NRLW NRLW and Women's Rugby League General Discussion 2024

[Allo]

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​

---

​

 

[Allo]

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:

What are the players’ claims? - RLPA

A NEW MEDICAL SUPPORT FUND Why? Because players are excluded from workers compensation legislation. In the current CBA players only have 12 months to have any surgeries and rehabilitation paid for that will help fix the injuries they suffered during their careers. The players want the game’s...

www.rlpa.com.au

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)

 

[Allo]

NZ Maori and Indigenous All-Stars Squads:

Credit: NRLW Instagram

 

[Allo]

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

NRLW set for international flavour as clubs eye World Cup stars

Teenage England secondrower Hollie Dodd is among a host of overseas stars considering a move to the NRLW next season.

www.nrl.com

 

[Allo]

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

 

[Allo]

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

 

[Sproj]

Seven week preseason seems excessive. Couldn’t they do 4 weeks and then have a 12 round season?

 

[Allo]

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

 

[Allo]

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

NRLW set for international flavour as clubs eye World Cup stars

Teenage England secondrower Hollie Dodd is among a host of overseas stars considering a move to the NRLW next season.

www.nrl.com

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:

French connection: Roosters help Perrine chase NRLW dream

French second-rower Perrine Monsarrat has taken the first step towards fulfilling her NRLW dream by moving to Sydney to train and play under the watchful eye of Roosters coach John Strange.

www.nrl.com

 

[Allo]

Williams Guthrie confirms NRLW switch on the cards

New Zealand rugby sevens star Niall Williams Guthrie has confirmed she’s received interest from NRLW clubs for the 2023 season and looks set to make a move to rugby league this year.

www.nrl.com

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

 

[Allo]

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?

 

[theshed]

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

 

[Lockysillegitimatechild]

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.

 

[theshed]

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

 

[Allo]

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

 

[Sproj]

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.

 

[1910]

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.

 

[Lockysillegitimatechild]

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.