Goalkicking forward Brianna Clark received her maiden New Zealand call-up for the World Cup at the end of 2022, after playing for three NRLW clubs and representing Queensland in State of Origin.
Brisbane-born Clark was raised in Sarina in North Queensland and initially concentrated on soccer – moving to the United States during her teenage years to pursue the sport – but earned her rugby league spurs with Mackay Magpies after changing codes at the age of 22. Joining Wests Panthers in Brisbane, Clark represented the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII against Fiji in 2019.
With the Warriors drafting in Australian-based talent for the 2020 NRLW due to COVID-19’s impact, she played two games for the club and came off the bench for the Maroons in the following season’s 8-6 Origin win over the Blues.
Clark was snapped up by Gold Coast Titans for their inaugural NRLW campaign in early-2022; the prop slotted seven goals from eight attempts as her side reached the semi-finals.
After switching to Brisbane Broncos for the NRLW competition played later in 2022, the 27-year-old nabbed a spot on the plane to England for the Kiwi Ferns’ RLWC tilt. Clark was a standout for New Zealand, kicking seven goals across the opening two pool wins against France and Cook Islands despite starting on the bench, coming into the front-row for the group-stage classic against Australia, scoring a try in the semi-final defeat of England and starting the loss to the Jillaroos in the final.
Clark played eight games in both of the Broncos’ 2023-24 NRLW campaigns – including their semi-final losses in each season – and earned Kiwi Ferns selection for the Pacific Championships in the latter year, having averaged 84 metres and 21.5 tackles per game at club level.
She returned to international action with three appearances at prop, averaging 71 metres and 16 tackles against Australia and Papua New Guinea.
