NRLW 2025: Eels sign England star Paige Travis, Sharks recruit Caitlan Johnston-Green announces pregnancy
Parramatta have signalled their NRLW premiership intentions after signing an English international star, while a Sharks marquee recruit could miss the season after a surprise announcement.
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Parramatta have signalled their NRLW premiership intentions for 2025 after signing English international Paige Travis on a two-year deal.
The 25-year-old second-rower is one of the guns of the international game with eight Tests and four Challenge Cup titles with St Helens under her belt.
She joins fellow England stars Hollie-Mae Dodd (Raiders), Fran Goldthorp (Cowboys) and Georgia Roche (Knights) in the NRLW, with the expanding competition attracting the best talent from around the world.
“Coming to the NRLW is something I’ve always wanted to do, and when I started chatting to my manager about my options, I was just really excited about Parramatta. I felt really at home with them and I was really interested in them,” Travis said on Thursday.
“When there was interest in me as well, I knew it was the right decision.
“It’s just about challenging yourself and I think the NRLW can do that, it’s something a lot of the English girls would really like to achieve.
“I’ve never been to Australia before so I’m really excited, the lifestyle and the chance to become a bit more of a professional athlete and have more time concentrating on training and become the best player that I can be just makes it such a good opportunity.”
Earlier this month, Travis represented England against Wales and is expected to be selected to take on the Jillaroos in Las Vegas in March.
She will then move to Sydney where she will join the Eels for the first season of a two year deal, with a 2026 option in the club’s favour.
“I played with Georgia for England and Fran and Hollie recently for our Test match, and I was asking Hollie all about it. How much does the hair cost to get done, all the important questions,” she joked.
“But she was really helpful with the process, so that was really nice. I’ve spoke to Georgia a few times too and it’s nice I have those girls to talk to and ask a lot of questions.”
The Eels finished just shy of the finals in 2024 but were the most improved team in the competition under new coach Steve Georgallis.
Travis will form part of an agile but fearsome pack with Kennedy Cherrington, Boss Kapua and Mahalia Murphy signed on for 2025.
MARQUEE SHARKS RECRUIT ANNOUNCES SURPRISE PREGNANCY
Incoming Cronulla star Caitlan Johnston-Green could miss the 2025 NRLW season after announcing her pregnancy.
The NSW and Jillaroos star revealed the happy news on Instagram on Wednesday night, with the caption “Surprise we have been keeping a little secret... Baby Dargin due May 2025.”
The 23-year-old is one of the best players in the women’s game and signed a three-year deal with the Sharks starting next season after winning back-to-back premierships with the Knights in 2022 and 2023.
Her signature was a huge coup for the grand finalists, who are building one of the best rosters in the competition.
“As a club we’re thrilled for Caitlan and will support her in every way she needs throughout this journey,” said a club spokesperson.
“Our medical team will work with Caitlan and ensure she receives the best care and guidance ahead of a return to the field when the time is right for her.”
Johnston-Green missed the majority of 2024 with a knee injury she suffered early in the season, bringing a sudden end to her four-year stint with the Knights.
And with the women’s season to kick off with a three-game State of Origin series on May 1, with the NRLW season kicking off in early July, the Sharks are facing 2025 without their marquee signing.
With Johnston-Green due to give birth in May, the Sharks believe it is too early to say if she will miss the entire season but will support through her pregnancy and return to field.
That process is a complicated one medically, given every pregnancy is different and every athlete is different.
Nakia Davis-Welsh, Sam Bremner and Corban Baxter all progressed back to the field post-partum in varying time frames.
Should the Sharks decide to go to market for a replacement, a pregnancy policy is built into the women’s CBA which allows for salary cap relief.
Johnston-Green and her family will also be supported under the policy and once she returns to the field.
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