‘A bit surreal’: Aussie gun shocked by award

Newly crowned Golden Boot winner Tarryn Aiken is stoked for her club coach John Strange even if the newly appointed NSW Origin boss joked that he wanted his Roosters star to pick up an injury that would keep her out of next year’s State of Origin series.

Strange replaces Kylie Hilder in the role, with Queensland Maroons gun Aiken set to be one of his biggest headaches as the Sky Blues try to win back the shield.

Aiken was in Sydney on Friday to collect her Golden Boot trophy from Hall of Famer Tarsha Gale at Rugby League Central on the back of a brilliant 2024 for her club, state and country.

Her performances for the Jillaroos were outstanding, with Aiken named player of the match in the Pacific Championships final win over New Zealand.

She also claimed the Karyn Murphy Medal as the best player on grand final day, while she scored a crucial try for Queensland in game 2 as they stormed home to stun NSW 2-1 to retain the shield.

Aiken has always been a dangerous player thanks to her touch footy background, but her move to halfback this year has helped her take more control of every team she plays in and it’s why she was the unanimous choice for the Golden Boot.

“It hasn’t really sunk in. It still feels a bit surreal,” she told NewsWire.

“It’s a huge honour to receive such a prestigious award, and I’m really grateful to get it.

“It doesn’t feel a whole lot different (to other years with how I’ve played). There has been a lot of success, but I think that comes back to the teams and systems I’ve been in.

“Being with the Roosters has really helped my football and taken it to the next level.

“Coming through, I was always more of a six. But since I joined the Roosters, ‘Strangey’ has really helped me understand the game more and take my game to the next level to take control of the team and not just be an instinctive player.”

She could go to the next level for the Marrons which is why new Sky Blues coach Strange quipped that he wouldn’t mind if the superstar playmaker missed next year’s series to focus on guiding the reigning premier Roosters to another title.

“I’ve coached against my daughter when she was at the Knights and that was a bit of a challenge, so it is what it is,” Strange said.

“We’ve only got one (Queensland) player in that squad at the moment, and fingers crossed she’s injured.”

Aiken could only laugh when she heard the sledge, with the representative halfback thrilled for her Roosters coach to get the NSW gig.

“He obviously doesn’t want me to get injured for too long because he wants me to play NRLW,” she told the NewsWire.

“I’m stoked for him. He deserves the role because I think he’s the best coach in women’s rugby league. It’s really good for State of Origin and the women’s game to have him coaching.

“I don’t think it’ll be awkward (at the Roosters). I pick his brain a lot during the season, so it’ll definitely be interesting with the game plan he comes up with against me.”