NRLW 2025: Cashed up Titans open to rugby raid after losing major NRLW stars Shannon Mato and Evania Isa’ako

Gold Coast could be forced to look to rugby union with cash to splash after another Jillaroos and Queensland player announced her pregnancy, sidelining her for the 2025 season.

Prop Shannon Mato has announced her pregnancy. Picture: NRL Photos

Gold Coast could be forced to look to rugby union with cash to splash after Jillaroos and Queensland prop Shannon Mato announced her pregnancy, sidelining her for the 2025 season.

Mato is the second Titans player and fourth representative star across the game to claim the NRL’s pregnancy policy safety net this season with fullback Evania Isa’ako (nee Pelite) and NSW Origin forwards Millie Elliott and Caitlan Johnston all expecting their first child this year.

Caitlan Johnston is due to give birth in May. Picture: Instagram

Both Mato and Isa’ako are two of the highest earners at the Titans, and under the NRL’s policy, the club is eligible for a replacement player of equal value.

And with around a month to go until the NRLW pre-season kicks off, the Titans could be forced to look to rugby union to fill out their roster with most almost every available player with experience locked down across the game.

Players of their calibre would also be looking for multi-year contracts, which the Titans can’t accommodate under their salary cap as it stands in 2026.

Rising Titans forward Rilee Jorgensen will also miss the season with a back injury, which hurts Titans’ depth in the pack.

Millie Elliott is almost halfway along in her pregnancy. Picture: Instagram

Representative forward Jess Elliston is likely to replace Mato upfront, with Jamie Chapman at fullback, while Dannii Perese, Laikha Clarke and Sienna Lofipo to come into consideration for the starting pack.

Importantly, Mato is also considered one of the best props in the game.

Her enormous work rate will be next to impossible to replace for the Titans and Queensland, who will also battle with depth upfront for the upcoming series which kicks off next month.

HOW THE POLICY WORKS

Now that players are able to sign multi-year contracts and have the freedom and support to start their families, it’s an inevitable issue clubs and representative teams will face over coming seasons.

And a basic reality of semi-professional and professional female sports.

Gold Coast star Evania Isa’ako will miss the season due to her pregnancy. Picture: NRL Photos

The NRL’s pregnancy policy was written into the women’s collective bargaining agreement back in 2023 in a landmark first for rugby league.

• Players are now protected while under contract in pre and post-partum, not only with their salaries, but recovery and return to play as well as family support while travelling in season.
• Once a player notifies the club they are pregnant, they are then moved into a safe job with the club to provide a service as they would if they were training and playing.

For example, if they were training and playing for 20 hours a week, they have to provide those same hours in service to the club as well with community, administration or pathways work.

If they’re already employed part time their hours increase while pregnant, which is the case with Mato and Isa’ako at the Titans.

“It’s an exciting time for Shannon and her family and on behalf of the Titans, I’d like to congratulate her and her partner on the special news,” coach Karyn Murphy said.

“Much like Vani, we’re really excited to support Shan and her family during this exciting time of her life as family is a big part of what we’re about here at the Titans.

“She’ll also still play a big part of our 2025 campaign as a mentor for our squad, and she’ll continue her work with our female academies and in the Gold Coast community, which she did alongside her playing commitments last season.”

Originally published as NRLW 2025: Cashed up Titans open to rugby raid after losing major NRLW stars Shannon Mato and Evania Isa’ako