16 July 2025
The 2025 NRLW competition kicked off after a long-awaited return, marking the biggest season yet. The league has grown to 12 teams, with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs joining and the New Zealand Warriors returning to the fold after last competing in 2020.
The opening two rounds delivered exciting performances, upset wins, and a number of debuts from talented wāhine who have come through domestic competitions and NZRL pathways in recent years.
These wāhine now join the existing Kiwi Ferns, other domestic graduates, and Ferns-eligible talent already in the NRLW, with an estimated 30% of all NRL players, male and female, being of New Zealand heritage.
Keep an eye out for these up-and-comers breaking onto the NRLW scene, with additional debutants already named for Round 3 and certainly more to come throughout the season.
*Paea Uilou | Prop | 19 years old | Katikati, Auckland | Manurewa Marlins
Uilou joined the Bulldogs’ Tarsha Gale Cup squad in late 2023 and ascended quickly through the ranks, being elevated into the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership side then ultimately signing with the club’s inagural NRLW squad for two years term. The young, powerful forward has been named to make her NRLW debut off the bench in Round 3 against the Dragons. Uilou was a Counties Manukau Stingray at the 2022 NZRL National Youth Tournament, and featured in the NZRL NZ Schools 18s girls representative sides in both 2022 and 2023. She starred for her school Auckland Girls Grammar at the NZRL National Secondary Schools Tournament, captaining the team to win the Championship in 2023.
Shaniece Monschau | Second Row | 23 years old | Auckland | Mt. Albert Lions
Monschau is a talented second-rower and utility who featured in the ARL Women’s Team of the Year in 2021 and 2023. She also represented the Akarana Falcons women in the NZRL Sky Sport Women’s Premiership. Monschau’s debut against the Knights in Round 1 was one to remember, setting up a try with her very first touch after coming on as an interchange. In the Bulldogs’ inaugural NRLW match, she debuted alongside her younger niece, Shaquaylah Mahakitau-Monschau, a former New Zealand netball representative that made the code switch.
Simina Lokotui | Centre |19 years old | Auckland | Mangere East Hawks
Just last year, the athletic centre starred for the Māngere East Hawks U18 girls team, Auckland Rugby League Champions in 2023. Lokotui and several of her Hawks teammates were picked up for the Bulldogs’ U19 Tarsha Gale Cup squad. She was a standout for the team scoring nine tries throughout their season earlier this year, warranting a call-up to the NRLW side. Lokotui produced a solid debut performance in Round 1, with 12 runs for 113 metres.
Jaydika Tafua | Second Row | 19 years old | Christchurch | Papanui Tigers
A star for Cronulla’s Tarsha Gale Cup and NSW Women’s Premiership teams over the past two seasons, Christchurch and Papanui Tigers product Jaydika Tafua took a momentous step in her career with her NRLW debut for the Sharks. Tafua featured in the Canterbury Rugby League 2022 18s Girls 9s squad, before making the move to Queensland. Coming off the Sharks’ bench in Round 1, the second-rower made two strong runs and seven tackles in her 14 minutes of game time.
Ashlee Matapo | Prop | 18 years old | Auckland | Northcote Tigers
18-year-old Matapo earned an earlier than expected debut in the Warriors’ first NRLW game since 2020, due to injuries in the top-24 squad. The young prop made immediate impact coming on as an interchange, making 16 tackles and 1 run in just 19 minutes of game time. Matapo represented Akarana at the NZRL National Youth Tournament in 2023 and 2024, and was also selected for the NZRL NZ Clubs 18s girls side in both years, before signing a development contract with the Warriors. Ashlee is one of four development players in the Warriors squad alongside Danii-Nicole Gray, Ivana Lauitiiti, and Sharnyze Pihema, all whom have gone through NZRL pathways in recent years.
Kaiyah Atai | Second Row | 23 years old | Auckland | Richmond Roses
Atai has been a standout in the ARL Women’s Premiership and the NZRL Sky Sport Women’s Premiership since 2020, seeing her win two National Premierships with Akarana, and the NZRL Domestic Female Player of the Year award in 2024. The Richmond Rose made 16 tackles and six hit ups in her Round 1 debut against the reigning-Champion Sydney Roosters, then topped the teams tackle count in Round 2 making 32 tackles against the Eels.
Lydia Turua-Quedley | Halfback, Hooker | 26 years old | Auckland | Mt. Albert Lions
Similar to her teammate Atai, Turua-Quedley has been a mainstay in the ARL Women’s Premiership, NZRL Women’s Championship, and NZRL Sky Sport Women’s Premiership since 2022. The halfback and utility hooker represented the Auckland Vulcans in 2022, then the Akarana Falcons in 2023 & 2024. She made her NRLW debut in Round 1, coming on as an interchange at both halfback and hooker.
Maarire Puketapu | Prop | 23 years old | Wellington | Randwick Kingfishers, Te Aroha Eels
The Lower Hutt native was a key player for her local clubs Te Aroha and Randwick, also representing the Wellington Orcas in the NZRL Sky Sport Women’s Premiership. Upon making the move to Queensland she made waves in the BMD Premiership Competition, where she caught the attention of Warriors Coach Ron Griffiths who signed her on for the 2025 season. The strong middle forward debuted in Round 1 off the bench, and in Round 2 she produced 11 runs and 22 tackles in her 35 minutes of game time.
Trinity Tauaneai | Lock, Middle | 18 years old | Wellington | Wainuiomata Lions
Young Tauaneai made her NRLW debut in Round 1, the middle forward is the younger sister of Kiwi Fern Alexis Tauaneai and has been making her own mark on the rugby league scene in recent years. Trinity featured in the first-ever NZRL Aotearoa Whaanui 16s representative team in 2022, and spearheaded the Wellington Orcas 16s Girls team in 2023 who won the NZRL National District 9s. Trinity was named 16s Girls MVP in that tournament, before moving to Sydney where she began playing NSWRL rep footy for the Bulldogs in the Tarsha Gale Cup. The impressive young lock is signed with the Dragons until the end of 2027.
Kerri Johnson | Brisbane Broncos | Wing | Blues
Martha Mataele | Parramatta Eels | Wing | Chiefs Manawa
Michaela Brake | New Zealand Warriors | Wing | Black Ferns 7s
Moana Courtenay | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Fullback | Harbour Rugby
*Monica Tagoai | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Centre | Black Ferns, Hurricanes Poua | *Named to debut in Round 3
Patricia Maliepo | New Zealand Warriors | Halfback | Black Ferns, Blues
Payton Takimoana | New Zealand Warriors | Wing | Hurricanes Poua
Pia Tapsell | St George Illawarra Dragons | Prop | Black Ferns
Shakira Baker | New Zealand Warriors | Second Row | Black Ferns, Black Ferns 7s, Hurricanes Poua
Shaquaylah Mahakitau-Monschau | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Hooker, Halfback | New Zealand Netball
Taneisha Gray | Sydney Roosters | Second Row | Māori All Stars
Terina Te Tamaki | Wests Tigers | Centre | Black Ferns 7s
*Tysha Ikenasio | New Zealand Warriors | Centre | Black Ferns 7s | *Played one season of rugby league, ARL Richmond Roses
