A host of established powers and young teams on the rise will lock horns as the 2024 NRLW season gets underway this weekend.
With Newcastle chasing a third-straight premiership, Gold Coast looking to go one better and the competition’s newer clubs scrambling to make up the ground before the next round of expansion in 2025, it promises to be one of the most intriguing seasons yet.
Ahead of the Knights’ clash with the Roosters on Thursday night, here’s everything you need to know in the ultimate guide to the NRLW season.
Brisbane Broncos
The Broncos are never at a loss for talent and should once again be among the premiership contenders. Their already strong forward pack has been boosted by the recruitment of Queensland forward Keilee Joseph and between Ali Brigginshaw, Gayle Broughton and Mele Hufanga their back line has a tantalising mix of cunning and speed.
A slow start cost Brisbane dearly in 2023 but after dropping their first two matches, the only side to lower their colours through the rest of the campaign were eventual premiers Newcastle. They scored the second-most points of any team in the league and with Scott Prince returning as coach, expect that attacking verve to continue.
This is a side with high expectations and anything less than a grand final appearance will feel like a lost opportunity.
Key player: Players have grown old waiting for time to slow down Brigginshaw but the greatest player of her age is still one of the best playmakers in the game. The 34-year-old is coming off a terrific Origin series and will once again hold so much of Brisbane’s premiership hopes in her hands.
Rising star: Gayle Broughton carried a serious back injury through the 2023 season, one so severe she considered retirement. When fit, the former New Zealand sevens star is one of the league’s deadliest attacking players but the back problem means a strong back-up is essential.
Enter 18-year-old Skyla Adams, a Queensland Under 19s representative who will make her NRLW debut in the season opener against the Eels. A classy playmaker who is coming off a solid debut season in the Brisbane premiership, Adams is a player of immense promise.
Prediction: 3rd
Canberra Raiders
After a debut season where they exceeded expectations and fell just one win short of the semi-finals, retention is the name of the game for the Raiders in 2024. They were the best-performing of last season’s four new sides but fell short against the competition’s elite, lacking cohesion at key moments.
That’s a problem that can easily be solved as the squad spends more time together, which puts Canberra in the frame for a maiden finals run this time around. Between inspirational lock Simaima Taufa, who leads one of the most powerful forward packs in the competition, and the playmaking duo of five-eighth Zahara Temara and fullback Apii Nicholls, the Raiders should have a high floor on their performance this season.
Finding a way to raise that ceiling and narrow the gap to the competition’s elite will determine their fate this season.
Key player: Canberra are blessed with size and power across the park but they need Temara to bring it all together. The Queensland representative started last season in blinding form, to the point where she was close to the competition’s best player through five weeks, but the back half of the campaign was more of a struggle.
As their talismanic five-eighth went, so did the Raiders — they lost three of their last four to slip outside the top four but if Temara can recapture that form and enhance her combination with the rest of the spine, she’ll be a Dally M contender. She’s also got something of a point to prove after being dropped from the Queensland Origin side following their Game I defeat.
Rising star: Entering her third NRLW season at just 20 years of age, Monalisa Soliola has been an early starter and the time draws near when the towering back-rower is one of the most dangerous forwards in the competition.
Mobile and powerful, Soliola was a strong threat down the left edge last year and as her ability to run lines and target smaller defenders improves, she’ll only become all the more destructive.
Prediction: Missing finals
Cronulla Sharks
Inconsistency in attack was the hallmark of Cronulla’s debut NRLW season — they scored just 20 points in three weeks to begin the year but ended the season by becoming the first team in the competition’s history to break 50 points in a match.
Narrowing the gap between their best and their worst will be key to the Sharks’ top-four hopes this season. There is great attacking class in their side, namely in five-eighth Emma Tonegato and fullback Jada Taylor, but bringing all that talent together can be easier said than done and their margin for error seems a little thin.
A forward pack that’s heavy on workers and experience but a little light on raw power could be their undoing but prop Ellie Johnston is an exception in that regard and will be expected to lead from the front.
Key player: Tonegato made a good fist of her move from five-eighth to fullback last season — her exceptional running game means she would be a success at just about any position on the field, but as the year progressed she looked more comfortable as a creator. That progression must continue in 2024 if the Sharks are to give the finals a shake and they’ll rely heavily on the New South Wales representative.
Rising star: It remains to be seen just where the Sharks will play Georgia Hannaway, but the former Australian sevens representative shapes as a big part of the club’s future.
Coming off a stellar season with Norths Devils in the Brisbane premiership, where she helped the club to a grand final berth, Hannaway shapes as an astute signing for the Sharks, who will bring her off the bench against North Queensland for her NRLW debut this weekend.
Prediction: Missing finals
Gold Coast Titans
The Titans didn’t just fall short in last year’s grand final against Newcastle, they did so in agonising, brutal fashion, conceding two tries in the final 10 minutes to let the chance at the club’s first premiership in any grade slip through their fingers.
Their ability to shrug off that defeat will define or destroy their chances of going one better this season. Aside from Steph Hancock, all their key players are returning and five-eighth Taliah Fuimaono is on the comeback trail after missing all but one game last season due to injury.
A grand final loss can be a propulsive force that drives a team to go one better or a memory that drags a team down as they’re haunted by the ghost of what might have been. One of those things will be true for the Titans and only time will tell which.
Key player: There might be no more destructive attacking force in the NRLW than Jamie Chapman and getting the long-striding centre as much early ball as possible should be one of Gold Coast’s top attacking priorities in every game they play.
The 22-year-old struck up a fine combination with halfback Lauren Brown over the back half of last season and continuing to develop that dynamic shapes as Gold Coast’s best chance of going one better than last year.
Rising star: Young forward Rilee Jorgensen showed flashes of her immense ability in her debut NRLW season last year and is expected to round out the Titans’ forward rotation again in 2024.
Still a teenager, Jorgensen is known for her powerful defence and adds a rugged element to Karyn Murphy’s side.
Prediction: Premiers
Newcastle Knights
Back-to-back premierships are hard to argue with and Newcastle will fancy their chances of matching the Broncos sides of the NRLW’s earliest years and claiming a third-straight title.
All the usual suspects — like Tamika Upton, Yasmin Clydsdale, Caitlin Johnston-Green and the Southwell sisters — are back again as the Knights shape as the team to beat yet again. Their greatest challenge may come off the field with two-time premiership coach Ronald Griffiths moving on and former North Queensland mentor Ben Jeffries taking over.
The side’s ability to adapt to that transition will go a long way to deciding their chances of a hat-trick of titles.
ABC Sport is live blogging every round of the AFL and NRL seasons in 2024.
Key player: Between her four NRLW premierships, back-to-back Karyn Murphy Medals as the best player in the grand final and the Dally M medal she won last season, the weight of Tamika Upton’s recent achievements is astonishing. The 27-year-old is unquestionably the best player in the world and as long as she lines up at fullback, Newcastle will remain one of the sharpest attacking teams in the league.
Rising star: At 27, Grace Kukutai is a little older than your usual debutant but the New Zealander has already established a decorated career across two other sports.
Originally a netballer with Northern Mystics, Kukutai switched to rugby in 2019 and played for Cheifs Manawa in Super Rugby Aupiki before joining the Knights this season where she’ll add to the club’s back row stocks.
Prediction: 2nd
North Queensland Cowboys
It might take a while before we see the very best of North Queensland at NRLW level. The region has a strong local competition and giving the talent from the area time to filter through to the top level will require some patience.
In the meantime, the Cowboys should see some improvement from their debut season last year. New coach Ricky Henry is experienced at the top level via his time with the New Zealand Test side and in the likes of Kirra Dibb, Emma Manzelman and China Polata, the Cowboys have a strong nucleus to build around in the years to come.
That process will take time, but the Cowboys are getting there and taking steps like recruiting rapid outside back Jakiya Whitfeld from the Tigers and signing a host of players from Mackay’s champion Brisbane premiership side will help things along.
Key player: Dibb was North Queensland’s best player last year as she thrived in command of her own side but if the Cowboys are to improve on their two wins, they’ll need other players to go with the former New South Wales five-eighth.
The best candidate for that is English international Francesca Goldthorp, who impressed with her running game and work rate at fullback last season before injury ended her season prematurely.
Rising star: The aforementioned Mackay quartet of Ebony Rafstrand-Smith, Libby Surha, Lily Peacock, Lillian Yarrow all played their part in the Cutters’ grand final win but Peacock stood tallest, earning player of the match honours in the 16-6 win over Norths Devils as she churned through more than 200 metres in the front row.
Peacock played three matches for the Cowboys last season but is expected to play a greater role in the side this time around.
Prediction: Missing finals
Parramatta Eels
It’s been a tough start to life in the NRLW for Parramatta — they’ve won just five games across three seasons and while there’s a grand final appearance in there, it was very much a product of a smaller competition.
Last year’s wooden spoon campaign was brutal with a narrow win over the Cowboys the sole victory for the blue and golds. A change in the coach’s box, with Dean Widders giving way to Steve Georgallis, will help the club get off to a fresh start but getting back to contention will be a lengthy process. Aside from Rachael Pearson, Elsie Albert and Kennedy Cherrington, their roster is a little light on star power and it could take a few years for their strong junior numbers to filter through to the top level.
Key player: Albert is one of the most damaging forwards in the game when fit but injuries restricted her to just one appearance for the Eels last season and the club suffered badly for it. The powerful front-rower should give Parramatta a toughness and physicality they sorely lacked last season and, along with Cherrington, she’ll form the cornerstone of the Eels pack.
Rising star: A former Black Ferns representative, Rosie Kelly should give the Eels some much-needed creativity and strike out wide. A five-eighth in rugby, Kelly will line up in the centres for Parramatta’s season opener against Brisbane and will look to use her sharp footwork and good turn of pace in her new code.
Prediction: Bottom four
St George Illawarra Dragons
No team has experienced more turnover in recent seasons than the Dragons. Only two players remain at the club from the side that made the 2021 grand final as coach Jamie Soward manages the difficult task of totally revamping his roster.
The Red V missed out on the finals last year but there were some green shoots — Teagan Berry emerged as an elite fullback, Margot Vella experienced a fine rookie season on the wing and rugby convert Tyla King emerged as a clever foil for halfback Raecene McGregor.
King’s absence as she plays in the Paris Olympics is a heavy blow to the club’s finals hopes but it could give the chance for some young talent to come through — Zali Hopkins will get first crack at the five-eighth jersey but New South Wales Under 19s halfback Kasey Reh, who will make her NRLW debut off the bench this weekend, could take the jersey before long.
Key player: Berry was a capable and reliable winger through her first three seasons with the Dragons but few would have expected her to explode to life like she did upon moving to fullback last year.
Eleven tries in nine games only half tells the story as Berry torched opposition defenders with her speed and footwork. As long as she’s around, the Dragons have a fighting chance.
Rising star: Reh’s debut this weekend will be one to watch as the Wollongong junior is one of the most decorated young players in recent years. She captained Illawarra’s Tarsha Gale Cup side to a premiership earlier this year, winning the player of the year award in the process, before captaining the Blues Under 19s side last month and earning best on ground honours in the big win over Queensland.
The clever halfback seems to have a limitless future.
Prediction: Missing finals
Sydney Roosters
The Roosters are the most consistent NRLW team of recent years — over the past four seasons, they’ve only missed the top two once and that was the season they claimed their maiden premiership. With a fine system run by coach John Strange and a talented, versatile squad, the Tricolours are seemingly perpetual title contenders.
However, their season has gotten off to a difficult start. Skipper Corban Baxter will miss the entire season due to injury, as will Shawden Burton, while Brydie Parker will be out for up to six weeks with a broken arm.
Even so, Sam Bremner’s return from retirement will give them a boost if the former Jillaroos fullback can regain anything close to her best form and between Millie Elliott, Olivia Kernick and Keeley Davis, the forward pack has enough firepower to bring any side to heel. The degree of difficulty will be higher, but this side is still very much in the mix.
Key player: Tarryn Aiken has long been one of the elite five-eighths in women’s rugby league as her killer running game made her a star for club, state and country. In 2024, her assignment will be a little different as she moves to halfback. Aiken has done spot duty in the position before but with the longer season and the increased responsibility following Baxter’s injury, she’ll need her playmaking chops to be as sharp as her feet if she’s to lead the Roosters to glory.
Rising star: Aliyah Nasio will make her NRLW debut at lock this weekend as a product of the club’s junior pathways and shapes as a vital piece of their forward pack. Equally comfortable in the middle or on the edge, the 18-year-old could open the door for New South Wales representative Olivia Kernick to switch to lock and thus open a new attacking dimension for the Roosters.
Prediction: 4th
Wests Tigers
After opening their inaugural season with back-to-back wins, the Tigers crashed to seven straight losses to round out the campaign and their challenge, like several of the teams saddling up for their sophomore years, is to try and find greater consistency.
They have a nice platform to do so — Kezie Apps is still one of the most effective forwards in the league and she’ll be ably supported by the hard-nosed Sarah Togatuki and rookie Shaianne McGlone, who is coming off an impressive season in the Brisbane premiership.
Making the most of that forward power will be the challenge for Brett Kimmorley’s side. Aside from veteran fullback Botille Vete-Welsh and centre Rikeya Horne, the Tigers are light on experience out wide and will be relying on a collection of youngsters to provide the spark and creativity.
Key player: With the backline so light on top-class playmakers, Vette-Welsh’s nous will prove crucial for the Tigers. Although better known as a runner, it was her passing that came to the fore last season as she accrued six try assists, more than the rest of her decorated NRLW career combined. If the Tigers are to make some noise in 2024, Vette-Welsh will need to find a similar touch.
Rising star: McGlone should prove to be an attacking weapon in the back row — she scored nine tries in 10 games in the Brisbane competition this year — but all eyes will be on young winger Harmony Crichton. The younger sister of Bulldogs centre Stephen, Crichton
Prediction: Bottom four
