Future of the NRLW on show as NSW reveals 20-player squad for Women’s State of Origin U19s

NSW has revealed its next crop of NRLW stars, announcing the U19s NSW side to take on Queensland on the Sunshine Coast later this month. See the 20-strong squad Women’s State of Origin U19s squad.

Evie McGrath will again line up for the NSW U19s. Picture: NRL Photos/Gregg Porteous

The NSW U19s women have revealed their squad that is hopeful of continuing its dominance over Queensland later this month.

Coach Courtney Crawford has named a 20-strong squad for the annual clash with the Queensland U19s at the Sunshine Coast on June 19.

Parramatta was rewarded for its success in the Tarsha Gale Cup with five players named, with Tyra Ekepati and Logan Fletcher the lone Roosters from their grand final defeat.

Illawarra were the big winners with eight players named in the squad.

Wests Tigers pair Evie McGrath and Ella Walker earned selection, with the Knights, Rabbitohs and Panthers also represented.

This team will feature five players with previous NRLW experience (McGrath, Evah McEwen, Maria Paseka, Bronte Wilson and Kasey Reh).

NSW were dominant winners in 2024, running out 46-4 winners at Leichhardt Oval, with seven players backing up this year from that win.

It’s a fixture they’ve enjoyed plenty of success in, winning three of the four encounters.

Queensland’s Emerging U19s squad features four players who participated in the Tarsha Gale Cup this season (Mariah Brown, Gisele Masun-Feleti, Chloe Pallisier and Mackenzie Stephens).

FULL SQUAD

Ryvrr-Lee Alo (Parramatta Eels)

Indie Bostock (Illawarra Steelers)

Tyra Ekepati (Sydney Roosters)

Logan Fletcher (Sydney Roosters)

Khyliah Gray (Parramatta Eels)

Kayla Henderson (Penrith Panthers)

Liesl Hopoate (Illawarra Steelers)

Ava Jones (Parramatta Eels)

Evah McEwen (Newcastle Knights)

Evie McGrath (Wests Tigers)

Kiara McGregor (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

Tess McWilliams (Parramatta Eels)

Tahlia O’Brien (Illawarra Steelers)

Maria Paseka (Illawarra Steelers)

Kasey Reh (Illawarra Steelers)

Siulolo Richter (Illawarra Steelers)

Tori Shipton (Illawarra Steelers)

Fontayne Tufuga (Parramatta Eels)

Ella Walker (Wests Tigers)

Bronte Wilson (Illawarra Steelers)

Originally published as Future of the NRLW on show as NSW reveals 20-player squad for Women’s State of Origin U19s