NRLW NRLW and Women's Rugby League General Discussion 2023

Allo

Allo

State of Origin Captain
Forum Staff
Sep 28, 2012
11,550
10,018
This thread is for general women's rugby league news and discussion for non-Broncos NRLW, Origin, BMD and Harvey Norman NSW Premierships (QLD and NSW Cup) and the Jillaroos

Despite there being guaranteed crossover with rep and QCup, I'd appreciate if we can keep a bit of separation as there will be a thread in Broncos Talk as well

The women's game has become a bit of a passion project of mine on here, but please don't feel you can't contribute and join in

Signing Summary
BRISBANE BRONCOS
Re-Signed:
Ali Brigginshaw
Shenae Ciesiolka
Brianna Clark
Jada Ferguson
Julia Robinson
Chelsea Lenarduzzi
Annetta Nu'uausala
Hannah Larsson
Hayley Maddick
Jasmine Fogavini
Lavinia Gould
New Signings:
Gayle Broughton (Eels)
Romy Teitzel (Knights)
Destiny Brill (Roosters)
Tazmin Gray (Titans)
Filomina Hanisi (Eels)
Mele Hufanga (Kiwi Ferns)
Ashleigh Werner (AUS Bobsleigh/HN WT)
Lauren Dam (Norths)
Mariah Denman (Capras/returning)
Grace Griffin (Norths)
Tafito Lafaele (NZ Rugby)
Toni Hunt (Wynnum/returning)
Development:
Skyla Adams (TG Roosters)
Keisha-Leigh Coolwell (Easts)
Montoya Hudson (Easts)
Narikah Orchard (Easts)
Losses:
Amber Hall
Sara Sautia
Jaime Chapman
Emily Bass
Dannii Perese
Kaitlyn Phillips
Sophie Holyman
Shakiah Tungai
Tarryn Aiken
Tallisha Harden
Nita Maynard
Unsigned:
Amy Turner
Crystal Tamarua
Paige Parker
Signed: 23/24 + 4/4
Coach: Scott Prince

WESTS TIGERS
CANBERRA RAIDERS
CRONULLA SHARKS
Re-Signed:
Re-Signed:
Re-Signed:
N/A
N/A
N/A
New Signings:
New Signings:
New Signings:
Kezie Apps (Dragons)
Sarah Togatuki (Roosters)
Botille Vette-Welsh (injured/Eels)
Navjada George (Eels)
Rikeya Horne (Eels)
Losana Lutu (Eels)
Christian Pio (Eels)
Tess Staines (Eels)
Sophie Curtain (HN WT)
Emily Curtain (HN WT)
Bianca Bennetts (HN WT)
Rebecca Pollard (HN WT)
Imogen Gobran (HN WT)
Hope Tevaga (HN WT)
Josie Lenaz (HN WT)
Ebony Prior (HN WT)
Jessica Kennedy (HN WT)
Leianne Tufuga (Roosters)
Jakiya Whitfield (Knights)
Salma Nour (Dragons)
Pauline Piliae-Rasabale (HN WT)
Taylor Osborne (HN WT)
Eliza Siilata (TG WT)
Folau Vaki (HN WT)
Simaima Taufa (Eels)
Zahara Temara (Roosters)
Madison Bartlett (Titans)
Monalisa Soliola (Dragons)
Sophie Holyman (Broncos)
Ash Quinlan (Eels)
Shakiah Tungai (Broncos)
Hollie-Mae Dodd (York Valkyrie)
Chante Temara (Roosters)
Mackenzie Wiki (Cook Is)
Tommaya Kelly-Sines (Mounties)
Felice Quinlan (Burleigh)
Ua Ravu (PNG)
Elise Smith (Yass Magpies)
Apii Nicholls (Titans)
Kerehitina Matua (Cook Is)
Jessica Gentle (Knights)
Ella Ryan (Waratahs)
Tara Reinke (Easts Tigers)
Ahlivia Ingram (IAS/PMXIII)
Petesa Lio (Mounties)
Grace Kemp (Brumbies)
Cheyelle Robins-Reti (NZRU)
Emma Barnes (Wynnum)
Emma Tonegato (Dragons)
Quincy Dodd (Dragons)
Holli Wheeler (Dragons)
Jada Taylor (HN Sharks)
Andie Robinson (Dragons)
Talei Holmes (Dragons)
Tegan Dymock (Dragons)
Kiana Takairangi (Knights)
Maddie Studdon (HN Sharks)
Tayla Preston (Eels)
Ellie Johnston (Eels)
Brooke Anderson (Eels)
Cassie Staples (Dragons)
Rhiannon Byers (AUS 7s)
Vanessa Foliaki (Eels)
Harata Butler (NZRL/ Rabbitohs)
Fatafehi Hanisi (TG Dragons)
Jazmon Tupou-Witchman (HN Sharks)
Chloe Saunders (HN Sharks)
Georgia Ravics (Bulldogs)
Sereana Naitokatoka (Mounties)
Fiona Jahnke (Norths)
Annessa Biddle (NZRL)
Tiana Penitani (Eels)
Development:
Development:
Development:
Georgia Willey (TG Raiders)
Alanna Dummett (Mounties)
Janelle Williams (Mounties)
Aaliyah Lomas (TG Raiders)
Losses:
Losses:
Losses:
N/A
N/A
N/A
Unsigned:
Unsigned:
Unsigned:
N/A
N/A
N/A
Signed: 24/24 + 0/4
Signed: 24/24 + 4/4
Signed: 24/24 + 0/4
Coach: Brett Kimmorley
Coach: Darren Borthwick
Coach: Tony Herman


GOLD COAST TITANS
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
NORTH QLD COWBOYS
Re-Signed:
Re-Signed:
Re-Signed:
Evania Pelite
Lauren Brown
Jessika Elliston
Shannon Mato
Hailee-Jay Ormond-Maunsell
Zara Canfield
Laikha Clarke
Karina Brown
Steph Hancock
Brittany Breayley-Nati
Gerorgia Hale
Tamika Upton
Yasmin Clydsdale
Hannah Southwell
Jesse Southwell
Caitlan Johnston
Shanice Parker
Caitlin Moran
Olivia Higgins
Simone Karpani
Tamsin Barber
Tayla Predebon
Kayla Romaniuk
N/A
New Signings:
New Signings:
New Signings:
Shaylee Bent (Dragons)
Jaime Chapman (Broncos)
Emily Bass (Broncos)
Dannii Perese (Broncos)
Kaitlyn Phillips (Broncos)
Taliah Fuimaono (Dragons)
Niall Williams (Rugby Union)
Brooke Saddler (dev upgrade)
Sophie Buller (dev upgrade)
Chantay Kiria-Ratu (dev upgrade)
Sienna Lofipo (dev upgrade)
Destiny Mino-Sinapati (dev upgrade)
Rilee Jorgensen (dev upgrade)
Jasmin Strange (Roosters)
Jules Kirkpatrick (dev upgrade)
Jayde Herdegen (Broncos dev)
Rima Butler (Eels)
Abigail Roache (NZ Ferns)
Laishon Albert-Jones (NZ/Mounties)
Tamerah Leati (Wenty)
Felila Kia (Wynnum-Manly)
Nita Maynard (Broncos)
Sheridan Gallagher (Mounties)
Viena Tinao (Steelers)
Kirra Dibb (Knights)
Emma Manzelmann (Knights)
Jasmine Peters (Titans)
Shaniah Power (Roosters)
Talulah Tillett (Cutters)
Essay Banu (Cutters)
Shellie Long (Souths Logan)
Sera Koroi (Souths Logan)
Jessikah Reeves (CC Roosters)
Francesca Goldthorp (Leeds)
Sareka Mooka (Cutters)
Makenzie Weale (Knights)
April Ngatupuna (Titans)
Jetaya Faifua (Titans)
Bree Chester (Knights dev)
Mia Middleton (IAS)
China Polata (Cutters)
Tallisha Harden (Broncos)
Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly (Knights)
Tiana Raftstrand-Smith (Titans)
Shaylee Joseph (CC Roosters)
Krystal Blackwell (NSWRL Country)
Vitalina Naikore (Fiji Rugby)
Merewalesi Rokouono (Fiji Rugby)
Development:
Development:
Development:
Estanoa Faitala (U19 Easts)
Matekino Gray (Burleigh)
Lily-Rose Kolc (Burleigh)
Malaela Sua (Easts)
Tylah Vallance (HN Knights)
Jacinta Carter (HN Knights)
Tazmyne Luschwitz (HN Knights)
Evie Jones (TG Knights)
Libby Surha (Cutters)
Lily Peacock (Cutters)
Lillian Yarrow (Capras)
Ebony Raftstrand-Smith (Keebra)
Losses:
Losses:
Losses:
Tazmin Gray
Jasmine Peters
Madison Bartlett
Roxy Murdoch-Masila
Apii Nicholls
Tiana Raftstrand-Smith
Millie Boyle
Bobbi Law
Romy Teitzel
Emma Manzelmann
Kirra Dibb
Makenzie Weale
Jakiya Whitfield
Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly
N/A
Unsigned:
Unsigned:
Unsigned:
Kimiora Breayley-Nati
Annette Brander
Hagiga Mosby
Rona Peters
Emmanita Paki
Nicole Nathan
N/A
Signed: 24/24 + 4/4
Signed: 23/24 + 4/4
Signed: 24/24 + 4/4
Coach: Karyn Murphy
Coach: Ron Griffiths
Coach: Ben Jeffries


PARRAMATTA EELS
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Re-Signed:
Re-Signed:
Re-Signed:
Kennedy Cherrington
Abbi Church
Zali Fay
Rueben Cherrington
Cassey Tohi-Hiku
Ruby-Jean Kennard-Ellis
Renee Targett
Tara McGrath-West
Page McGregor
Keele Brown
Zali Hopkins
Teagan Berry
Isabelle Kelly
Keilee Joseph
Olivia Kernick
Otesa Pule
Jessica Sergis
Mya Hill-Moana
Kalosipani Hopoate
Jocelyn Kelleher
Jayme Fressard
Shawden Burton
Joeli Morris
Shannon Rose
New Signings:
New Signings:
New Signings:
Rachael Pearson (Dragons)
Elsie Albert (Dragons)
Nakia Davis-Welsh (HN Sharks)
Jade Fonua (Wenty)
Amelia Mafi (Wenty)
Shannon Muru (Rabbitohs)
Pihuka Duff (Rabbitohs)
Tyla Amiatu (Wenty)
Capri Paekau (Rabbitohs)
Rosemarie Beckett (Wenty)
Mahalia Murphy (Wallaroos)
Monique Donovan (Rabbitohs)
Kyra Simon (Knights)
Shotelle Stowers (Dragons)
Madeline Jones (CC Roosters)
Talesha O'Neill (returning)
Kelsey Clark (CC Roosters)
Raecene McGregor (Roosters)
Bobbi Law (Knights)
Sara Sautia (Broncos)
Roxy Murdoch-Masila (Titans)
Angelina Teakaraanga Katoa (Roosters)
Taylor-Adeline Mapasua (Norths)
Jamilee Bright (NSB)
Cortez Te Pou (Bulldogs)
Alexis Tauaneai (Bulldogs)
Kaarla Cowan (Steelers)
Maddison Weatherall
Ella Koster (TG Steelers)
Margot Vella (Waratahs)
Macie Carlile (Sharks)
Sophie Clancy (Knights)
Tayla Curtis (HN Sharks)
Shenai Lendill (Bulldogs)
Sarah Riordan (Wallaroos)
Tyla Nathan-Wong (Rugby 7s)
Millie Boyle (Knights)
Amber Hall (Broncos)
Keeley Davis (Dragons)
Tarryn Aiken (Broncos)
Teuila Fotu-Moala (NZ)
Lily Rogan (Steelers)
Tavarna Papalii (dev)
Tyler Bentley (NZ)
Alexandrea Kiriwi (NSB)
Corban Baxter (returning)
Brydie Parker (returning)
Development:
Development:
Development:
Ferris Sandboe
Bronte Wilson
Madison Mulhall
Kasey Reh
Losses:
Losses:
Losses:
Gayle Broughton
Simaima Taufa
Ash Quinlan
Navjada George
Losana Lutu
Christian Pio
Tess Staines
Rikeya Horne
Filomina Hanisi
Brooke Walker (AFL)
Ellie Johnston
Brooke Anderson
Tayla Preston
Rima Butler
Tiana Penitani
Vanessa Foliaki
Emma Tonegato
Keeley Davis
Shaylee Bent
Monalisa Soliola
Tahliah Fuimaono
Kezie Apps
Rachael Pearson
Quincy Dodd
Holli Wheeler
Elsie Albert
Andie Robinson
Talei Holmes
Tegan Dymock
Cassie Staples
Shotelle Stowers
Raecene McGregor
Sam Bremner (retirement)
Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa
Destiny Brill
Zahara Temara
Sarah Togatuki
Shaniah Power
Chante Temara
Jasmin Strange
Leianne Tufuga
Unsigned:
Unsigned:
Unsigned:
Shirley Mailangi
Luisa Yaranamua
Aliti Namoce-Sagano
Chantel Tugaga
Samantha Economos
Signed: 23/24 + 0/4
Signed: 25(?)/24 + 0/4
Signed: 23/24 + 0/4
Coach: Dean Widders
Coach: Jamie Soward
Coach: John Strange


 
Obviously the major news so far this year has been the CBA negotiations and the request for the girls to be included and have security with multi-year deals that negates being injured (or pregnant, not that it's an injury of course) and left without a possible contract, having private health covered by the league instead of their own pocket if the club may not choose to do so, as well as being able to have a clear idea about wage growth and the path to everyone being full-time athletes and not have to choose between work and playing.

That's the gist of it but the media release covers more for both NRL and NRLW:


Also Sam Bremner announced her retirement last week. One of the more well-known women league players, she unfortunately missed a fair bit of the prime of her career to pregnancy and injury and only played 9 games of NRLW over 5 possible seasons.

Repped NSW 7 times and the JIllaroos 9 times also for 14 tries and part of the last three Australian squads to win the World Cups in 2013, 2017 and 2021 (2022)
 
NZ Maori and Indigenous All-Stars Squads:

1675086556202


1675086575794


Credit: NRLW Instagram
 
Former Broncos coach Kelvin Wright will help prepare Brazil for the 2025 World Cup in France.

Bigger article from late last year details how much the World Cup may influence NRLW squads

 
Story from News Corpse but I nicked it off Reddit:

"The NRL is on the brink of a landmark agreement for the women’s game with NRLW players set to be part of a 20-week season and operate under an unprecedented $1.5 million salary cap.
The historic proposal is in the final stages of being ratified after the NRL and RLPA spent the past week thrashing out the critical details which have been at the centre of the ugly dispute between head office and the players union.
The fight over women’s funding had threatened to escalate into potential industrial action by the men’s players during the NRL Pre-season Challenge.
The Daily Telegraph obtained a leaked copy of the proposal late on Monday night which features joint NRL and RLPA letterhead and confirms the women’s game is poised to enter the professional era under a charter that includes:
  • A $900,000 salary cap in 2023, which rises to $1.518 million in 2027;
  • A minimum wage of $30,000 in 2023, which rises to $50,600 in 2027;
  • A significant rise in workload with a 20 week season slated in 2023 and 2024, expanding to 23 weeks by 2025;
  • Every club will have 24 players and four development players;
  • Support for pregnant players as well as leave provisions; and
  • Every club to be funded with a designated NRLW welfare officer.
Also included in the private and confidential proposal is that female players will receive 50 per cent of premiership prizemoney.
Crucially, the players union and NRL appear to have agreed on flexibility for expansion from 10 teams in 2023.
The race will now be on for clubs to sign the game’s elite women with the documentation indicating that clubs have a deadline until May 24 to reach their roster quota.
It was only last Saturday that the NRL sent a memo to clubs forecasting a potential breakthrough in finalising the historic NRLW agreement.
“We have agreed the major key terms for the NRLW CBA, subject to a few matters which we will work with NRLW clubs and the Commission on,’’ the statement to clubs read.
“This is a very positive step.’’

With the NRLW agreements all but complete the NRL and players union can turn their attention to finalising a deal for the men."


Absolutely ridiculous to have a 20-week season for semi-professional athletes and still only paying them 30k for six months to probably get injured because even QCup and lower leagues don't play this long. Oh and you only have squads of a max 28 players

Not to mention Vlandiddly basically gave the TV rights away for nothing in that last deal, and now the rights holders have more content to shill their gambling ads for free, so that salary cap is insult to that injury.

Also that last line sounds like they're baiting people into thinking the women would (and still might be if the RLPA don't agree) be the delay if the players followed through on strike action and the season doesn't start on time. News under instruction to spin this favourably and tow the party line the NRL has set with how they've put this statement to the clubs
 
The NRL and RLPA have reached an in-principle agreement for the terms of the women's competition portion of the new CBA. It matches the information from the story I posted above, but the key details are about the length of the competition and the pay scale:

Clubs will have a top 24 squad list with funding for investment in 4 development players for the NRL Telstra Women’s Premiership. The NRLW salary cap rises from $350,000 in 2022 to $900,000 in 2023 with annual salary caps over the 5-year cycle set as follows;
  • 2023 – $900,000
  • 2024 – $1,020,000
  • 2025 – $1,254,000
  • 2026 – $1,386,000
  • 2027 – $1,518,000
The minimum NRLW salaries over the 5-year cycle are set as follows;
  • 2023 – $30,000
  • 2024 – $34,000
  • 2025 – $41,800
  • 2026 – $46,200
  • 2027 – $50,600
All players will also have access to Wellbeing & Education support and access to injury hardship and other player support funds.

The NRLW season will have a total period of 20 weeks in 2023 :

seven weeks of pre-season
nine-round regular season
semi-finals
Grand Final
two weeks of leave


(growing to 23 weeks by 2025)


Personally I think minimum wage is a tad unders still - at least to begin with, but that they aren't playing for 7 weeks means it's not as bad as it originally looked and some players are likely to still be able to work if they can manage it

That long pre-season is going to do wonders for team's getting used to each other and working out positions and combinations, along with the usual fitness and conditioning. Although they may consider 'pre-season' to just be the BMD/HNWP competitions that have started already (or about to for BMD)

I just want signings to start soon. Getting real anxious about who we'll keep
 
Seven week preseason seems excessive. Couldn’t they do 4 weeks and then have a 12 round season?

Why have 12?

There's only 10 teams. At least this way it's fair with everyone playing each other once unlike the men's that's dictated by the network and unbalanced

Depending on if they plan to sync up with the men's and play the same amount of finals (Top 6 giving elimination, qualifiers, prelim, grand final?) means they'll start around the weekend of the 7th July

7 weeks back from that is mid-late May when the State Comps wrap up as BMD only play seven rounds and NSW Cup play eleven (more teams but have already started)

You've also got Origin and the National Championships in that 7 week period as well (although almost none of the elites play that anymore) so it's not like they aren't playing most of the year still
 
Former Broncos coach Kelvin Wright will help prepare Brazil for the 2025 World Cup in France.

Bigger article from late last year details how much the World Cup may influence NRLW squads


Adding to this, one of the French players has come to Australia to improve and play a higher quality game

Roosters kind of makes sense for the Frenchies anyway:

 

Article about SBW's sister possibly joining the NRLW

The more interesting part is the bit about the Titans signing a Jillaroos half. Not sure of the status of Loz Brown (who is a hooker despite her want to be a half) as she's left Burleigh to try and be a firefighter, but combined this makes me think it's Aiken 😭
 
Emma Tonegato, Keeley Davis, Shaylee Bent, Holli Wheeler, Taliah Fuimaono, Quincy Dodd and Talei Holmes have all told Soward they're leaving the Dragons

They will have a vastly different squad this season

Plenty of talent to go round right Vlandys?
 
I don’t want to be a wet blanket but I do find it hard to think the women’s game can maintain interest over longer seasons. A few games a year is a nice novelty but the attention span of fans is really going to be tested.

Hope I’m wrong though, a massive women’s comp is only good for the game
 
I don’t want to be a wet blanket but I do find it hard to think the women’s game can maintain interest over longer seasons. A few games a year is a nice novelty but the attention span of fans is really going to be tested.

Hope I’m wrong though, a massive women’s comp is only good for the game
The thing that is stuffing them is all the nrls doing. How are you going to build a following when the players are changing clubs every season and no one knows where they'll play until practically game day.

I've followed it closely bcos the broncos were smashing it but now they aren't I can't be the least bit interested. If the players were the same from those 3 years I'd still be following bcos I'd feel that sense of loyalty and have affinity with those players.
It'd be the same for other club fans, whether they win premierships or not. When you go through highs and lows with players you link with them and in-turn support them.
It's not the players fault, the nrl has completely stuffed it, again.
 
The thing that is stuffing them is all the nrls doing. How are you going to build a following when the players are changing clubs every season and no one knows where they'll play until practically game day.

I've followed it closely bcos the broncos were smashing it but now they aren't I can't be the least bit interested. If the players were the same from those 3 years I'd still be following bcos I'd feel that sense of loyalty and have affinity with those players.
It'd be the same for other club fans, whether they win premierships or not. When you go through highs and lows with players you link with them and in-turn support them.
It's not the players fault, the nrl has completely stuffed it, again.
That broncos side was unfair on the comp and it’s better for the game that the talent was better distributed. I think you are probably being bias
 
That broncos side was unfair on the comp and it’s better for the game that the talent was better distributed. I think you are probably benign bias

It was reminiscent of our men's team in the 90s - we had the legends and basically 80% of the Qld side and won 3 (4) comps

Even though we lost a fair amount of players the 2nd and 3rd year we just kept slotting new ones in.

Teams were always going to catch up along with players choosing to leave - don't forget the players aren't being forced to move

For me, I think 4 extra teams is too many for this season. Should've been 2 more and everyone play each other twice - gives you about a 20 week comp with the Origin break. The quality stays higher because the depth is there

Teams will still only have squads of 24 with a couple of development - two or three big injuries could ruin a team for the season but also really restricts coaches in how/where/when to use players in general.

It'll only get worse when they try and take it to 12 teams. With the aging stars it'll effectively become a Olympic-style U23 type comp.

Hopefully the imports following from the World Cup will fill the gaps
 
That broncos side was unfair on the comp and it’s better for the game that the talent was better distributed. I think you are probably being bias

Of course it’s biased from him as it should be from a fan. I want the Broncos to win every year, I don’t care about the NRL at all or any other team other than the Knights which I have a very small soft spot for because of my roots. I want Brisbane to win, Melbourne to lose, the Roosters to get busted for cheating and Vlandys to get himself sacked. I couldn’t care less about anything else.
 
The thing that is stuffing them is all the nrls doing. How are you going to build a following when the players are changing clubs every season and no one knows where they'll play until practically game day.

I've followed it closely bcos the broncos were smashing it but now they aren't I can't be the least bit interested. If the players were the same from those 3 years I'd still be following bcos I'd feel that sense of loyalty and have affinity with those players.
It'd be the same for other club fans, whether they win premierships or not. When you go through highs and lows with players you link with them and in-turn support them.
It's not the players fault, the nrl has completely stuffed it, again.

Unless you pay them a full-time wage- which there isn't the money for they will keep moving for their jobs. A lot have had to change clubs because work moves them, or their husband moves.

The competition has had a massive turn over the whole time- It is roughly 40% turn Pregnancy, work and family are always going to win out when you only make on average $37,000.

It's across the board- Ali is on her fourth QRLW club.
 
That broncos side was unfair on the comp and it’s better for the game that the talent was better distributed. I think you are probably being bias
But the Sydney Roosters were the premiership favourites first year????? It only became "stacked" because they kept on winning. The nrl then decided to change the salary cap to a points system, winning a premiership meant that you were worth more "points" tearing the side apart.
 

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