Big names, future stars: Your ultimate guide to the NSWRL Open Women’s Gold 2023 season

The NSWRL Open Women’s Gold season gets underway this weekend with 11 of the best teams from across Sydney set to feature. We take an in-depth look at all teams and the big names set to shine.

The stars of the NSWRL Open Women's Gold rugby league season. Pictures: Darren Leigh Roberts/Dylan Robinson/South Sydney Rabbitohs

THE NSWRL Open Women’s Gold season gets back underway this weekend with 11 teams going to battle for the right to be crowned Sydney’s best.

With a mix of future stars, established talents and suburban teams playing with pride, it shapes to be another big year and highlights the continued growth of the game.

We take an in-depth look at the teams competing and making their mark in the premier competition.

The Asquith Magpies are key contenders coming into the new season. Picture: Contributed

ASQUITH MAGPIES

Coach: Sa Patiole

Captain: Grace-Lee Weekes

Players to watch: Grace-Lee Weekes had a good season for Norths in the halves and was picked again to line up for the Bears in the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership. Sister Krystal Weekes is an exciting fullback still eligible for the U18s. Their brother Kaeo has stepped up to the NRL this year. Ruby Watterson was the top scorer at the Bears in Tarsha Gale Cup and she looks to have a bright future in front of her. She’s an outside back who is very powerful. Sharliz White is a New Zealand international rep who is in Australia to better her footy and she’ll provide a lot of leadership in this young group.

Surprise packet: Callie Morris is another eligible for U18s but looks set to shine at opens level. A classy five-eighth who has a great skill level for her age.

Biggest strength: Members from last years team have picked up HNWP and NRLW contracts, a sign of the pathways at Asquith. Their forwards will be tough. They’re young and have spent time in the system, and they will look to impose themselves over the opposition.

Why they will be competitive: They’re looking to go one better than last year. Officials believe the roster is more rounded and they have a groupof young players keen as mustard to learn. There’s a good deal of experience and players that have been part of the program. With natural progression from last year they should be contenders once again.

FORESTVILLE FERRETS

Coach: Will Baines

Captain: Laura Duarte

Players to watch: After playing with North Sydney in the Tarsha Gale, Charlotte Byrne is new to the club and a local that has come back to the area. She’s a good second rower who is strong on an edge. Wanita Leatherby was also playing at that level with Manly and she has a season of open women’s under her belt. She’s a centre/second rower who has also played high level rep netball with Manly-Warringah.

Surprise packet: Hayley Atkins came off the bench last year but has worked her way up to a starting spot. With a couple of retirements, the young prop gets the chance to make her impression in the middle of the field.

Biggest strength: The best thing they have going for them is a lot of local talent wanting to play league. Previously they’ve had to go to other clubs outside of the district to play, but there are younger female footy players coming through that the Ferrets are looking to mentor and make the transition into the opens.

Why they will be competitive: After winning the division two premiership last year, the big goal is for Forestville to make the finals. They want to take that next step up and see how they aim up. With some more experienced players who have had a taste of rep footy along with their rising stars, they believe they can be competitive whenever they run out onto the field.

Shanelle Lyons. Pictures: Darren Leigh Roberts

LA PEROUSE PANTHERS

Coach: Kyle Parker

Captain: Tymekqwa Duckett

Players to watch: The Duckett sisters Tymekqwa and Iesha come out of a South Sydney campaign in the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership. They’ve been in the Roosters system before and are two quality forwards who demand a high standard of play from the team.

Shanelle Lyons was part of the premiership winning side last year and was one of the Rabbitohs’ best in the Tarsha Gale Cup.

Surprise packet: Lateia Duckett steps up to the open women’s company after a Tarsha Gale Cup campaign with South Sydney. She looked good in the halves there and can carry that form onto this level.

Biggest strength: Their cohesion and community. La Perouse will feature a lot of talent from the area and their a tight community team with proud Indigenous ties. Things are going well at all levels at the Panthers and that is infectious.

Why they will be competitive: Their will to win and to want to prove everyone wrong is driving them. While they won’t boast as many big names as other clubs, they’re relying on their local talent to help them land back-to-back titles. With some up-and-coming teenage talent starting to hit their straps with some senior leaders in the group, they believe they have struck the right balance in their plating roster. Karri Doyle adds a lot and will lead this young group strongly.

MARRICKVILLE RSL QUEENS

Coach: Gerry Zapantis

Captain: Narikah Johnson

Players to watch: All are up for a big year and the team has been ripping in at training, much to the delight of the coach. Expectations are there for a big year from all involved.

Biggest strength: They have a good core group that have been training for a bit together. While other teams will have a solid amount of HNWP players in their rosters, Marrickville believes they possess a genuine local team.

Why they will be competitive: They want it and they’re hungry for success in this competition. They have been together for a while and they want that to be the cornerstone of their success. New players that have joined the group and have become part of the family there. They remain tight and hope that will lead them forward.

Rabbitohs player Mardi Longford will line up for Mascot. Picture: South Sydney Rabbitohs

MASCOT JETS

Coach: Rangi Hiroti

Captain: Mardi Longford

Players to watch: Longford represented South Sydney in the HNWP and has also played with the Combined Services. She’s a talented front rower that doesn’t take a backwards step and leads from the front.

Surprise packet: There are a couple of young ladies who are new to the team that have impressed. One of those who has shown plenty of promise is Serena Isaaka. She arrived to the team recently and brings plenty of pace and skills, with a background in rugby union from New Zealand.

Biggest strength: There’s plenty of youth in the side that makes for an enthusiastic outfit. They’re all keen to learn and coach Rangi Hiroti believes that is a massive bonus for him. There’s plenty of unknowns, but there’s a strong foundation there.

Why they will be competitive: The club is excited by the potential of the young women into the side. They’ve displayed a desire to continue to grow and learn, as well as enjoy their footy while playing for one another. They’re hoping results can come off the back of that.

Lavina Phillips. Picture: Brett Costello

REDFERN ALL BLACKS

Coach: Solomon Haumono

Captain: TBA

Players to watch: Lavina Phillips is returning to the field after having a baby and she’s a key player in the side at the halfback role. One of the true leaders of the side. Shyla Mundine returns after a stint with the Rabbitohs in the Tarsha Gale Cup and she can do a strong job in the middle of the field. Aaliyah Haumono was very strong for Manly in a tough Tarsha Gale campaign. A genuine gamebreaker who adds a lot coming to this level.

Surprise packet: Tatiana Hema is a new face at the club who has come from a different area to join RAB. She hasn’t played footy but has impressed at training and is having fun while learning the game.

Biggest strength: The sisterhood and the foundation that will be built in the team. Having a leadership committee that can drive that and build foundations for the young women and girls coming through the pathways is essential.

Why they will be competitive: There’s a good coach in Solomon Haumono at the helm and these women want to win. They had a taste of this top level football last year and they’re hungry to make it all the way to the finals this time around. They believe they have the consistency and discipline to be able to make that dream a reality. With some junior rep players coming back into the fold alongside some local experienced talent, they’ve built a formidable squad that can do the jersey proud.

ST CLAIR

Coach: Richie Haia

Captains: Emma Parker and Moana Alatini

Players to watch: Reshaun Vaughan brings experience from the HNWP with the North Sydney Bears. She’s a Penrith junior that the club is excited to have back in the region. Teagan Toa Toa returns to the game after becoming a mother and she is an exciting prospect. She was previously named as a Woman of the Year with the Tigers and adds some star power to the side.

Surprise packet: Ane Agaimalo adds a real old-school presence to the side. She’s a touch back-rower who runs hard and tackles harder.

Biggest strength: They’re a fairly new team with a lot of new faces around the park. They’ve gone away and come back to the region, and with a youthful nature, they’re really looking forward to representing both St Clair and the Penrith region.

Why they will be competitive: There’s a good culture in the club and the vibes around the place are all very positive. They’re family-oriented and tight-knit, which will go a long way to seeing this new group compete hard throughout the season.

St Mary’s, Wentworthville, Milperra and Mounties have been contacted for comment.