Meet the Queensland Maroons’ WAGs: Power Couples Behind the 2023 State of Origin Series
From former athletes to business owners, these are the wives, girlfriends and partners lending their support both on and off the field to the Maroons.
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As the Queensland Maroons squad tackles the 2023 State of Origin series, the significant others – the wives, girlfriends and partners – of the team members also prepare to share the limelight.
Many of these strong, successful women offer unwavering support to their partners, boosting their game on the field with love and strength off the field.
Here are some of the faces to expect on the sidelines cheering for the Maroons this season:
JORDII-RAE MAHENDRARAJAH (JEREMIAH NANAI)
The Cowboys backrower and his North Queensland Gold Stars prop partner Mahendrarajah may be in their early 20s but in August 2022 bought their first home.
The pair are both from Cairns originally before attending Kirwan State High School in Townsville, and keep a low profile on social media.
VANESSA COX (MOEAKI FOTUAIKA)
Maroons prop Fotuaika famously cut short the couple’s “Babymoon” in June 2023 when he won a spot in the side for the second Origin match.
The couple were holidaying in Byron Bay ahead of the arrival of their first child in September.
“I was actually alongside my partner when I got the call and Billy spoke to us both and just said he’s got some good news, and said that I’ll be playing Wednesday night,” Fotuaika said before Game II.
“I was just over the moon and as soon as I hung up, I started cheering.”
Cox’s Linkedin account lists her as working as a Customer Service & Website Administrator.
RUBY PEYROUX (SELWYN COBBO)
While Broncos winger Selwyn Cobbo and his partner, Ruby Peyroux, have chosen to keep their relationship largely private, they have been a regular sight at events around Brisbane. Since being spotted together at the Brisbane Broncos awards night in 2022, the couple has become an inseparable pair on the Brisbane social scene.
NATALIA HOLMES (VALENTINE HOLMES)
Married since 2019, Valentine Holmes and wife Natalia Holmes welcomed their son Billy in late 2021.
Natalia, a personal trainer, is also the sister-in-law of former Queensland Maroons and North Queensland Cowboys star Michael Morgan.
She owns and operates First Base Gym in Townsville’s CBD.
CLAUDIA SCHRODER (MURRAY TAULAGI)
Together since 2017, Murray Taulagi and Claudia Schroder share many adorable moments of their life together on the popular video-sharing platform, TikTok. This includes their shared experiences as proud parents to their fur baby, Ryder.
BIANCA MCMAHON (CAMERON MUNSTER)
Melbourne Storm player Cameron Munster proposed to his long-term girlfriend, Bianca McMahon, in late 2022, during a trip to Lake Como.
The couple are parents to their young son Jaxon.
VESSA ROCKLIFF (DALY CHERRY-EVANS)
Daly Cherry-Evans and Vessa Rockliff, who met at the Harbord Hilton after being introduced by a friend, have been engaged since 2018. The couple share three daughters together - Navi, Harvie and Tilly.
BRIDGET HUNT (BEN HUNT)
Ben Hunt and his wife Bridget are regarded as one of the golden couples in the NRL. Having tied the knot in a grand ceremony on the New South Wales north coast in 2017, they are the proud parents of two sons, Brady, aged 6, and Bowie, aged 4.
Bridget is also the niece of former Queensland player and coach Michael Hagan, making them a true rugby league family.
MADDIE MAIR (TOM GILBERT)
The Dolphins’ Tom Gilbert, who made his Origin debut for Queensland last year, has been dating Maddie Mair since late 2016. While he enjoyed a stint at the Cowboys, Gilbert revealed his relationship with Maddie was part of his motivation for moving back to his hometown of Brisbane.
“There were two decision that came with it – footy and personal life, and I had to weigh up what was more important,” he said after signing with the Dolphins.
SHAYLEE BENT (DAVID FIFITA)
Shaylee Bent is not just known in sporting circles for being David Fifita’s partner, but is a rugby league star in her own right. Named the Dragons’ NRLW Player of the Year in 2020, she made her State of Origin debut for New South Wales.
This year, she joined the Titans roster for the 2023 NRLW season.
BROOKE LOIERO (HARRY GRANT)
While keeping a fairly low profile regarding their relationship, Harry Grant has been frequently spotted in the company of Brooke Loiero, who is the sister of his Melbourne Storm teammate, Trent Loiero.
The duo made a public appearance together at the 2022 Storm Player of the Year Award. Grant also shared a photo of Loiero to his Instagram during a European vacation back in December.
JORDAN NGARIMU (TINO FA’ASUAMALEAUI)
Gold Coast Titans’ captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and his long-term partner, Jordan Ngarimu, share a four-year-old daughter named Alina and a nine-month-old child whose name has yet to be shared with the public.
However, Jordan isn’t just known for being Tino’s partner. She has an impressive athletic career of her own, showcasing her skills on the netball court as a key player for the Gold Coast Titans Sapphire team.
MACKENZIE FALCO (REUBEN COTTER)
Reuben Cotter and his fiance Mackenzie Falco, a teacher who graduated from James Cook University in 2019, welcomed their daughter, Sunny, into the world on June 11, 2022.
The joyous event occurred just three days after Reuben made his Maroons debut.
TAHLIA CHURCH (TOM DEARDEN)
High school sweethearts Tom Dearden and Tahlia Church have been a couple since their time at Palm Beach Currumbin State High, from where Dearden graduated in 2018.
Tahlia has been a steady source of support for Tom, and was there to cheer the halfback on when he made his debut for the Queensland Maroons in the final match of the 2022 State of Origin.
“Watching you achieve everything you’ve worked so hard for has been unreal. I’m so proud of you,” she posted on Facebook after the game.
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