25 June 2025
As seen on nrl.com
Seven years after making her debut in the Warriors’ foundation NRLW side, Kiwi Fern #134 Apii Nicholls has been named to captain the club in its return to the competition after a five-year absence.
The 32-year-old fullback’s appointment was announced at launch of the Warriors’ 2025 campaign on Monday night.
NRLW Warrior #2 Nicholls was the first player signed when One New Zealand Warriors head coach Ron Griffiths set about building his squad for the long-awaited return to the showpiece of the women’s game.
She was at fullback when the Warriors opened their inaugural campaign by stunning the fancied Roosters 10-4 at Accor Stadium in Sydney on September 8, 2018.
And they will launch their comeback against the same opponents – and 2024 premiers – at Allianz Stadium on Sunday, July 6.
Nicholls brings vast experience to the role counting 28 appearances for the Warriors, Gold Coast Titans and Canberra Raiders.
“Apii is the only original New Zealand Warriors NRLW player to return home for our reintroduction to the NRLW competition. This speaks volumes about her loyalty and her strength of character,” said Griffiths.
“Furthermore her actions on and off the field personify a Warriors captain – hardworking and humble, someone who always puts everyone else’s needs above hers.”
After playing all six matches in the Warriors’ first two NRLW seasons in 2018 and 2019 – when it was a four-team competition – Nicholls missed the Covid-affected 2020 and 2021 campaigns before signing with the Titans.
“I’m truly blessed. I’m so proud to be part of this team,” Nicholls told fellow players, staff and guests at the season launch.
“It was an emotional moment (when Ron told me). I feel really honoured to be here and I’m grateful to Ron who has believed in me from the start.
“I want to do what I think I do best by leading with my actions and keeping us connected as a team.
“I give true acknowledgement to the pioneers of the game. For the younger girls in New Zealand there’s now a pathway because of them.”
When she signed last September, Nicholls said: “Playing for Warriors is always where I wanted to end up, it’s home. And the opportunity to help grow and guide some of our awesome local talent is something that really excites me.”
A 16-Test Kiwi Fern, Ōtāhuhu Leopards junior Nicholls was a finalist for the women’s Golden Boot award in 2023 and was named in the team of the tournament at the 2022 Rugby League World Cup in the United Kingdom.
The mother of two has represented the Kiwi Ferns at two Rugby League World Cups in 2017 and 2022, helped the Kiwi Ferns to the Rugby League World Cup 9s title in 2019 and had a key role in the 12-6 Pacific Championship win over the Jillaroos in Melbourne in 2023 which ended a seven-year drought.
After last playing in the NRLW in 2020, the Warriors are one of two teams added to the expanded 12-team competition next year, the other being the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs who have former Warrior Brayden Wiliame as head coach.
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