List: Ultimate guide to top female rugby, rugby league, Aussie rules rising stars in NSW in 2025
They have speed, silky skills, hard-nosed defence and passion to burn. Check out the best young female talent in rugby union, rugby league and Aussie rules in NSW in our ultimate guide
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They are the next generation of young athletes set to inspire young girls who love their footy.
Players with head-turning speed and silky skills.
Teenagers with leadership qualities that stand out in a crowd, a passion and love for contact and athleticism that turns heads.
We’ve checked out hundreds of games, scoresheets, statistical reports and spoken to the experts while compiling this special list of bright young talent forecast to be the stars of their games in the not-to-distant fixture.
Some you may have heard of. Others are tipped to be making their mark in the not to distant future.
And we’ve cast the net far and wide to also capture talent from outside Sydney’s suburbs and surrounds to find talents in regional and country areas.
Check out our guide to some of the best and brightest teen talent in the big three football codes of rugby league, rugby union and Aussies rules from the city and country in NSW.
MOLLY ADAMSON
Molly Adamson is a flanker, good defender and line out jumper. From St Catherine’s School and named best team person for NSW in the 16s competition at the Australian schools championship. Coaches say she is a great pilferer and a standout No.7.
RUBY ANDERSON
Flanker Ruby Anderson, another young gun with the Waratahs who has piqued the interest of the Wallaroos at an extraordinarily early age.
From The Central Coast Sports College and also named in the Australian school team this year. She and Halse both toured this year and were also named in the Australian schoolgirls team selected from the Australian schools tournament on the Sunshine Coast.
ASHLEIGH BARLOW
Making her way through the grades as part of the Swans Academy and already has a senior title under her belt with Figtree in the strong South Coast competition. Her stellar play at the National Championships saw her rewarded with a spot in the U16s All Australian side.
CHARLOTTE BASHAM
The second-rower has already made eight NRLW appearances for the Dragons, all before she turned 19. She was a regular in 2024 after playing a key role for the Steelers in lifting the Tarsha Gale Cup as an agile back-rower who can bust the line. Earned Country U19s and NSW U19s honours in a whirlwind year.
ROSE BELL
The U16s All Australian selection can just about do it all. Featured in defence at the National Champs and in the Coates League (Murray Bushrangers), but has shown a willingness and strong ability to push forward and get results at a club level. Kicked four majors in her lone open women’s fixture.
AOIFE BERRY
Made her Premier Division debut at just 16 and has continued on an upward trajectory in the AFL Sydney competition, taking out this year’s Rising Star award with the UTS Bats. The Loreto student has been a previous member of the Swans Academy. An absolute weapon around the contest.
DAMITA BETHAM
Damita Betham was part of the 2023 part of the Australian U18 team that won a Youth Commonwealth Games gold medal and also the Global Youth 7s on the Gold Coast.
Has represented Australia A a number of times already and a powerful runner who is an athletics talent. From the Gordon club, her speed and size make her dangerous.
INDIE BOSTOCK
A talented centre with plenty of X-factor, Bostock is one of the Dragons’ best young prospects coming through the system.
The 18-year-old enjoyed a bumper 2024, starring for the Illawarra Steelers as they took out the Tarsha Gale Cup before representing NSW Country and NSW Origin under-19s and being selected for the Australian Schoolgirls side for the second year in a row.
Seen as an NRLW star of the future, she comes from good rugby league stock, with the Warilla High student the sister of NRL rookie of the year Jack Bostock.
EDIE BURKE
Has a well known rugby name as the daughter of former gun Matt Burke with a tough attitude and hard working reputation.
Represented Australian in the U18s in 2022 and has spent time with Australia A this year in France and Samoa and hauls from the Manly club.
CLEO BUTTIFANT
Rewarded with 10 games in her AFLW debut season with the Western Bulldogs after coming through the ranks at Turvey Park. Showed glimpses of her brilliance coming through the Giants Academy and with the Allies as a strong intercept defender, ultimately seeing her taken with pick 11 in the draft.
KEIRA CALLAGHAN
Has great versatility and is also a leader on the field. Hardworking and high energy and extremely competitive she can play 10 or 15.
MAHLIE CASHIN
A clever hooker with good service and the plenty of speed to catch markers napping out of dummy-half,
The 17-year-old Central Coast product is one of the most promising young guns in the country.
She enjoyed a meteoric rise in 2024 that saw her start the season for the Central Coast Roosters in the Lisa Fiaola Cup (under-17s), go on to represent Country under-17s in May, progress through to the Roosters’ NSW Premiership team and finish with a spot on the bench for the Australian schoolgirls side. One to watch.
RYLEE CASH
Another rugby league and rugby union talent from the Hunter/Central Coast Academy.
Has tuned plenty of heads learning her craft and is a sharp fly half who has a neck of finding space and a pass to put her teammates in it.
HOLLY COOPER
A graduate of the Swans Academy into the top flight this year, the athletic combo midfielder/forward featured in eight games after the Swans took with an expansion pick.
Originally starting her journey with Wallsend West and Cardiff, Cooper perfected her game with a stint with Manly in AFL Sydney’s Premier Division.
LACEY CROSS
Another rugby and rugby league talent who won the coaches award in the Lisa Fiaola Cup for the Sydney Roosters where she plays alongside fellow cross coder Talea Tonga.
From Sydney’s northern beaches and was a standout player at the Australian schools rugby titles on the Sunshine Coast.
MACKENZIE DAVIS
Mackenzie Davis is a 19-year-old from the Burraneer club south of Sydney who played in the Australian U18s team at the Youth Commonwealth Games in 2023 and is seen as a future Olympian in Sevens.
A late bloomer, she is a relatively new convert to rugby, a game she took up in 2023 after playing touch football at a high level.
Reads the game well and has sharp footwork.
MILLA ELARO
Western Sydney Sevens talent Milla Elaro has represented Australian in the U18s and Australia A consistently across the last two seasons.
From Westfield Sports High and now a uni student, she is known for her physicality.
A strong ball runner who will look to be a big presence at the restart she also hails from the Gordon club on Sydney’s north shore.
ELLAZAE ELLIS
Ellazae Ellis is from Hunter sports high school which is producing an assembly line of talent in the sport.
She has made her first Australian schoolgirl rugby team in 2024 and was one of the standouts while playing for the Lloyd McDermott team at the Australian Schools rugby championships on the Sunshine Coast earlier this year.
WAIARIA ELLIS
Fly half Waiaria Elli seems destined to be one of the greats of the women’s game.
On a meteoric rise and a Super Rugby debutant for the Waratahs at just 16. Represented Australia A in Japan for Sevens 7s and in Samoa for 15s.
The daughter of former NRL gun Ben Ellis also has ambitions to represent Australia in Sevens at an Olympics and has spent time with the Wallaroos program throughout 2024.
Reads the game well and has some of the sharpest footwork around. Combined with her speed this makes her one of the most dangerous attacking players around.
CAITLYN HALSE
Caitlyn Halse is a hugely talented outside back with talent to burn which has been recognised early.
With Wai Ellis, she is the equal youngest player to debut for the Waratahs in history. Both ran out for their debut at the age of 16 years, six months and six days.
A clever fullback she became the youngest debutant in Wallaroos and Wallabies Test history in May when selected at fullback against USA during the Pacific Four series and now has six caps to her name.
PHOENIX-RAINE HIPPI
An explosive talent from the Northern Rivers, Hippi is seen as one of the brightest prospects on the Gold Coast’s books and has been upgraded to the NRLW squad for 2025.
Very quick and with the ability to create something out of nothing, she starred for the Tweed Seagulls in the QRL’s Harvey Norman under-19s competition and even played one game in the first grade BMD premiership.
To cap things off, the Ballina Coast High student was selected in the Australian Schoolgirls team.
KHYLIAH GRAY
Khyliah Gray played in the Australian schoolgirls rugby team in New Zealand in December and is a ball playing power forward.
Also extremely fast and described as a pocket rocket by coaches.
From the McKellar Girls campus and played in the U19s at the Australian schools rugby tournament. Has been on fire for Parramatta in the Tarsha Gale Cup.
CHARLIE GIBSON
Got the opportunity in the Coates League as a year-young player with Murray, the Albury High shapes as a rising star on the border.
Starred in rep games for the NEB Bushrangers and was a regular standout for Lavington at U17s level.
Topped a great year with U15s All Australian selection.
ISLA GILLAN
A country talent hailing from Lennox Head on the NSW far north coast and who is a presence on the field.
A second rower from the Rugby Northern NSW Academy who her coaches say does not take a backward step on the pitch.
ELLIE HALL
Comes into her draft year with big expectations. Was a standout for the Murray Bushrangers in the Coates League this season with her engine and endurance on display after returning from an ACL injury.
Looks like she will progress into a top-line talent in the coming years among an elite system.
AALIYAH HAUMONO
A Parramatta Eels halfback/centre
The daughter of league and boxing great Solomon, Aaliyah made the transition to Parramatta last season from Manly.
Started the year in Tarsha Gale, finished as a regular in HNWP and steps into the NRLW squad as a development player.
IMOGEN HEI
Widely recognised among the top young No. 9s in the game, the Queensland junior and U19s Origin rep continues to rise through the Roosters’ pathways.
Signed for 2025, the 18-year-old is on target to crack the top grade.
KAYLA HENDERSON
A young fullback from the Canterbury Bulldogs.
A dual-Australian Schoolgirls representative who played her junior footy in the Penrith region with St Marys before entering the Bulldogs pathways.
An elusive fullback who put her skills on full display in Port Moresby as she looks to take her game to another level entering her senior years.
EVIE HENLEY
It was a busy year for Henley but across a wide range of competitions she was able to show why she’s a star of the future.
One of NEB’s best in the V/Line Cup, she featured with both GGGM and North Albury up in age at club level, as well as playing for the Giants Academy at the U16s Nationals and being selected in the U15s All Australian team.
EMMA JUNEJA
Right in the frame for this year’s AFLW Draft with the 18-year-old starring for Sydney University at the local level on the back of strong performances for the Allies and Swans Academy.
A contested possession beast who attacks the ball and was a standout at the U18s Nationals.
EVIE JONES
The boots of Jesse Southwell aren’t easy to fill but the young Knights half managed to do just that when thrust into the side at halfback.
Her willingness to run the ball saw Jones keep her spot in the side before helping Newcastle to reach the grand final of the HNWP, only narrowly missing out on the title.
MAIA MADDEN KHAN
Has turned plenty of heads over time and was in the Australian schoolgirls sevens team in 2023 and 2024.
Hails from The Central Coast Sports College and is a hardworking, athletic player with plenty of pizzazz and great to watch.
ELLA KOSTER
The defensive weapon of the Dragons earned her spot as a regular within the side, playing 14 NRLW games in two seasons while still yet to turn 20.
The back-rower rarely misses a tackle and has been successful at the junior level, making the NSW and Country U19s as well as playing with the Waratahs Super W side at just 16.
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LOGAN LEMUSU
Another talent across both codes, Logan Lemusu made the Australian schoolgirls under 18s squad and represented Australian Schools at the Global Youth 7s on the Gold Coast in 2023 at just 17.
This Manly player was with the Waratahs for the Next Gen Cup sevens tournament. Reads the game well and has sharp footwork and is considered a real danger in the attack
Also plays for North Sydney Bears as a fullback/half
Makes the transition from Parramatta to North Sydney in the new year after earning her place in the HNWP with Mounties at just 17. An energetic utility who is just as capable at fullback as she is controlling the play in the halves. Player of the match for the City U17s last season.
STELLA LEWIS
A cross code young gun who only switched to league late last year, Lewis has made incredible progress over the past 12 months.
Despite still being at school, the Port Macquarie young gun impressed during the ASSRL Nationals and was subsequently selected in the Australian Schoolgirls squad.
A versatile player who is perhaps best suited as a second-rower or ball-playing lock, Lewis will be in red and blue this season after she signed a three-year deal with NRLW heavyweights Newcastle.
COCO MARSTERS
Coco Marsters hails from Sydney’s northern beaches and Mackellar Girls High School,
She is a young rugby talent who has come from a touch background but started playing football when just four with the Seaforth Raiders.
Also playing rugby league with the Central Coast in the Lisa Fiaola.
AMELIA MARTIN
Taken with the 56th pick in this year’s draft by the Sydney Swans, the talented forward made her way up through the junior ranks with the Figtree Saints, before impressing with the Allies and in the Swans Academy to ultimately earn her spot on an AFLW roster for 2025.
EMILY MARSH
A young gun playing for the Hunter Wildfires north of Sydney.
A flanker playing the Jack Scott. competition
Also in the NSW U18s team and plays for Maitland.
EMMA MCCALLUM
A teen with a bright future in whatever path she takes.
The Hunter SHS student secured a NSW CHS Sporting Blue Award this year after making the U15s All Australian Girls team, winning a state championship in netball and playing representative Oztag with Lake Macquarie.
ANIKA MCCARTHY
Anika McCarthy is another young rugby talent from Hunter and played in the U16s Australian schools tournament before being named in the Australian schoolgirls squad.
Has been likened to super talent Wairaia Ellis for her extraordinary speed and agility. A former touch footballer who is small but mighty.
EVAH MCEWEN
Coming off a breakout season with the Knights where she evolved from Tarsha Gale Player of the Year to the City U19s and NSW U19s before making her NRLW debut with the club.
A devastating runner out wide who has shown every sign she is set for a long career in first grade.
EVIE MCGRATH
The Shellharbour Stingrays junior is another who enjoyed a glorious 2024.
After starting the year with the Illawarra Steelers, the 18-year-old five-eighth was a key player as the side claimed the Tarsha Gale Cup premiership.
McGrath’s efforts earned her Country 19s and then NSW Origin under 19s selection, before she switched to the Wests Tigers, playing NSW Women’s Premiership and even some NRLW before the year’s end.
HOPE MILLARD
The 19-year-old is a mobile, hardworking front-rower with an eye for a gap.
Millard scored the decisive try in Country’s 26-18 win over City in the under 19s before earning a spot in the NSW 19s Origin side.
After moving through to the NSW Women’s Premiership with the Dragons, Millard signed a deal to join the Bulldogs’ NRLW squad in 2025.
SHAQUAYLAH MAHAKITAU-MONSCHAU
Will have the honour of joining the NRLW squad with her aunty. A great success story from New Zealand, making the transition from a rep netball player to playing Tarsha Gale with the Bulldogs and advancing to HNWP as a starting half.
FAITALA MOLEKA
Huge talent from Sydney not turning 20 until 2025. Made her Australian debut in 2023 when just 18 and then won Wallaroos rookie of the year.
From Sydney‘s Western suburbs and plays fly half and fullback.
She is also a talented artist and was part of the Rugby Sevens side that won the Commonwealth Youth Games gold in Trinidad last year.
MANUA MOLEKA
A young fly half who has played City v Country rugby and been part of the Sevens pathway for some time.
From the Hills sports high school, she is another teenager named in the Australian schools team which travelled to New Zealand in December for the Global youth sevens.
Played for the NSW Rugby 7’s side winning at the Australian schools championships.
AUDREY NADAYA-HARB
Can do a bit of everything as a strong winger who not only gets in and takes the tough carries, but can finish tries and kick goals.
Rewarded for a strong debut Tarsha Gale season with the Bulldogs with City U19s selection, and will now further her game with the Panthers.
ALIYAH NASIO
Targeted by the Sydney Roosters after starring for Central Coast in the HNWP and Australian Schoolgirls in 2023, this boom lock forward kicked on to play NRLW for the Tricolours in 2024.
Signed for another season, the 18-year-old continues to develop at a rapid rate.
ZALI O’BRIEN
Zali O’Brien plays at No. 5 and hails from the Illawarra.
Attended a Rugby Australia Super W youth camp on the Gold Coast in 2023 for 40 elite and emerging female players. A young back.
OLIVIA O’SULLIVAN
A Whitebridge High School product who put her best foot forward to make the U15s All Australian Girls team this year.
Backs up her effort the previous year where she claimed Northern MVP honours as a player who takes the game on to great effect.
DEMI OWENS
Demi Owens is a multi-talented footballer from Dubbo, an area renown for producing great rugby talent.
This multi-talented young footballer plays both rugby and league ad has been in thee Australian Emus youth team in touch football.
Attends Dubbo College and plays in the halves.
SERIAH PALEPALE
Canterbury Bulldogs front rower who has shown an incredible ability to get across the tryline.
Came across from New Zealand to link with the Bulldogs in the Fiaola Cup and went on to make the Australian Schoolgirls as a Bass High young gun.
ELLA PARKER
As a 16-year-old last year Parker did it all at the local level, claiming the AFL Sydney Rising Star Award and earning selection in the team of the year on top of featuring in the AFLW Futures fixture.
The UTS wing played with the Allies this year as well as the Swans Academy in the Coates League.
MILLIE PARKER
Hooker Millie Parker was last year named as part of the Waratahs women’s Super Rugby squad and has also been in NSW development squads for sevens.
She is also a rugby league talent and made a mark at the Australian schools rugby championships where she was named Players Player in the Girls open competition.
MARIA PASEKA
The flyer enjoyed a golden 2024.
After helping Illawarra to the Tarsha Gale Cup title, the 18-year-old winger played for NSW in the under 19s Origin victory before backing up to claim her second grand final of the year when the Steelers defeated Newcastle in the NSW Women’s Premiership.
Remarkably, that wasn’t all for Paseka, who become Dragon No. 90 when she made her NRLW debut for St George Illawarra in round five clash against the Sharks.
TAVARNA PAPALII
A Queensland junior, Tavarna is a gun playmaker/lock and former Australian Schoolgirls captain who was named best on ground in the Roosters’ 2023 Tarsha Gale title.
Highly regarded at Bondi, the 19-year-old has committed until the end of 2026.
ASHLEY PATTON
Brings an unmatched background into this year’s AFLW Draft having previously represented Australia in baseball in a World Cup. The Tuggernanong Valley product has completely shifted her focus to Aussie rules and it’s paid dividends with strong campaigns with the Allies and Giants Academy.
LILIETA POULI
Lilieta Pouli is from the Manly Mermaids on Sydney’s northern beaches.
She was also part of the U17 Manly Mermaids team competing at the NSW Junior Rugby Union Sevens state championships in 2024 alongside the likes of Lacey Cross, Manu’a Moleka and Talea Tonga.
AMELIE PROSSER-SHAW
Made her senior debut at just 15 with the East Coast Eagles and has been heavily involved in the club’s hat-trick of premierships.
Starred at the AFLW Draft Combine with top-10 finishes in all categories and her running ability and versatility make the 18-year-old an AFLW player of the future.
MADELEINE QUINN
The Maroubra Saints junior is on the 2025 draft radar after being selected in next year’s National Academy. Standing at almost 190cm tall, Quinn is a natural ruck who graduated to her first year of Premier Division with UTS as a 17-year-old and was regularly among the top players for the Bats.
KASEY REH
The niece of former NSW Origin and Australia stars Glenn and Brett Stewart, Wollongong-born Reh comes from outstanding rugby league stock and showed why she is regarded as a superstar in the making with an outstanding season in 2024.
First up, the 18-year-old halfback led the Illawarra Steelers to glory in the Tarsha Gale Cup, picking up the player of the tournament award in the process.
After representing Country, Reh skippered NSW in the 46-4 thrashing of Queensland in the under 19s Origin before going on to star for the Dragons in the NRLW – picking up the Dally M rookie of the year award.
SAVANNAH ROBERTS-HICKLING
Another exciting talent, Savannah Roberts-Hickling is from Ballina Coast high school and has been getting plenty of attention in both rugby and league.
Has signed on with the Titans development squad for 2025 but also played for the Australian schools team named at the Global Youth Sevens in December.
MARNIE ROBINSON
Made the step up to VFLW level this year with Essendon after taking out the 2022 AFL Sydney Rising Star gong. A previous member of the Swans Academy and made the move to UTS from Newcastle, Robinson was an U18s All Australian last year as a midfield weapon.
TAMIKA ROURKE
The young woman from Narandera has continued her strides in the sport throughout this year as she chases an AFLW dream. Her skills in the forward line have been on display, with the Allies representative impressing in multiple rep teams. Has mounted a strong case to be drafted.
CHELSEA SAVILL
A crafty hooker who is incredibly dangerous with her darts from dummy-half, Savill is one of the swath of Wollongong products to make a huge impact in 2024.
After being part of the Illawarra’s Tarsha Gale success and representing NSW under-19s, she was one of three Steelers to make the move to the Wests Tigers, where she got the chance to play in the NRLW.
DANIELLE SECKOLD
A strong Lisa Fiaola campaign saw her earn City U17s honours and she graduated to HNWP with Wenworthville with ease. A tryscoring threat from just about anywhere on the park, Seckold has risen to every challenge put in front of her ahead of her first Tarsha Gale campaign.
SAXBII SHAW
Big talent who was named Sugarman, McLean award winner as best team person at the Australian schools rugby champs and loves to score.
Hails from Dubbo and also plays rugby league. Selected in the Australian A Wallaroos Senior Women’s Squad to tour Samoa.
REGAN SIMPSON
Regan Simpson is part of the NSW Waratahs regional Academy program and plays both rugby union and rugby league.
PIPER SIMONS
Well known ball runner from the Gordon club and part of the Australian U18 team and also the Australia A team.
Known for her ability to run the ball from half with plenty of speed and good footwork.
A Manly Mermaid player and sevens star
SCARLETT SLADE
Scarlett Slade was part of the Australian Raptors rugby academy. She has also played for NSW at the Australian school championships and NSW Country juniors. From Quirindi school
MARONAY SMUTTS
Maronay Smutts is a Hunter Wildfires halfback who also has an interest in rugby league and plays for the Newcastle Knights in the Lisa Fiaola.
A precocious talent and very fast and agile winger. Showed her talent early in rugby, playing in the Jack Scott competition as a 15-year-old. Also a NSW Country rep.
PAULINE SULI-RUKA
The Bulldogs were quick to snap her up once their NRLW place was secured for 2025. The Westfields Sports High student was chosen in the Australian Schoolgirls team and it wouldn’t surprise to see the hard-running forward complete the Tarsha Gale-NRLW double this year.
MANILITA TAKAPAUTOLO
A boom backrower, Manilita is listed in Cronulla’s U19s squad for 2025, but with seven NRLW appearances last season the Tongan international has bigger fish to fry. A tear away on the edge, the former Bulldog came off the bench in Cronulla’s grand final comeback against the Roosters at Accor Stadium.
TRINITY TAUANEAI
One of Canterbury’s Kiwi Lisa Fiaola recruits who has settled in like a duck to water. Chosen in the Australian Schoolgirls after a standout stint at Bass High, Tauaneai was scouted by St George Illawarra to join their NRLW program as a development player.
CHARLOTTE TIDEMANN
Enjoyed a breakout year for the North Shore Bombers, making her senior debut at just 15 and being named in the best in six of seven Premier Division games. Brings an ability to impact the scoreboard and was impressive for the Swans Academy in the U16s National Championships.
TIANA-LEE THORNE
An excitement machine out wide for the Wests Tigers, Tiana-Lee has risen through the pathways and after making her NRLW debut against the Broncos, finished the year with three NRLW matches against her name. Currently signed for the 2025 season.
TALEA TONGA
Talea Tonga is a much watched cross coder who also plays with the Sydney Roosters Lisa Fioala Cup team as halfback and was their player of the Year.
She has been part of the NSW rugby sevens pathway and highly skilled.
BREA TREVITT
Took out the inaugural edition of the Tomkins Medal for best Womens U20s player in a season that saw her make her Premier Division debut and feature for the Giants Academy at the U16s National Championships. Has a great ability to run as evidenced in a great year for Parramatta.
MYLA TUCKER
The Newcastle Grammar student was selected in the U15s All Australian Girls team after impressing at All Schools. Crowned the AFL Hunter Central Coast’s best and fairest in the U15s season after starring for Newcastle City and also earned Woomeras selection.
FONTAYNE TUFUGA
Started last season in the U17s competition and moved all the way up to playing full 70-minute games in the forwards against grown women in the HNWP for Parramatta. A devastating force on an edge who can break the line and rarely misses a tackle. A valuable asset.
LINDSAY TUI
Still only 19, the Eels centre has already impressed at the elite level. Bagged a couple of tries for Samoa in 2023, and has since kicked on to play seven NRLW matches after making her debut two seasons ago.
KIANA VATABUA
A talented young rugby player who also plays rugby league and is currently with the Canterbury Bulldogs Lisa Fiaola cup team.
Super fast, with a strong offload and knows how to score which makes her valuable.
OLIVIA VAALELE
An Australian Schoolgirls representative who played a huge part in Canterbury’s historic title in the first ever Lisa Fiaola Cup. Vaalele led the division in scoring, before going on to play in the HNWP at just 17 years of age. Graduates to Tarsha Gale Cup and will no doubt be in line for higher honours.
TIA-JORDYN VASILOVSKI
A constant through the Sharks pathways, the former Australian Schoolgirls fullback has pace to burn and delights in crossing the stripe. Highly regarded in the Shire, the U19s NSW Origin rep has been rewarded with an NRLW development contract.
ELLA WALKER
From Hills Sports high and also plays league and trialed with the Parramatta Eels in 2025. Identified to attend a camp led by Rugby Australia’s high-performance team late last year for the 40 elite and emerging females of the game. Front rower. Also played in the NRL National School World Cup final this year.
AMELIA WHITTAKER
Amelia Whittaker is a very athletic outside back and a regular in Sydney v Country battles.
Named best player in her team at the 2023 Australian schools rugby championships held in Queensland. was also part of the 2023 NSW U17s sevens development squad.
BRONTE WILSON
A big game player, the Blues U19s prop had the distinction of scoring the winning try for the Steelers in both the Tarsha Gale and HNWP grand finals last season. Only the second player to be granted an age exemption to make her NRLW debut, the 18-year-old is well on the way to fulfilling her potential.
LILLY-ANN WHITE
A dangerous fullback with speed to burn, the Raymond Terrace Roosters junior was part of the latest crop of local young guns to make an impression with the Knights.
Coming into the 2024 having already played Australian Schoolgirls, White took her game to the next level, wearing the number one jersey in NSW’s 46-4 demolition of Queensland in the under-19s Origin clash before going on to play NRLW at Newcastle, notably scoring a try and pulling off a stunning 80m break in her debut against Canberra in round two.
ISLA WIENCKE
A 17-year-old stamped herself as a prolific goalscorer against the seniors for Belconnen this year, coming off her debut season last year where she was among the best in 15 of 19 games. Starred for the Allies as a year-young player in the U18s Nationals and will be a sought-after talent in this year’s draft.
CHANEL WILIAMS
Chanel Williams won the RUPA award at Australian schools rugby championship as best player in the grand final. From Matraville Sports high she played with the NSW 1 side which were victorious in the under 18s competition.
Played for the Waratahs in the Next Gen series and part of the Australian youth sevens squad.
SIENNA YEO
Continues to take strides forward as a hardworking lock who can punch through minutes in the middle like they’re nothing. Yeo takes after cousin Isaah with her defensive ability and how she can link the attack, with the NSW U19s representative playing a key role in Tarsha Gale and HNWP titles in 2024.
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Originally published as List: Ultimate guide to top female rugby, rugby league, Aussie rules rising stars in NSW in 2025
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