NRLW Warriors NRLW Recruitment & Retention

Warriors NRLW Recruitment & Retention Discussion​

Player	2026	2027	2028	2029	2030
Laishon Albert-Jones
Kaiyah Atai
Shakira Baker		C
Gayle Broughton
Harata Butler
Metanoia Fotu-Moala
Matekino Gray
Mele Hufanga
Mya Hill-Moana
Tysha Ikenasio
Felila Kia
Ivana Lauiti'iti
Patricia Maliepo
Apii Nicholls
Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala
Capri Paekau
Emmanita Paki
Maarire Puketapu
Payton Takimoana
Lavinia Tauhalaliku
Tyra Wetere

C = Club option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, R = Relief Player, D = Development contract

Confirmed Incoming: Gayle Broughton (Brisbane Broncos), Mele Hufanga (Brisbane Broncos), Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala (Brisbane Broncos)
Confirmed Outgoing: Avery-Rose Carmont (Not extended), Emily Curtain (Option declined), Makayla El (Released), Lavinia Kitai (Not extended), Kalyn Takitimu-Cook (Option declined), Lydia Turua-Quedley (Option declined)

Confirmed Top 30 2026: 20/24
Confirmed Development 2026: 0/4

Confirmed Top 30 2027: 9/28
Confirmed Development 2027: 0/4

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[UpDaWahsAucks]

Pleased to avoid getting a hiding for the early crow. More to come on the last two signings

 

[Zaggo]

need 1 more middle and possibly a 7 I reckon

We need a hooker or two way more than a 7.

 

[Leon Black]

need 1 more middle and possibly a 7 I reckon

Nah one of Gayle or Maliepo can play 7, if they can snare a hooker with a better kick than the pair we had this season

 

[Leon Black]

Pleased to avoid getting a hiding for the early crow. More to come on the last two signings

No hidings - you got your news earlier than forecasted

 

[mtsmart]

A quartet of star signings have been inked by the Warriors women, but will not be announced until the conclusion of the current NRLW season.


Coach Ron Griffiths said among them will include former union stars and a league legend.


"We've got four, world-class players coming in. Experienced, world-class players to add on to what we have already got, no doubt we are losing some, but we retained who we needed to in the current squad and they'll get to play alongside these world-class, experienced players."


He said the signings will be sure to get the attention of the rugby league world.


"Three of them actually have been great names in rugby that are now playing rugby league and one of them is just an out rugby league player, rugby league royalty in terms of the name and what she down in the game, and they're all coming home."

This was the article posted couple of weeks ago. Trying to figure out where Mele Hufanga fits. Gayle is 1 of the 3 union players. Mele started out in union as well. So awaiting with excitement who the out-and-out leaguie is. Can't be Mackenzie Wiki, she's with the Raiders next season, otherwise she'd fit the description of coming from league royalty. Anyway, she had a mixed 2025, got dropped for a while. But we definitely need a quality hooker, maybe a backup halfback and perhaps a winger with gas. Haven't really seen Payton running in space so can't tell how quick she really is. Wetere got that intercept but couldn't outgas the fullback. Need someone with the speed of a Tamika Upton or Julia Robinson or Jamie Chapman.

 

[UpDaWahsAucks]

No surprises but claude nuuausala should be next cab off the rank in terms of announcements, don't want to bob the build ups too much but I'd expect it next week

 

[Canadian_Warriors_Fan]

No surprises but claude nuuausala should be next cab off the rank in terms of announcements, don't want to bob the build ups too much but I'd expect it next week

She would also fit the rugby league royalty point that Griffith mentioned in that article.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

So awaiting with excitement who the out-and-out leaguie is. Can't be Mackenzie Wiki, she's with the Raiders next season, otherwise she'd fit the description of coming from league royalty.

It's probably Georgia Hale. Her father Laurie is NZRL royalty. And Georgia Hale is held in the highest regard in NZ & Aus.

 

[mtsmart]

Maliepo is my 7. Gale is more of a runner , Short ball into gaps specialist. Maliepo is similar, with more tricks up her sleeves. Kicking game is superior to gale.

Mate, if you'd watched the preliminary GF match between Brisbane and Newcastle you'd seen an awesome kicking display from Gayle. Two bombs from her led directly to tries. I think at this stage her passing and organizing on attack is better than Petu's, but Maliepo has potential to develop to become better than Gayle given her age. Not sure who of the two Griffiths will put at 7, preseason will sort that out. It's like the Cleary-Moses situation for the Blues (which I thought wasn't a successful pairing).

 

[mtsmart]

Interesting that Ethan Strange’s sister chose the Kiwis — clearly their old man taught them their roots.

Shame that Olivia Kernick doesn't feel the same. Born in West Auckland, her mum is māori and Olivia's played for māori All Stars but she's gone for Aussie representation. Yet Jasmin Strange has lived in OZ her entire life. Too bad her brother doesn't want to go for the Kiwis.

 

[JaggedJ]

For us NRLW novices - how much better do these signings make us? Where are we still lacking?

 

[Zaggo]

Shame that Olivia Kernick doesn't feel the same. Born in West Auckland, her mum is māori and Olivia's played for māori All Stars but she's gone for Aussie representation. Yet Jasmin Strange has lived in OZ her entire life. Too bad her brother doesn't want to go for the Kiwis.

Might've been that Jasmin could see it would be incredibly difficult to get a Roos jumper, whereas more likely to get a Kiwis one.

Kernick is a league above in terms of talent though, so it is disappointing she didn't pick NZ.

 

[mtsmart]

Might've been that Jasmin could see it would be incredibly difficult to get a Roos jumper, whereas more likely to get a Kiwis one.

Kernick is a league above in terms of talent though, so it is disappointing she didn't pick NZ.

Strange also qualifies for England thru her mum. There were articles earlier in the year where Strange was saying she'd love to represent England. Maybe her old man changed her mind.

 

[WahsaurusRex]

A quartet of star signings have been inked by the Warriors women, but will not be announced until the conclusion of the current NRLW season.

"Three of them actually have been great names in rugby that are now playing rugby league and one of them is just an out rugby league player, rugby league royalty in terms of the name and what she down in the game, and they're all coming home."

So somehow, I never read this quote properly, even though I keep coming back to it lol, I had read it as three signings- two former union players, and one league player.

Have gone through to find see what NZer girls are off contract, and are Union converts..

Cheyelle Robins-Reti: Raiders Centre, Formerly with Matatu
Moana Courtenay: Bulldogs Centre, Formerly with North Harbour
Monica Tagoai: Bulldogs Centre, Formerly with Hurricanes Poua
*Brooke Anderson: Sharks Lock/Hooker, Formerly with Australian 7s
Niall Williams-Guthrie: Titans Centre, We all know her lol
Grace Kukutai: Knights Bench Forward, Formerly with Chiefs Manawa
Keighley Simpson: Knights Winger, Formerly with Matatu
Pia Tapsell: Dragons Bench Middle, Formerly with Chiefs Manawa
Terina Te Tamaki: Tigers Winger, Formerly with New Zealand 7s

Not really "coming home" if it was Brooke Anderson since she is Aussie-born and raised, but Griffiths (assuming what I have heard is correct) also referred to Nu'uausala as "rugby league royalty in terms of the name" so there is that.

She stands out from that bunch, being able to play dummy half. Could easily slot in at 14 and give Paekau and Jones a spell

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Mate, if you'd watched the preliminary GF match between Brisbane and Newcastle you'd seen an awesome kicking display from Gayle

Sorry bud, I can't torture myself too much. I try to skip any broncos games where possible.

I have seen some broncos games And a Kiwi test & gayles general play in those games were terrible. Altho, Her running & short passing was on point.

 

[sup42]

For us NRLW novices - how much better do these signings make us? Where are we still lacking?

Scoring points will obviously be most impacted by the arrival of Mele.

Our two sixes are gonna drift a lot, at the risk of running themselves out of room.

Mele is very good at cutting back on the inside, reversing the angles and when she does it, no one wants to tackle her.

So yeah Mele is the big signing in my books, I never thought we would get the most feared player in the NRLW here, usually that type of elite Kiwi player stays at a big club.

I can see what Griffiths is doing, this year we managed to learn some nice set plays, simple but effective, with Gale and Mele coming we will be able to move the opposition around a lot more than just mauling them through the middle.

We have the best pack already, Lauitiiti looks set for a big career, and a few others, but she plays like her Dad.

I just wish we had of signed a halfback, but hey, maybe these Frankenbrides we have can be shaped into a semblance of a seven....we will see.

 

[Teets]

We have the best pack already, Lauitiiti looks set for a big career, and a few others, but she plays like her Dad.

Roosters probably have the best pack. Already a GF level pack with a machine in Millie Boyle to come back at prop and Kernick is in the conversation for best player in the game.

 

[enterthewarrior]

Hufanga is a huge signing and will improve our attack even more. Such a shame Emily Curtain got injured as she was starting to come along nicely in the 7 position . I would have would have re signed her. The biggest problem was our defence and discipline. Should hopefully improve next year.

 

[sup42]

Roosters probably have the best pack. Already a GF level pack with a machine in Millie Boyle to come back at prop and Kernick is in the conversation for best player in the game.

At the moment the Roosters have better everything.

But you can see they are a finished product with lots of polish, our Pack is raw and rough and needing experience plus a great hooker.

But I like the spirit of our pack, plenty of times when we are getting a hiding you see our forwards get angry and start holding the ball and taking to the opposition.

We just need time and top coaching, plus dummy half service and I think we will power over all of them.

 

[Leon Black]

A quartet of star signings have been inked by the Warriors women, but will not be announced until the conclusion of the current NRLW season.


Coach Ron Griffiths said among them will include former union stars and a league legend.


"We've got four, world-class players coming in. Experienced, world-class players to add on to what we have already got, no doubt we are losing some, but we retained who we needed to in the current squad and they'll get to play alongside these world-class, experienced players."


He said the signings will be sure to get the attention of the rugby league world.


"Three of them actually have been great names in rugby that are now playing rugby league and one of them is just an out rugby league player, rugby league royalty in terms of the name and what she down in the game, and they're all coming home."

This was the article posted couple of weeks ago. Trying to figure out where Mele Hufanga fits. Gayle is 1 of the 3 union players. Mele started out in union as well. So awaiting with excitement who the out-and-out leaguie is. Can't be Mackenzie Wiki, she's with the Raiders next season, otherwise she'd fit the description of coming from league royalty. Anyway, she had a mixed 2025, got dropped for a while. But we definitely need a quality hooker, maybe a backup halfback and perhaps a winger with gas. Haven't really seen Payton running in space so can't tell how quick she really is. Wetere got that intercept but couldn't outgas the fullback. Need someone with the speed of a Tamika Upton or Julia Robinson or Jamie Chapman.

Ron predicts Payton will take over long term as a fullback and has a ton of speed.