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2024 NRLW Signings Tracker: Warriors sign Black Ferns star
Harry Potter • September 20th, 2024 8:43 pm
Black Ferns star Shakira Baker is one of two rugby union players signed Warriors for the club’s NRLW comeback next season.
Bay of Plenty rugby union product Tyra Wetere has also been signed in the latest announcement from the club.
Baker, used at wing, centre and fullback in union, has been signed for 2025 and 2026 with a club option for 2027 while fullback-halfback Wetere has been locked in for 2025 and 2026.
Earlier, the club announced that Queensland Origin representative Emmanita Paki, double international Lavinia Tauhalaliku and New Zealand-born Gold Coast Titans forward Matekino Gray have been confirmed as the latest signings for Warriors before their comeback in 2025.
Paki has been secured for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, Tauhalaliku for 2025 and 2026 with a club option for 2027 and 19-year-old Gray for the first two years with a mutual option for 2027.
Warriors NRLW head coach Ronald Griffiths had centre-winger Paki in the first of the Newcastle sides he guided to consecutive premierships in 2022 and 2023, Paki scoring a try in the 32-12 win over Parramatta in the 2022 grand final.
The trio join earlier announcements from the Warriors including the signing of premiership winning forward Laishon Albert-Jones who will be reunited with the Warriors for their return to the competition in 2025.
The 26-year-old Knights forward has been secured for 2025 and 2026 with a mutual option for 2027. It paves the way for the Auckland-born niece of the legendary Stacey Jones to rejoin the club as a player after having a role as a Warriors Community Foundation coordinator before linking with the Knights last season.
She is the latest Kiwi Ferns representatives to sign with the club after Mya Hill-Moana, Harata Butler and Capri Paekau were confirmed as Warriors in 2025.
They join experienced Kiwi Ferns fullback Apii Nicholls who will return to the club after signing a two-year deal for 2025 and 2026.
Front rower Hill-Moana (22) has been secured for three seasons, fellow prop Butler (31) for 2025 and 2026 and hooker Paekau (23) for 2025 and 2026 with an option for 2027.
Earlier, it was announced that Nicholls would leave the Raiders to return to the Warriors where she played in the first two seasons of the NRLW before COVID forced the club to withdraw.
The 31-year-old was also a foundation player for the Raiders in 2023 and coach Darrin Borthwick said the Canberra vice-captain had been a strong contributor to the club's culture.
“Apii joined us for our inaugural season in 2023 and her professionalism and leadership has helped us establish the foundations for years to come,” Borthwick said.
“Apii has indicated to us that she will be moving on from the club due to family reasons and we support her decision.
“She will always be remembered as one of the club’s foundation NRLW players and we wish her all the best for the future.”
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs have added youth and depth with the addition of Hope Millard and Elizabeth MacGregor for the 2025 season.
Millard, who represented NSW in this year's Under 19’s State of Origin series, plays for the Illawarra Steelers Harvey Norman Women's Premiership team and was a member of the club's 2023 premiership-winning Tarsha Gale Cup side.
She has a close connection is a close one, with her father Shane having held roles in the Bulldogs pathways and Academy programs before joining St George Illawarra Dragons in recruitment.
Bulldogs Head of Pathways Adam Hartigan knows the Millard family well, highlighting Hope’s work ethic as what attracted the Bulldogs to her game: “Hope is a workhorse,” he said.
“She is a great defender who pushes up in support and doesn’t stop. She certainly has all the requirements of Bulldogs DNA in her game.”
Millard offers great reliability across the park, with the capability to play in the front row, lock or at hooker. Her youth and ability to cover multiple positions will provide good depth and opportunity for the Club’s inaugural squad.
Much like Millard, MacGregor offers great utility value for the incumbent side.
MacGregor, a NSWCC Schoolgirls representative in 2023, was personally identified by Bulldogs coach Blake Cavallaro in Parkes as a 15-year-old.
Despite being just 18 years old, Cavallaro believes the fledgling fullback will have plenty of impact on the club’s inaugural NRLW squad.
“Elizabeth is six-foot, she’s fast and she’s athletic,” Cavallaro said.
“She can play anywhere between fullback, wing and centre and her arrival to the squad will help to inject a spark that will positively influence her teammates.”
The Bulldogs have also signed Harvey Norman Women's Premiership co-captain Sarahcen Oliver signing a one-year deal for next year's NRLW campaign.
Meanwhile, the Knights have re-signed rising star Jules Kirkpatrick for a further two seasons through to the end of 2026.
“It was an easy decision to re-sign Jules, due to her great character,” said Knights coach Ben Jeffries.
“Jules constantly displays determination and grit, with a wonderful work ethic, especially during her recent 12-month rehabilitation program, enabling her to return fitter, faster and stronger for 2024."
Canterbury Bulldogs have continued building a squad for their inaugural NRLW campaign with Jillaroos representative Holli Wheeler headlining five new signings.
Wheeler shapes as a key figure in the Bulldogs' maiden season next year and will provide crucial leadership on and off the field. The forward has been playing NRLW since the competition's creation in 2018 and is currently playing a crucial role in the Sharks undefeated start to the year.
Joining the veteran at Canterbury next season are Tongan representatives Kalosipani Hopoate and Tegan Dymock, Kiwi Fern Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa and youngster Alexis Tauaneai.
All five players have signed two-year deals for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
Hopoate is currently a member of the Roosters, while Dymock plays alongside Wheeler at Cronulla.
Both Teakaraanga-Katoa and Tauaneai play for the Dragons, with Tauaneai the 2023 Tarsha Gale Cup Play of the Tournament and on track to represent New Zealand in the future.
“Bringing in this core of our forward pack is going to suit the style of footy that we want to play,” coach Blake Cavallaro said.
“I believe we have a powerful and physical pack with controlled aggression, which is a necessity in the NRLW to ensure our halves and outside backs can play to their capabilities."
Dominique du Toit is the latest Rugby 7s star to switch codes, with the Paris Olympian joining Australian team-mate Sharni Smale at the Sharks.
Du Toit was a shadow player at the Rio Games in 2016, in which Cronulla team-mate Emma Tonegato scored the winning try in the final and played at the Olympics in Tokyo in 2021 and Paris in 2024.
The 27-year-old brought down the curtain on her decorated sevens career, which included a Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2022 and four World Series triumphs, after Australia's fourth-place finish at the recent Paris Olympics.
Like Smale, who made her NRLW debut for Cronulla in Sunday's win over the Knights, du Toit has joined the ladder-leading squad as a replacement player after season-ending injuries to Jada Taylor and Grace-Lee Weekes.
The Dragons have announced that Jordyn Preston and Maria Paseka have been added to their squad as replacement players.
The club was granted an exemption to add the duo to the squad after Margot Vella and Sara Sautia unfortunately suffered season-ending injuries in Round 2.
A Shellharbour Stingrays junior, Preston has progressed through the club's pathways system, with Kiama Knights and Collegians Wollongong junior Paseka also progressing through the pathways system with the Steelers.
Wests Tigers have signed rookie forward Montana Clifford to the club for the remainder of the season as a replacement for injured co-captain Kezie Apps.
Clifford, who celebrated her 20th birthday on Monday, played alongside Wests Tigers players Brooke Talataina and Harmony Crichton at St Marys juniors and in Penrith's Tarsha Gale Cup squad.
Montana returns to Sydney after playing one season for the Burleigh Bears in the Queensland Women’s Premiership, where she played alongside her new Wests Tigers teammate, Shaianne McGlone.
The Cowboys have locked down star playmaker Tahlulah Tillett for next season and re-signed forward Bree Chester for a further two years.
Tillett, the NRL’s 2023 Veronica White Medallist for her work in the community, was one of the first signings for the Cowboys before the club entered the NRLW last season.
A proud product of Far North Queensland, Tillett has emerged as the Cowboys’ first-choice five-eighth in 2024, forming a dangerous combination with halves partner Kirra Dibb.
Chester, 22, has developed into one of North Queensland's most consistent performers after moving from second-row to lock in her second season in the NRLW.
The also announced the signing of Cook Islands international Jazmon Tupou-Witchman. The forward has played two NRLW games previously for the Sharks.
Australian Rugby 7s star Sharni Smale has switched codes after the Olympics to sign with the Cronulla Sharks.
Smale (née Williams) has been added to Cronulla's top 24 squad after season-ending injuries to fullback Jada Taylor and promising youngster Grace-Lee Weekes.
The 36-year-old has been named on the bench for Saturday's blockbuster clash with the Knights at PointsBet Stadium.
An Olympic gold medallist in 2016 alongside Sharks star Emma Tonegato, Smale's phenomenal resume also includes appearances for the Wallaroos in the 15-a-side code.
The trailblazer concluded her 12-year sevens career after Australia's fourth-place finish in Paris last week and is excited to switch to rugby league.
The Parramatta Eels have signed Breanna Eales for the remainder of the 2024 NRLW season.
The prop forward made her NRLW debut last year, making four appearances for the Broncos. She joins as an injury replacement player, after the Eels lost Boss Kapua and Rueben Cherrington for the rest of the season.
The Raiders have re-signed four of their NRLW stars through to the end of the 2026 season in a major boost for the Green Machine.
Centre Mackenzie Wiki, back-rower Monalisa Soliola, hooker Chanté Temara and playmaker Sereana Naitokatoka have all inked new deals ahead of Canberra's Round 2 clash with the Knights.
It’s very good for the stability of our team but also it shows that players want to be here," said coach Darren Borthwick.
"For those players to extend it gives us a good picture into the next few years at the club and I’m really happy that the players have chosen to remain here."
Meanwhile, New Zealand rugby sevens star Tenika Willison is set to join the Knights at the conclusion of the Paris Olympics after signing a two-year deal with the club.
The 26-year-old will arrive in Newcastle determined to provide an instant impact as they chase a third-straight NRLW title.
Willison replaces Tamerah Leati who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the pre-season and Knights coach Ben Jeffries said he hopes the rugby star will add plenty to his side.
"We have been impressed with her professional mindset, when you combine that with an extensive football and willingness to play anywhere in the backline, we believe Tenika will instantly further develop our evolving playing group," Jeffries said.
“With her ability to play anywhere in the backline, Tenika adds great depth to our squad and quality across the park, creating even more healthy competition for places in our 2024 campaign.”
Former Jillaroos star Sam Bremner will come out of retirement to join the injury-hit Roosters for the upcoming NRLW season.
The versatile back enjoyed a decorated career that began in 2011, playing for the Dragons and Roosters before retiring at the start of last year after leading the Jillaroos to victory in the 2022 World Cup. She then transitioned to coaching and was an assistant coach for the Sky Blues during the recent State of Origin series.
The Tricolours have been ravaged by injuries throughout the past couple of weeks, with Brydie Parker and Corban Baxter suffering serious injuries in last Saturday's trial against the Sharks. Shawden Burton has also been ruled out for the season with a hamstring injury.
Bremner provides cover across multiple positions and Roosters coach John Strange said her experience will prove crucial throughout the campaign.
“Sam’s skill, experience and leadership are second to none and her presence will be a huge asset to our squad," Strange said.
"While Sam is incredibly fit and has a very strong footy IQ, we won’t be rushing her into the side before she has had the opportunity to reacquaint herself with the rigors of NRLW training."
The Bulldogs have begun locking down their spine for the club's introduction into the NRLW in 2025, with Cronulla halfback Tayla Preston becoming the club's first signing followed by Raiders hooker Ashleigh Quinlan and Wests Tigers hooker Ebony Prior.
Preston will join the club next year on a two-year deal that runs through to the end of 2026.
The playmaker grew up in Canterbury and led the Bulldogs to the 2023 NSWRL Harvey Norman Premiership grand final. She made her NRLW debut with the Eels in 2022 before moving to the Sharks last year.
Quinlan has signed a two-year deal and will join the Bulldogs after playing the 2024 season with Canberra.
The 29-year-old first developed her playmaking skills as a touch football player, winning a Touch World Cup with Australia and several Trans-Tasman titles, before making the transition to Rugby League.
A dynamic five-eighth, Quinlan has demonstrated her spark in the NRLW having produced eight try assists and scored two tries across 15 appearances to date.
The Bulldogs have announced the signing of Prior for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
Prior, a talented tag-to-tackle convert, showcased her skills through the Wests Tigers Tarsha Gale and Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership squads before making her NRLW debut last season.
Quick out of dummy half and with good footwork, Cavallaro’s vision for the incumbent signing is to see her pair with Preston.
Canterbury added to the roster on Wednesday with the unveiling of Cronulla centre Andie Robinson on a two-year deal and back-rower Pauline Suli-Ruka, the first player to progress from the Bulldogs Academy to the club's inaugural NRLW squad.
