn are showing the way for the talent emerging behind them.
"There were many other worthy performers at international level in 2024 and the IRL Board is grateful to have judges with the standing of Karyn Murphy, Honey Hireme-Smiler and Danika Priim to decide the Golden Boot winner."
An Australian touch football representative, Aiken made her NRLW debut in 2019 and has won three premierships – two with the Brisbane Broncos (2019 and 2020) and one with Sydney Roosters this season.
She has been a member of the Queensland State of Origin team since 2020 and the Australian team since 2022, helping the Jillaroos to victory in the World Cup in England.
Having played most of her career at five-eighth, Aiken has thrived at halfback in an unprecedented season in women’s rugby league.
In a sign of her toughness and courage, Aiken played the NRLW finals and Pacific Cup with an AC joint injury that she was initially told would end her season.
Jillaroos coach Brad Donald said the Golden Boot was deserved recognition for Aiken after carrying her stunning NRLW and Origin form into the international arena.
“Tarryn was really impressive at international level after really strong performances in State of Origin and club footy,” Donald said.
“Not only did Tarryn perform consistently at the highest level, she did so with an injury, so credit is also due to the performance staff at club, Origin and international level who helped her get through that, as well as the coaches who helped take her game to the next level.
“Tarryn has moved from a half who has been a real threat to one who now owns a game and takes ownership over a team. That has been a real key to her success, I feel.”
The women’s IRL Golden Boot was first awarded in 2018 to Kelly and won by Sergis the following season.
Due to COVID the Golden Boot was not presented again until 2022, with Kiwi Ferns stars Raecene McGregor (2022) and Georgia Hale (2023) winning the award.
A presentation for Aiken and the men's 2024 IRL Golden Boot winner will be held on Friday in the Museum at Rugby League Central.
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)
IRL Golden Boot winners
2018: Isabelle Kelly (Australia)
2019: Jessica Sergis (Australia)
2020-21: No award given
2022: Raecene McGregor (New Zealand)
2023: Georgia Hale (New Zealand)
2024: Tarryn Aiken (Australia)
