NRLW 2025: Titans star Evania Pelite announces pregnancy, set to miss NRLW season

Gold Coast NRLW coach Karyn Murphy will have to find a new fullback for 2025 after one of her star players announced she is pregnant.

Gold Coast star Evania Pelite. Pic: NRL

Gold Coast Titans will be without their star fullback this NRLW season after Jillaroos and Queensland Origin star Evania Isa’ako (nee Pelite) announced her pregnancy on Sunday night.

The 29-year-old shared the happy news on Instagram accompanied with a touching video of the moment she told her husband, Thomas Isa’ako.

The pair were married earlier this month.

“Bubba Isa’ako entering the chat this year, 2025 you are officially my favourite season of life”, she wrote.

Pelite is the latest representative star to announce her pregnancy with NSW forwards Millie Elliott and Caitlan Johnston both to miss State of Origin as well as the NRLW season with babies due later this year.

“On behalf of the club, I’d like to congratulate Vani and Thomas on the thrilling news they shared on Sunday night,” coach Karyn Murphy said.

“Our core values are based on family here at the Titans and we’re excited to support Vani during this exciting time of her life.

“She’ll still play a big part of our 2025 campaign as a mentor for our next generation of players coming through, and she’ll continue her full-time role in our Titans membership and consumer team.”

The former rugby sevens gold medallist has been one of the competition’s best since making the switch to rugby league back in 2020, joining the Titans as a foundation player in 2021.

Her absence will be a blow for the Titans who are desperate to bounce back from a disappointing season in 2024.

NSW Origin star Jaime Chapman could be shifted to fullback, while rising talents Ivana Lolesio and Destiny Mino-Sinapati could also come into consideration for the job when pre-season starts in May.

Originally published as NRLW 2025: Titans star Evania Pelite announces pregnancy, set to miss NRLW season