LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
The news from the Sharks is that six of their players are in the running for the prestigious Golden Boot awards, a true honor in the world of rugby league.
After shining on the international stage, five Sharks NRLW players as well as newly recruited NRL star Addin Fonua-Blake have made it onto the long list for the IRL Golden Boot award.
It's been a remarkable season for the Sharks, especially for their NRLW players who made it to their first ever Grand Final.
Tiana Penitani (Australia), Annessa Biddle (New Zealand), Talei Holmes (Fiji), Cassie Staples (Fiji) and Filomina Hanisi (Tonga) are all in the running for the women's Golden Boot, having impressed in the ongoing Pacific Championships.
Penitani's Jillaroos will be facing off against Biddle's Kiwi Ferns in the women's Pacific Cup final, a clash that promises to be a real nail-biter in the world of rugby league.
As for Fonua-Blake, the powerhouse prop who will be joining the Sharks from 2025, he has been a force to be reckoned with for Tonga, leading them to the men's Pacific Cup decider against Australia.
The IRL Golden Boot award goes to the best player in sanctioned rugby league international matches each year, and the short lists for the men's and women's awards will be revealed after this weekend's matches.
The long list of candidates for both the men's and women's awards were selected by members of the international media, making this achievement even more special for the Sharks players in contention.