NRLW 2021 signings tracker: Dragons finalise squad

The Roosters have picked up Maori All Stars halfback Raecene McGregor in a last-minute deal with Chante Temara (broken hand) ruled out for the side's campaign.

Gold Coast Titans have lost key signing Crystal Tamarua for the season due to an ankle injury with North Queensland product Lauren Moss called into the squad.

Players who had signed contracts for the competition's fourth season in 2021 will remain with their NRLW clubs before becoming free agents ahead of the fifth season later in 2022.

NRL Telstra Women's Premiership

The fourth season of the NRL Telstra Women's Premiership will kick off on February 27 with a triple-header scheduled at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.

Three new NRLW clubs - Parramatta, Gold Coast and Newcastle - join foundation clubs the Broncos, Dragons and Roosters in the competition.

Under a marquee and points cap system, players across the game have been allocated into eight different categories.

A player's highest level of representation will be counted to the overall figure only.

The maximum number of points a club can accrue is 130 per squad of 24 players.

The breakdown is:

• 10 points - A player who was offered a "Tier A" central contract for the 2021 NRLW season - a maximum of four players at each club only;
• 9 points - A player who was selected and participated in the 2020 Women's State of Origin;
• 8 points - A player who was selected and participated in the 2019 Women’s State of Origin; OR
• 8 points - A player who was selected to represent and participated in the respective Test between a Tier One country against a Tier One country in the 2019 calendar year;
• 6 points - A player who was selected and participated in the 2018 Women’s State of Origin; OR
• 6 points - A player who was selected to represent and participated in the respective Test for a Tier One country in the 2018 calendar year;
• 4 points - A player who was selected to represent and participated in the 2021 All Stars match; OR
• 4 points - A player who participated in the 2020 NRLW Premiership;
• 3 points - A player who was selected to represent and participated in the 2020 All Stars match; OR
• 3 points - A player who participated in the 2019 NRLW Premiership; OR
• 3 points - A player who was selected to represent a Tier Two country in the 2019 calendar year;
• 2 points - A player who was selected to represent and participated in the 2019 All Stars match; OR
• 2 points - A player who was selected to represent the Prime Minister’s XIII in 2018 or 2019;
• 1 point - All other players who do not fit any of the above criteria.

NRL Telstra Women's Premiership squads

Brisbane Broncos

Gains: Kaitlyn Phillips (Roosters), Roxy Murdoch (Roosters), Hagiga Mosby, Emily Bass, Jada Ferguson, Toni Hunt, Lesa Kaleti Mataafa, Hayley Maddick, Amy Turner, Sara Sautia, China Polata, Jessikah Reeves.

Re-signed: Tarryn Aiken, Millie Boyle, Ali Brigginshaw, Lauren Brown, Shenae Ciesiolka, Lavinia Gould, Amber Hall, Tallisha Harden, Chelsea Lenarduzzi, Julia Robinson, Nakita Sao, Tamika Upton.

Losses: Zara Canfield (Titans), Jessika Elliston (Titans), Jayme Fressard (Knights), Shannon Mato (Titans), Romy Teitzel (Knights).

Unsigned: Tyler Birch, Annette Brander, Meg Ward, Chante Temara. 

Talking point: The Broncos are the team to beat in the NRLW after three consecutive premierships since 2018. Kelvin Wright takes charge of the side for a third campaign and has managed to keep plenty of players who have contributed to the club's success. Brisbane has signed young guns China Polata and Jessikah Reeves to complete their squad.

Gold Coast Titans

Gains: Karina Brown (Warriors), Zara Canfield (Broncos), Brianna Clark (Warriors), Jessika Elliston (Broncos), Tazmin Gray (Warriors), Georgia Hale (Warriors), Steph Hancock (Dragons), Shannon Mato (Broncos), Evania Pelite (Warriors), Shaniah Power (Warriors), Brittany Breayley-Nati, Kimiora Breayley-Nati, Destiny Brill, Lauren Dam, Jetaya Faifua, Grace Griffin, Karli Hansen, Cobie-Jane Morgan, Lauren Moss, April Ngatupuna, Jasmine Peters, Tiana Raftstrand-Smith, Laikha Clarke, Hailee-Jay Ormond-Maunsell.

Talking point: Jamie Feeney shifts from helping the Roosters get back on track in 2020 to leading a Titans squad in its maiden season. The Titans lost experienced forward Rona Peters (personal reasons) and Crystal Tamarua (ankle) on the eve of the season. 

Newcastle Knights

Gains: Kirra Dibb (Warriors), Bobbi Law (Roosters), Jayme Fressard (Broncos), Georgia Page (Dragons), Romy Teitzel (Broncos), Caitlan Johnston, Kyra Simon, Ngatokotoru Arakua, Annetta Nu'uausala, Maitua Feterika, Charntay Poko, Krystal Rota, Chantelle Graham, Phoebe Desmond, Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly, Charlotte Scanlan, Kararaina Wira-Kohu, Katelyn Vaha'akolo, Emma Manzelmann, Katie Green, Paige Parker, Rangimarie Edwards-Bruce, Tahlulah Tillett, Shannon Evans.

Talking point: Mixed with a good blend of local youth, Kiwi Ferns representatives and Queenslanders, the Knights are in for an underrated inaugural season. They'll be coached by former Tarsha Gale Cup mentor Casey Bromilow. Newcastle forward Bree Chester (heart problem) and Queensland product Emma Sykes (personal reasons) are the only players who won't feature in the squad.

Parramatta Eels

Gains: Therese Aiton, Kennedy Cherrington (Roosters), Abbi Church, Emily Curtain, Jocephy Daniels, Jade Etherden (Dragons), Fatafehi Hanisi, Filomina Hanisi (Roosters), Rikeya Horne (Dragons), Ellie Johnston (Dragons), Tommaya Kelly-Sines, Shirley (Seli) Mailangi, Nita Maynard (Roosters), Sereana Naitokatoka, Taina Naividi, Christine Pauli (Dragons), Tiana Penitani (Dragons), Katrina May Phippen, Tess Staines, Maddie Studdon (Dragons), Mareva Swann, Simaima Taufa (Roosters), Botille Vette-Welsh (Roosters), Jamie-Anne Wright.

Talking point: Inaugural Eels coach Dean Widders will lead a squad that will have more players pushing for NRLW debuts than any other in the competition. The club's five marquee signings include Jillaroos trio Tiana Penitani, Botille Vette-Welsh and Simiama Taufa, along with NSW representatives Filomina Hanisi and Kennedy Cherrington.

St George Illawarra Dragons

Gains: Emma Tonegato (rugby sevens), Madison Bartlett (Warriors), Quincy Dodd (Roosters), Keele Browne, Tegan Dymock, Kody House, Taliah Fuimaono, Shellie Long, Page McGregor, Aliti Namoce-Sagano, Rachael Pearson, Matilda Power, Alexandra Sulusi, Renee Targett, Chantel Tugaga, Holli Wheeler, Janelle Williams.

Re-signed: Kezie Apps, Shaylee Bent, Keeley Davis, Elsie Albert, Teagan Berry, Jaime Chapman, Talei Holmes.

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Losses: Sam Bremner (pregnancy), Jade Etherden (Eels), Steph Hancock (Titans), Rikeya Horne (Eels), Ellie Johnston (Eels), Isabelle Kelly (Roosters), Georgia Page (Knights), Christine Pauli (Eels), Tiana Penitani (Eels), Jessica Sergis (Roosters), Maddie Studdon (Eels), Shontelle Stowers (released), Natassja Purontakanen (injured), Meg Ward (injured).

Unsigned: Aaliyah Fasavalu-Fa'amausili, Mahalia Murphy, Shakiah Tungai, Maddison Weatherall.

Talking point: Jamie Soward takes over as coach in his first major mentoring role since retirement. The Dragons were among the hardest hit in recruitment this season but have still put together a strong squad. The Dragons have had one withdrawal since the resumption of training with Shontelle Stowers withdrawing from the campaign, to be replaced by Kody House.

Sydney Roosters

Gains: Isabelle Kelly (Dragons), Jessica Sergis (Dragons), Raecene McGregor (Broncos), Samantha Economos (Warriors), Shawden Burton, Olivia Higgins, Olivia Kernick, Mya Hill-Moana, Atasi Lafai, Lauretta Leao-Seve, Taylor Mapusua, Tayla Predebon, Otesa Pule, Simone Karpani, Leianne Tufuga, Joeli Morris.

Re-signed: Corban Baxter, Keilee Joseph, Jocelyn Kelleher, Yasmin Meakes, Brydie Parker, Hannah Southwell, Zahara Temara, Sarah Togatuki. 

Losses: Kennedy Cherrington (Eels), Quincy Dodd (Dragons), Filomina Hanisi (Eels), Bobbi Law (Knights), Nita Maynard (Eels), Shanice Parker (pregnancy), Kaitlyn Phillips (Broncos), Taleena Simon (retired), Simaima Taufa (Eels), Botille Vette-Welsh (Eels), Roxy Murdoch (Broncos).

Unsigned: Charlotte Caslick, Vanessa Foliaki, Grace Hamilton, Melanie Howard, Amelia Mafi, Kiana Takairangi.

Talking point: Well-respected coach John Strange steps into the main role after being an assistant to Jamie Feeney last year. Strange has been instrumental in putting together the Central Coast Roosters feeder system and is expected to blood players from the region. The Tricolours had two withdrawals from their initial squad with Roxy Murdoch (Broncos) and Chante Temara (broken hand) moving on. Raecene McGregor will replace Temara in the squad.

 

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