Makes for sad reading.... but that's the reality of NRLW contracts versus what Australian and New Zealand Rugby are offering the female athletes.
22 rugby converts to hit the NRLW
Martha Mataele (Eels)
ESTABLISHED STAR
Age: 25
Position: Outside back
Showed how destructive she can be on a defensive line in the NRLW trials for the Eels. Has plenty of professional rugby experience most recently with Western Force and the Black Ferns.
Shakira Bake (Warriors)
ESTABLISHED STAR
Age: 33
Position: Centre
Another player with a stack of professional rugby experience, Baker joins the Warriors as a former rugby sevens Olympian with a silver medal, as well as Commonwealth gold.
Tysha Ikenasio (Warriors)
ESTABLISHED STAR
Age: 27
Position: Centre
The former New Zealand rugby sevens star, who won gold with the team as a travelling reserve at the Paris Olympics, has signed a three year deal with the Warriors. Also spent time playing professionally in Japan.
Lily Dick (Cowboys)
ESTABLISHED STAR
Age: 25
Position: Second row/middle
One of the highest profile converts, the Australian Rugby sevens star has made the switch to rugby league with the Cowboys on a two-year contract. She missed the Paris Olympics with an ACL injury in 2024 and makes her return to the field in the NRLW.
Michaela Brake (Warriors)
ESTABLISHED STAR
Age: 29
Position: Wing
One of the best women’s rugby stars in the world. A dual Olympic gold medallist with the New Zealand sevens team, she’s a two-time world rugby sevens player of the year. Has signed a one-year deal for the Warriors in their comeback season.
Pia Tapsell (Dragons)
ESTABLISHED STAR
Age: 26
Position: Prop
A former Black Ferns player with six caps for her country, Tapsell is a loose forward in the 15-player game. She was with Cronulla last season but never made her NRLW debut, which she’s chasing this year at the Dragons.
Monica Tagoai (Bulldogs)
ESTABLISHED STAR
Age: 26
Position: Centre
A New Zealand international, Tagoai made her debut with the Black Ferns at 18 and has gone on to earn four caps for her country. A damaging centre, the 25-year-old arrives at the Bulldogs from the Hurricanes Poua in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition.
Azalleyah Maaka (Broncos)
ESTABLISHED STAR
Age: 24
Position: Outside back
Was playing in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition for Chiefs Manawa when the Broncos picked her up this season. A talented young outside back, she is a gold medallist with the New Zealand rugby sevens team from the 2018 Youth Olympics.
Kerri Johnson (Broncos)
ESTABLISHED STAR
Age: 22
Position: Outside back
A New Zealand north island product, Johnson has played in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition across the past two seasons, and has also shown out for Melbourne Rebels in the Super W comp in Australia.
Terina Te Tamaki (Tigers)
ESTABLISHED STAR
Age: 28
Position: Wing/centre
Confirmed just last month, the Olympic silver medallist joins the Tigers after nine years as part of the Black Ferns rugby sevens side as a dynamic outside back.
Patricia Maliepo (Warriors)
ESTABLISHED STAR
Age: 22
Position: Five-eighth
The 22-year-old has played 10 tests for the Black Ferns as a union prodigy before making her switch to rugby league this season. The young playmaker helped the Blues win the Super Rugby Aupiki title for the second straight year in 2025.
Moana Courtenay (Bulldogs)
ESTABLISHED STAR
Age: 25
Position: Fullback
The 25-year-old is new to rugby league but comes with plenty of experience in the 15s and sevens, having represented Tonga in both formats.
Kalyn Takitimu-Cook (Warriors)
ESTABLISHED STAR
Age: 25
Position: Fullback/centre/wing
Was brought across to the NZRL Premiership by coach Ron Griffiths this season as a wing or fullback, making the transition across from the NZ Rugby set up, where she was a part of the Black Ferns development and the Hurricanes.
Adi Buleki (Bulldogs)
ESTABLISHED STAR
Age: 25
Position: Winger
A Fijian rugby union and sevens player, Buleki competed in the Paris Olympics with Fiji and has since been playing with the Western Force in the Super W competition.
Faythe Manera (Tigers)
RISING STAR
Age: 21
Position: Five eighth
A recent signing for the Tigers, the former Australian rugby sevens star made her international debut back in 2022 and has just finished a Super W season with the Queensland Reds.
Seriah Palepale (Dragons)
RISING STAR
Age: 17
Position: Prop
A rising gun across both codes, the six foot weapon played first XV while in year 9 at Auckland Grammar School, as well prop in the Australian schoolgirls side last year. Has been in the Bulldogs pathways but has signed a development contract with the Dragons this year before joining the top 24 in 2026 and 2027.
Fleur Ginn (Eels)
RISING STAR
Age: 19
Position: Fullback/wing
The Queensland under-19s star will play NRLW with the Eels this season after rising the ranks of Australian rugby. She has represented Australia A rugby sevens side across the world, as well as winning gold at the 2023 Youth Olympics in Trinidad and Tobago.
Khyliah Gray (Eels)
RISING STAR
Age: 18
Position: Utility forward
An Australian school girls rugby rep from last year, Gray played her junior rugby with Manly but has come through the Eels pathway in the Tarsha Gale Cup this season. Played under 19s Origin with NSW earlier this month.
Shalom Sauaso (Broncos)
RISING STAR
Age: 18
Position: Wing/centre
One of the most exciting young athletes in the country, Sauaso was a part of the Queensland and Australian rugby pathways before signing with the Broncos at the age of 17.
Keighley Simpson (Knights)
RISING STAR
Age: 20
Position: Outside back
Simpson has signed a one-year deal with the Knights, coming across from Super Rugby Aupiki club, Matatū as a back. She has previously represented New Zealand at the under 18 world school sevens.
Tyra Wetere (Warriors)
RISING STAR
Age: 18
Position: Fullback/halfback
The Bay of Plenty teen has been named under-18s player and back of the year for the local league and rugby union competitions before being snapped up by the Warriors this season.
Payton Takimoana (Warriors)
RISING STAR
Age: 21
Position: Five-eighth/fullback
Another Bay of Plenty product, Takimoana has made her name playing rugby sevens but turned her speed to the 15s format with Super Rugby Aupiki with the Hurricanes where she impressed Warriors coach Ron Griffiths.
