St George Dragons NRLW Holden Women’s Premiership guide

Staff at St George Illawarra have worked overtime on their team for the NRLW Holden Women’s Premiership. Now they may have one that could take them all the way to the season decider.

Dragons captain Kezie Apps will lead the Dragons by example in the second season of the NRLW. Pic: Brett Costello

• Holli Wheeler's act of loyalty
• Ben Simmons congratulates good sport

Season two of the women’s NRL Holden women’s premiership is here with the new league geared to make an even bigger impact in 2019.

The long-awaited inaugural competition was hailed a major success as the NRL entered the hugely competitive women’s national sport market with a product that immediately won new fans to the game.

And down in the rugby league heartlands of the Sutherland Shire and Illawarra an off-season has been spent bolstering a squad which proved to be a big hit with league fans in 2018.

KEZIE APPS: Breaking new ground

We take a look at some of the key signings made in the off-season by the Dragons along with general player movement.

St George-Illawarra Dragons new recruit Brittany Breayley poses for a photo with a mural of herself during the NRL Women's Premiership season launch.

St George Illawarra Dragons Squad snapshot

The squad is a mix of experience and youth with eight Jillaroos and four Kiwi Ferns.

In total eight players have returned from last season while five have moved to rival teams and 10 have not been signed.

Dragons re-signings

Kezie Apps, Jessica Sergis, Shakiah Tungai, Holli Wheeler, Keeley Davis, Rikeya Horne, Maddison Weatherall, Aaliyah Fasavalu-Fa’amausili.

The Dragons hold on tight to Tazmin Gray during a match last season.

Dragons Gains

Maddie Studdon (Sydney Roosters), Brittany Breayley (Brisbane Broncos), Teuila Fotu-Moala (Brisbane Broncos), Maitua Feterika (Brisbane Broncos), Kimiora Nati (Brisbane Broncos), Ngatokotoru Arakua (Brisbane Broncos) Botille Vette-Welsh (Sydney Roosters), Sarah Togatuki (Sydney Roosters), Stephanie Mooka, Najvada George, Tiana Penitani, Lexi Kiriwi, Shaylee Bent, Takilele Katoa.

Dragons Rikeya Horne was a standout for the club last year.

Dragons captain Kezie Apps will lead the Dragons by example in the second season of the NRLW. Picture: Brett Costello

HOW THEY WILL GO

Key to the success of the Dragons will be a core of players who helped creature the powerful culture at the Dragons in NRLW1.

Heading this list is popular and dynamic forward Kezie Apps who has been elevated into the captaincy for 2019.

Apps will tackle this role following Sam Bremner falling pregnant in the off-season.

Joining Apps again is Jessica Sergis, the try-scoring whiz who made headlines around the country in 2018 when she took one of the biggest hits of the entire competition and was knocked out in the process.

Exciting for coach Daniel Lacey is the fact he has also retained some of the most impressive young talent in the game in the form of locals Keeley Davis, Rikeya Horne and Shakiah Tungai.

Ali Brigginshaw of the Brisbane Broncos, Simaima Taufa of the Sydney Roosters, Georgia Hale of the New Zealand Warriors and Kezie Apps of St George-Illawarra Dragons at the season launch.

Development players Maddison Weatherall and Aaliyah Fasavalu-Fa’amausili have also been elevated to the squad.

In a busy off-season, the Dragons have snared some of the biggest names in the game in a bid to bolster their chances of cracking a spot in the finals this year with some of their biggest signings come directly from the Brisbane Broncos premiership winning side in 2018.

Breayley is a major get and is heading south along with front rower, Feterika, Nati, Fotu-Moala and Arakua.

Jillaroos hooker Breayley is the reigning Dally M medallist and widely regarded as the best female footballer in the country.

2019 NRL HOLDEN WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP SCHEDULE

Round 1

Saturday 14 September, 3:05pm AEST

Sydney Roosters vs. New Zealand Warriors, AAMI Park

Live on Nine (NSW/Qld); GEM (all other states), Live on Fox League, Live on Sky NZ

Sunday 15 September, 2:05pm AEST

St-George-Illawarra Dragons vs. Brisbane Broncos, Bankwest Stadium

Live on GEM (national), Live on Fox Sports, Live on Sky NZ

Roosters Taleena Simon breaks through to score against the Dragons last season.

Round 2

Saturday 21 September, 5:05pm AEST

Brisbane Broncos vs. Sydney Roosters, VENUE TBC

Live on GEM (national), Live on Fox Sports, Live on Sky NZ

#Sunday 22 September, 1:15pm AEST/3:15pm NZT

New Zealand Warriors v St-George-Illawarra Dragons, Mt Smart Stadium

Live on Nine (NSW/Qld); GEM (all other states), Live on Fox League, Live on Sky NZ

MORE NEWS

Round 3

Saturday 28 September, 5:05pm AEST

Brisbane Broncos v New Zealand Warriors, VENUE TBC

Live on GEM (national), Live on Fox Sports, Live on Sky NZ

Sunday 29 September, 1:15pm AEST

St George Illawarra Dragons v Sydney Roosters, Leichhardt Oval

Live on Nine (NSW/Qld); GEM (all other states), Live on Fox League, Live on Sky NZ

NRL Holden Women’s Premiership Grand Final

Sunday 6 October, ANZ Stadium

Live on Nine (NSW/Qld); GEM (all other states), Live on Fox League, Live on Sky NZ