Six eye NZ Warriors debuts in NRLW opener against Canterbury Bulldogs

Wednesday, 1 July 2026

Six new players have been named for possible club debuts, when NZ Warriors host Canterbury Bulldogs in their NRLW season-opener in Hamilton on Sunday.

Last season, the wāhine returned to the Aussie women's league competition after a four-year Covid hiatus, finishing with a 4-7 record to narrowly miss the playoffs.

Coach Ron Griffiths fielded an inexperience squad largely consisting of local club players and rugby union converts, but has bolstered those ranks considerably this year, recruiting three members of last year's champion Brisbane Broncos side - Gayle Broughton, Mele Hufanga and Netta Nuuausala - as well as Sevens superstar Stacey Waaka.

Hufanga is expected to miss the first four games with a hamstring injury, but Broughton will line up at five-eighth and Waaka will start the season on the extended reserves, after joining her team only this month.

Front-rower Nuuausala was a foundation member of the Warriors women's programme in 2018, and returns after stints at Brisbane and Newcastle Knights.

Front-rower Mya Hill-Moana will make her long-awaited NRLW debut, after missing last season on maternity leave, former Australian rugby international Jasmin Muriwai and second-rower Belle Onesemo-Tuilaepa are on the interchange, with teenage halfback Natalia Hickling also among the reserves.

Others missing from the squad include 2025 Players' Player of the Year Kaiyah Atai, who will be sidelined 4-6 weeks with a broken thumb, while outside back Tyra Wetere is recovering from knee surgery and 2025 Rookie of the Year Ivana Lauitiiti is serving a one-game suspension from last year's Pacific Championship.

The Warriors and Bulldogs were both additions to the 12-team competition last season, with the Auckland-based outfit producing a club record 34-6 victory, when they met in Sydney last August.

Five weeks later, they would surpass that achievement with a 44-6 win over Wests Tigers in their season finale.

Warriors: 1. Apii Nicholls, 2. Lavinia Tahalaliku, 3. Tysha Ikenasio, 4. Emmanita Paki, 5. Payton Takimoana, 6. Gayle Broughton, 7. Patricia Maliepo, 8. Netta Nuuausala, 9. Capri Paeku, 10. Mya Hill-Moana, 11. Maarire Puketapu, 12. Shakira Baker, 13. Ashlee Matapo

Interchange: 14. Jasmin Huriwar, 15. Harata Butler, 16. Laishon Albert-Jones, 17. Bell Onesemo-Tuilaepo

Reserves: 18. Metanoia Fetalaiga, 19. Natalia Hickling, 20. Stacey Waaka, 21. Felila Kia