Player Bio
Powerhouse centre Mele Hufanga has joined fellow Brisbane Broncos premiership winner Gayle Broughton by signing to join the One New Zealand Warriors for the 2026 NRLW season.
Three days after confirming the 29-year-old Broughton’s two-year deal, the Warriors have banked a second huge signing coup by securing Hufanga (30) for two years with a mutual option for a third season in 2028.
The announcement follows Hufaga’s stunning performance in the Broncos’ 22-18 which saw her win the Karyn Murphy Medal as the player of the match.
The former Tonga rugby union international has been a sensation since switching to rugby league finishing her Brisbane career with 25 tries in 33 appearances in three seasons.
“We identified Mele a key recruit for the One New Zealand Warriors,” said head coach Ron Griffiths.
“She’s a powerful world-class centre who will bring a wealth of experience to our club.
“After an impressive meeting with Mele we knew that the fit was perfect for us.
“However, it was a visit to the volunteer community programme that Mele and her family run in Auckland that solidified our belief. We truly understand the magnitude of character we had enticed to our club.”
In Sunday’s grand final, Hufaga scored what proved to be the match-winning try in the 65th minute, finishing the contest with a game-high 210 metres, two line breaks, a line break assists and an astonishing 17 tackles breaks.
“It’s really special heading back home next year to the Warriors,” she said.
“And even better I get to be with my family.”
Raised in Māngere, Hufanga first made her mark in rugby union with the Auckland Storm in the Farah Palmer Cup provincial competition scoring 40 tries in just 48 appearances while she also played for the Counties Manukau Heat and appeared for Blues in the augural year of the Super Rugby Aupiki championship.
During her union career, she had a chance to represented Tonga in a rugby league Test against Niue at Go Media Stadium in 2020 scoring three tries and kicking nine goals. It was the catalyst for a switch of codes which in 2022 would see her star at the Rugby League World Cup for the Kiwi Ferns and ultimately be signed by the Broncos.
Three days after confirming the 29-year-old Broughton’s two-year deal, the Warriors have banked a second huge signing coup by securing Hufanga (30) for two years with a mutual option for a third season in 2028.
The announcement follows Hufaga’s stunning performance in the Broncos’ 22-18 which saw her win the Karyn Murphy Medal as the player of the match.
The former Tonga rugby union international has been a sensation since switching to rugby league finishing her Brisbane career with 25 tries in 33 appearances in three seasons.
“We identified Mele a key recruit for the One New Zealand Warriors,” said head coach Ron Griffiths.
“She’s a powerful world-class centre who will bring a wealth of experience to our club.
“After an impressive meeting with Mele we knew that the fit was perfect for us.
“However, it was a visit to the volunteer community programme that Mele and her family run in Auckland that solidified our belief. We truly understand the magnitude of character we had enticed to our club.”
In Sunday’s grand final, Hufaga scored what proved to be the match-winning try in the 65th minute, finishing the contest with a game-high 210 metres, two line breaks, a line break assists and an astonishing 17 tackles breaks.
“It’s really special heading back home next year to the Warriors,” she said.
“And even better I get to be with my family.”
Raised in Māngere, Hufanga first made her mark in rugby union with the Auckland Storm in the Farah Palmer Cup provincial competition scoring 40 tries in just 48 appearances while she also played for the Counties Manukau Heat and appeared for Blues in the augural year of the Super Rugby Aupiki championship.
During her union career, she had a chance to represented Tonga in a rugby league Test against Niue at Go Media Stadium in 2020 scoring three tries and kicking nine goals. It was the catalyst for a switch of codes which in 2022 would see her star at the Rugby League World Cup for the Kiwi Ferns and ultimately be signed by the Broncos.
