NRL 2020: Ellia Green, Warriors announce NRLW squad with rugby sevens star

Warriors leave rivals Green with envy after signing rugby star

Author: Alicia Newton NRLW Reporter
Timestamp: Fri 18 Sep 2020, 12:00 PM

Australian rugby sevens star Ellia Green headlines a bumper squad assembled in makeshift fashion by Brad Donald to play for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL Women's Premiership.

The Suva-born rugby flyer was poised to join premiers Brisbane for the competition but it is understood the 27-year-old did not want to spend the four-week period operating under the strict quarantine requirements in place across Queensland.

A sprint athletics champion from a young age, Green is regarded as one of the finest players on the rugby sevens circuit with her brute power and speed set to cause havoc throughout the month of October.

Green's signing is a huge coup for Donald and the recruitment drive hasn't stopped there with a strong mix of youth and experience committing to the Warriors' campaign.

Rugby sevens teammate Evania Pelite will also join Green at the Warriors, while the club will have a wealth of NRLW experience arriving from across NSW and Queensland.

Jillaroos five-eighth Kirra Dibb will switch to the Warriors after a season at the Roosters.

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Dibb is one of four former Roosters in the Warriors squad after new coach Jamie Feeney declared his intentions to make several changes for their campaign.

Australian PM's XIII captain Karina Brown and Broncos premiership-winner Tazmin Gray have also signed Warriors deals and will travel to Sydney ahead of the competition's start.

Former Roosters utility Simone Smith and outside back Shontelle Stowers will add speed out wide.

Donald has also used his prowess to lure Michaela Peck, Brianna Clark, Laken Paikai, Taimane Levu and Samantha Economos for the campaign - all of whom played under the national coach in the Australian PM's XIII side last year.

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"I'm thrilled about the talent we’ve been able to secure to build around our five core Warriors players who have such made huge sacrifices to be involved in this year," Donald said.

"It has been hectic pulling the squad together in such limited time but we have a strong group we can build here to do the Warriors proud.

"Bringing in Ellia and Evania from their sevens rugby union background is going to add a special dimension and we’re able to draw on a good base of players who know what the NRLW premiership is all about."

The Warriors will be based in Narrabeen for their campaign and are expected to gather as a squad next week to begin training prior to the competition starting on October 3.

New Zealand-based contingent Madison Bartlett, Crystal Tamarua, George Hale, Kanyon Paul and Hilda Peters will be released from 14-day quarantine on Sunday.