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New Zealand Warriors Women

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New Zealand Warriors
Club information
Full nameNew Zealand Warriors Rugby League Football Club[1]
Nickname(s)The Warriors, The Wahs
Colours  Blue
  Green
  Red
  White
FoundedClub: 1995 as Auckland Warriors
Websitewarriors.kiwi
Current details
Ground(s)
CEOCameron George
ChairmanKen Reinsfield
CoachRonald Griffiths
CompetitionNRL Women's Premiership
Home jersey
Home colours
 Away jersey
Away colours
Current season
Records
Premierships0
Wooden spoons0
Most capped9 – Georgia Hale, Hilda Peters, Apii Nicholls
Highest try scorer4 – Payton Takimoana
Highest points scorer16 – Payton Takimoana

The New Zealand Warriors Women are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand that will re-enter the National Rugby League Women's (NRLW) premiership for the 2025 season.[2] The Warriors women’s team are to be coached by Ronald Griffiths. [3] As with their men’s team, the Warriors women are based at Mount Smart Stadium in the Auckland suburb of Penrose. The Warriors women’s team previously competed in the NRLW for three seasons: 2018, 2019, and 2020.

History

[edit]

In December 2017, the New Zealand Warriors expressed their interest in applying for a licence to participate in the inaugural NRL Women's Premiership. In March 2018, they were awarded one of four licences for the league's inaugural season, to commence in September of the same year.[4] Luisa Avaiki was named the coach of the side. [5]

The team competed in, and finished 3rd place in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons, the latter of which included the first ever standalone NRLW match held at Mount Smart Stadium.[6]

The team was impacted in 2020 by travel restrictions imposed to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Five New Zealand based players from the previous season elected to go through three weeks of quarantine isolation on arrival in Australia to prepare for the 2020 NRLW season.[7] The remainder of the Warriors squad consisted of Australian based players. The team was coached by Jillaroos coach, Brad Donald. [8] The side came in third place (from four) for the third consecutive year.

In June 2021, CEO Cameron George announced the team would not compete in the 2021 competition but plan to re-enter the competition in 2022. [9] This did not eventuate, however, with the NRL announcing NRLW expansion to 10 teams for the 2023 season that did not include the Warriors. [10] In August 2022, during a Members-Only meeting with CEO Cameron George, Owner Mark Robinson, Coach Stacey Jones, and Captain Tohu Harris. It was announced their intention to re-enter the competition for the 2025 season. On March 28 2024, NRL CEO Andrew Abdo announced the Warriors would rejoin the NRLW, along with a Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs team, in an expanded 12-team competition from 2025. [2]

Players

[edit]
Main article: List of New Zealand Warriors players § Women


Jersey numbers in the table reflect the team list announced for Round 3.
Table last updated on 21 July 2025.

J# Player Age Position(s) NRLW Seasons NRLW Stats Origin Tests All
Stars
Debut 2018-23 2024 2025 M T G Pts
1 Apii Nicholls 32 Fullback 2018 6 5 8 9 3 31 1 7 18 — 16 —
2 Michaela Brake 29 Wing, Centre 2025 — U7s 3 3 2 0 8 — — —
3 Tysha Ikenasio 27 Centre, Fullback 2025 — U7s 3 3 1 0 4 — — —
4 Emmanita Paki 22 Centre 2022 4 R 3 7 2 0 8 2 1 —
5 Payton Takimoana 21 Wing, Fullback 2025 — RU 3 3 4 0 16 — — —
6 Patricia Maliepo 22 Five-eighth 2025 — RU 3 3 1 4 12 — — —
7 Emily Curtain 23 Halfback, Five-eighth 2021 3 6 R 3 12 1 1 6 — — —
8 Harata Butler 32 Prop 2023 8 4 3 15 0 0 0 1 1 3
9 Capri Paekau 24 Hooker 2023 5 WRL 3 8 0 0 0 — 1 2
10 Lavinia Kitai 20 Prop 2025 — R 3 3 0 0 0 — 5 —
11 Shakira Baker 33 Second-row, Centre 2025 — RU 3 3 0 0 0 — — —
12 Kaiyah Atai 23 Second-row, Lock 2025 — ARL 3 3 0 0 0 — 2 —
13 Laishon Albert-Jones 27 Lock, Second-row 2023 10 10 3 23 3 0 12 — 3 1
14 Lydia Turua-Quedley 26 Halfback 2025 — ARL 3 3 0 0 0 — 5 —
15 Maarire Puketapu 23 Second-row 2025 — R 3 3 0 0 0 — — —
16 Ashlee Matapo 18 Prop 2025 — — 3 3 0 0 0 — — —
17 Matekino Gray 20 Prop 2024 — 4 3 7 0 0 0 — — —
18 Makayla Eli 23 Second-row, Five-eighth — — R — 0 0 0 0 — 2 —
19 Avery-Rose Carmont 24 Hooker — — — — 0 0 0 0 — — —
20 Ivana Lautitiiti 18 Prop — — — — 0 0 0 0 — — —
21 Tyra Wetere 19 Halfback, Fullback — — RU — 0 0 0 0 — — —
22 Metanoia Fotu-Moala 26 Prop — — WRL — 0 0 0 0 — 1 —
M Mya Hill-Moana 23 Prop 2021 19 6 — 25 1 0 4 — 10 4
IJ Felila Kia 21 Prop, Second-row 2023 3 DNP — 3 0 0 0 — — —
IJ Kalyn Takitimu-Cook 25 Five-eighth, Fullback — — RU — 0 0 0 0 — — —
IJ Lavinia Tauhalaliku 25 Wing, Centre — — 4 — 4 1 0 4 — 1 3 —
DV Sharnyze Pihema 20 Second-row — — — — 0 0 0 0 — — —
DV Danii Gray 18 Hooker — — — — 0 0 0 0 — — —

Notes:

  • The following players were signed on a Development contract for 2025:[11]
    • Ivana Lautitiiti
    • Sharnyze Pihema


Signings for 2025

[edit]

From 10 September 2024 the New Zealand Warriors began to announce player signings for the 2025 NRLW season.

Player Position(s) Announcement Date 2024 Club Ref
Apii Nicholls Fullback 10 Sep 2024 Canberra Raiders [12]
Mya Hill-Moana Prop 12 Sep 2024 Sydney Roosters [13]
Capri Paekau Hooker 12 Sep 2024 Taniwharau [13]
Harata Butler Prop 12 Sep 2024 North Queensland Cowboys [13]
Laishon Albert-Jones Second-row, Lock 16 Sep 2024 Newcastle Knights [14]
Matekino Gray Prop 18 Sep 2024 Gold Coast Titans [15]
Emmanita Paki Centre, Wing 18 Sep 2024 Central Qld Capras [15]
Lavinia Tauhalaliku Wing, Centre 18 Sep 2024 North Queensland Cowboys [15]

Coaches

[edit]

On 1 July 2024, the club announced the appointment of Ronald Griffiths as head coach of their NRLW team, for their return to the competition in 2025. Griffiths was appointed on a three-year deal. [3]

Coach Season Span M W D L For Agst Win % Share %
Luisa Avaiki 2018–2019 6 3 0 3 56 104 50.00% 35.00%
Brad Donald 2020 3 1 0 2 48 60 33.33% 44.44%
Ronald Griffiths 2025 3 1 0 2 40 66 33.33% 37.74%

Table last updated: 21 July 2025.

Seasons

[edit]
Season Regular Season Finals Nines Ref
P W D L F A Pts Pos
2018 3 1 0 2 26 58 2 3rd — —
2019 3 2 0 1 30 46 4 3rd — —
2020 3 1 0 2 48 60 0 3rd — 4th

Club records

[edit]

Head-to-head records

[edit]
Opponent First Meeting P W D L PF PA Win % Share
Roosters 8 Sep 2018 4 2 0 2 44 68 50.00% 39.29%
Dragons 15 Sep 2018 3 1 0 2 38 58 33.33% 39.58%
Broncos 21 Sep 2018 3 1 0 2 34 68 33.33% 33.33%
Eels 13 Jul 2025 1 1 0 0 14 0 100.00% 100.00%
Knights 20 Jul 2025 1 0 0 1 20 36 0.00% 35.71%
Totals 4 Jul 2025 12 5 0 7 150 230 41.67% 39.47%

Notes

  • Share % is the percentage of points For over the sum of points For and Against.
  • Clubs listed in the order than the Dragons Women first played them.
  • Last updated: 21 July 2025

Player records

[edit]

Lists and tables last updated: 21 July 2025.

Most Games for the Warriors

Most Tries for the Warriors

Most Points for the Warriors (12+)

Player 2025 Club M T G FG Points
Payton Takimoana 3 4 0 0 16
Apii Nicholls 9 0 7 0 14
Patricia Maliepo 3 1 4 0 12
Evania Pelite P 3 3 0 0 12
Kirra Dibb 3 1 4 0 12

Most Points in a Season (12+)

Player Season M T G FG Points
Payton Takimoana 2025 3 4 0 0 16
Patricia Maliepo 2025 3 1 4 0 12
Evania Pelite 2020 3 4 0 0 12
Kirra Dibb 2020 3 4 0 0 12

Margins and streaks

[edit]

Biggest winning margins

Margin Score Opponent Venue Date
14 14—0 Parramatta Eels Mount Smart Stadium 13 Jul 2025
12 22—10 St. George Illawarra Dragons Sydney Olympic Stadium 17 Oct 2020

Biggest losing margins

Margin Score Opponent Venue Date
24 6—30 Sydney Roosters Allianz Stadium 6 Jul 2025
22 10—32 Brisbane Broncos Melbourne Rectangular Stadium 21 Sep 2018
22 4—26 St. George Illawarra Dragons Mount Smart Stadium 22 Sep 2019

Most consecutive wins

  • 1 — (wins on 8 September 2018 (R1), 14 September 2019 (R1), 28 September 2019 (R3), 17 October 2020 (R3), and 13 July 2025 (R2)).

Most consecutive losses

  • 2 — (15 September 2018 — 21 September 2018)
  • 2 — (3 October 2020 — 10 October 2020)

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "View All Details". Companiesoffice.govt.nz. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  2. ^ a b "New NRLW teams announced for 2025 competition". NRL. 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  3. ^ a b Becht, Richard (1 July 2024). "Griffiths to coach NRLW side". Warriors.Kiwi. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  4. ^ Newton, Alicia (27 March 2018). "Geographic location the focus as NRL women's teams announced". NRL.com. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  5. ^ Becht, Richard (28 March 2018). "Vodafone Warriors appoint NRL women's premiership head coach". Warriors.Kiwi. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  6. ^ Rosser, Corey (22 September 2019). "Dragons surge past Warriors to keep NRLW title hopes alive". NRL. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  7. ^ Becht, Richard (5 September 2020). "Advance guard in isolation in Sydney". Warriors.Kiwi. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  8. ^ Becht, Richard (27 August 2020). "Donald signed as Warriors NRLW coach". Warriors.Kiwi. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  9. ^ Becht, Richard (11 June 2021). "Warriors out of 2021 NRLW but will return next year". Warriors.Kiwi. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  10. ^ Newton, Alicia (15 June 2022). "Everything you need to know: 2023 NRLW expansion". NRL. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  11. ^ Becht, Richard (8 May 2025). "Carmont secured to fill last spot in NRLW squad". Warriors.Kiwi. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  12. ^ Becht, Richard (10 September 2024). "Nicholls first NRLW signing". Warriors.Kiwi. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  13. ^ a b c Becht, Richard (12 September 2024). "Waikato trio signed for NRLW". Warriors.Kiwi. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  14. ^ Becht, Richard (16 September 2024). "Albert-Jones signed for NRLW". Warriors.Kiwi. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  15. ^ a b c Becht, Richard (18 September 2024). "Three more NRLW signings". Warriors.Kiwi. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
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