NZRL

134

Apii

Nicholls

Following in the footsteps of revered Kiwi Ferns fullback stalwart Sarina Fiso, Apii Nicholls has developed into a superstar of women’s rugby league since making her international debut in 2017.

A long-time Cook Islands Rugby Sevens rep, Nicholls exploded onto the rugby league scene in 2017. The Otahuhu Leopards junior won an ARL grand final with Manurewa Marlins – playing on the wing with Fiso at fullback – and featured in Counties-Manukau’s NZRL National Women’s Competition success, before getting a Kiwi Ferns call-up for the World Cup.

With Fiso unavailable for the RLWC, clubmate Nicholls took possession of the New Zealand No.1 jumper. She played four of New Zealand’s five games at the tournament, scoring a try on debut against Canada and starring in the gallant defeat to Australia in the final. The gutsy custodian was later named the Kiwi Ferns’ Player of the Year.

Nicholls was a key recruit for the Warriors’ inaugural women’s squad and played all six of the club’s NRLW games in the 2018-19 seasons, averaging 75 metres and kicking seven goals.

She was magnificent in the Kiwi Ferns’ 26-24 end-of-season Test loss in 2019, racking up 131 metres, a try-assist and two goals.

Switching to Papakura Sisters in 2019, Nicholls’ influence on the representative scene was no less striking. The police constable scored a try and a goal in the Kiwi Ferns’ 46-8 win over Fetu Samoa and was solid at the back in the Test loss to Australia either side of playing an integral role in New Zealand’s World Cup Nines triumph.

Nicholls joined Richmond Roses in 2020, scored two tries in three Sky Sports NZRL National Women’s Premiership matches for Akarana Falcons and was named in the Kiwi Ferns’ wider squad ahead of the clash with Fetu Samoa, but she did not play in the Test.

The 29-year-old returned to the NRLW scene as a fullback and centre for Gold Coast Titans in the 2022 premiership, before being named in the Kiwi Ferns' squad for the World Cup. Nicholls was a standout at the tournament, scoring tries in the pool matches against France and Australia, and slotting two goals in the semi-final defeat of England before featuring in the heavy loss to the Jillaroos in the final.

Nicholls was one of the fledgling Canberra Raiders' star signings for their inaugural NRLW campaign in 2023, wearing the No.1 jersey in all eight of their regular-season games before taking her place in the Kiwi Ferns' Pacific Championships squad.

The veteran was superb at the back in both matches against the Jillaroos - particularly the drought-breaking 12-6 victory in Melbourne as she chalked up a line-break, a try assist and 116 metres.

Announced as one of the big early signings for the Warriors NRLW return in 2025, the 31-year-old Nicholls farewelled the Raiders by playing every game of their 2024 campaign and scoring a try in her last game - a 16-12 win over the Titans - before lining up in the Kiwi Ferns' Pacific Championships squad.

Nicholls played both matches against the Jillaroos, topping 100 running metres in the twin losses.

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134

Apii

Nicholls

PROFILE

Height M

163

WEIGHT KG

DOB

Feb 26, 1993

HIGHLIGHTS

Test matches

Test points

CANBERRA RAIDERS (2023-2024)

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Dylan Brown, Joseph Tapine, and Apii Nicholls shortlisted for Golden Boot

The Kiwis' Dylan Brown and Joseph Tapine, and Kiwi Ferns' Apii Nicholls have been named as finalists for the 2025 IRL Golden Boot awards following the Pacific Championships.

Dylan Brown, who will join Newcastle next season on a 10-year contract, was a standout for the Kiwis in their successful Pacific Cup campaign, winning the tournament for the second time in three years by beating Samoa in the final with Brown earning Player of the Match.

Tapine, the Canberra Raiders captain, was consistently one of the Kiwis' best forwards and has again made the Golden Boot shortlist after being narrowly edged out by team-mate James Fisher-Harris for the award in 2023 when the Kiwis inflicted a record 30-0 defeat of Australia in the final.

Kiwi Ferns fullback Apii Nicholls was one of the best female players on the international stage in 2025, leading the Kiwi Ferns from the back in a stunning comeback win over Fetū Samoa, and two losses to the current world-champion Jillaroos.

Kiwis Joseph Manu and James Fisher-Harris were consecutive Golden Boot winners in 2022 and 2023, alongside Kiwi Ferns co-captains Raecene McGregor in 2022 and Georgia Hale in 2023.

The IRL Golden Boot is awarded to the best player in sanctioned rugby league international matches each year.

As seen on intrl.sport/article

Nicholls to captain Warriors in NRLW comeback season

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. Read more on nrl.com