Long-serving North Harbour rugby union rep Jules Newman made a spectacular transition to rugby



league as a 30-year-old in 2019, snaring a Warriors NRLW contract and Kiwi Ferns honours just



months after her code switch.







Encouraged to take part in a Warriors trial during the 2019 pre-season, Mosgiel-born Newman’s



athleticism and potential was immediately apparent. She took a rugby league crash course in the



Auckland club competition with Mount Albert and was named in the Kiwi Ferns’ squad for the



midyear Test against Fetu Samoa, though she was not included in the match-day 17.







Newman’s eye-catching NRLW performances at centre for the Warriors – playing all three games –



saw her named in New Zealand’s World Cup Nines squad. Her blockbusting try early in the second



half of the final was crucial to the 17-15 victory over Australia.







The aggressive outside-back capped a remarkable year by making her Test debut in the 28-8 loss to



the Jillaroos in Wollongong, chalking up 21 tackles in a tough afternoon for the Kiwi Ferns.







Newman featured in Akarana Falcons’ 2020 Sky Sports NZRL National Women’s Premiership campaign, before lining up in the 28-8 win over Fetu Samoa in Auckland as one of only five survivors of the Kiwi Ferns’ previous Test outing.