NRLW Round 3 news: Sharni Smale’s surprise code swap, Stacey Waaka opens up ahead of debut

Cronulla have landed one of Australian rugby’s most high-profile female athletes for the remainder of the NRLW season, while a Broncos convert has admitted to nerves ahead of her debut.

Sharni Smale is set to make a spectacular code switch just days after returning from the Olympics, signing with Cronulla to play NRLW this season.

The three-time Olympian will be the first current Australian Rugby 7s star to make a switch to rugby league, following the three New Zealand 7s champions Tyla King, Stacey Waaka and Tenika Willison who are all available this weekend after winning gold in Paris.

Smale, who went by Sharni Williams before getting married last year, is one of the biggest names and iconic athletes in Australian women’s sport.

South Africa's Mathrin Simmers (L) passes the ball past Australia's Sharni Smale during the women's pool B rugby sevens match between Australia and South Africa during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on July 28, 2024. (Photo by CARL DE SOUZA / AFP)

The 36-year-old retired from the 7s circuit after finishing fourth in Paris, but has already committed to the women’s 2026 Rugby World Cup with the 15s side, the Wallaroos, in England.

It’s expected she wants to return to rugby union after this NRLW season.

The Cronulla contract will bring Smale together with her gold medal winning Rio teammate Emma Tonegato and former Rugby 7s athlete now Sharks skipper, Tiana Penitani.

It’s a massive coup for the Sharks, who reached out to Smale to gauge her interest only recently after being hit with a slew of injuries.

Australian rugby sevens star Sharni Smale (nee Williams). Picture: Khara Deurhof - House of Lucie

Fullback Jada Taylor has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with an ACL injury, opening a spot in the club’s roster as a replacement.

More broadly, it’s a wonderful boost for the NRLW with such a high calibre of athletes in this year’s competition.

The Sharks will play the Raiders in Canberra on Saturday, with Smale expected to be available for selection from round four to face the Knights.

BRONCOS’ GOLDEN GIRL ‘UNCOMFORTABLE’ AHEAD OF NRLW DEBUT

Brisbane’s newest golden girl Stacey Waaka is well out of her comfort zone.

But that’s the way she likes it.

The 28-year-old arrived at Broncos headquarters this week with her Paris gold medal around her neck ahead of what’s expected to be her NRLW debut against the Titans on Sunday.

It’ll be her first ever game of rugby league, but she’s not alone.

Waaka is one of three New Zealand Rugby 7s gold medallists who have made a sensational code switch to join the NRLW for the remainder of the season.

New Zealand’s rugby sevens gold medal winner Stacey Waaka is set to make her NRLW debut in Round 3 for the Brisbane Broncos. Picture: AFP

“I’ve travelled the world for quite a while now and been to a few Olympics and that’s cool, that’s what I know, but coming here I know how big NRL is in Australia and I know how many girls have cross coded from New Zealand to play this unreal sport, I’m just keen to give it a go,” she said.

“I’m here to learn lots and hopefully help some of the girls and vice versa.

“I wanted something different, I’ve been playing for New Zealand now for probably 10 years and it is quite a long time and it’s cool, it’s fun it’s comfortable and I love what I do, but here I’ve seen some of my friends come over and just excel, and it’s been amazing watching them play and do well.

“They’ve inspired me to come and do the same thing.”

SWITCHING PLACES

Paris teammates Tenika Willison (Knights) and Tyla King (Dragons) have both been named on an extended bench with a chance to face each other in Newcastle on Sunday night.

But Waaka has been thrown straight into the deep end, named at centre in a heavyweight Gold Coast clash, with former Rugby 7s teammate Niall Williams her opposition.

Tyla Nathan-Wong has been named on an extended bench for the Dragons in Round 3. Picture: NRL Photos

“For me it’s about something different. I’ve never played league, I’ve only started watching it properly the last couple of years and it’s cool, I know there’s a little bit more structure than sevens, it’s a bit more freeflowing there, but I’ve come with an open mind,” she said.

The three stars are the latest players to make the trendy code switch.

Former Rugby Australia stars Emma Tonegato, Evania Pelite and Jesse Southwell have all made their mark on the competition in recent years.

And it’s becoming an attractive option for rising professional talent in the RA system who can’t crack the top teams.

“It’s talked about a lot in New Zealand now, and it wasn’t really talked about in New Zealand to play league,” she says.

“I know there’s a lot more clubs playing now which is really cool, I know a lot of people want to come over here and play too, and those who aren’t successful in sevens have more opportunity to play both codes, which is cool for women’s sport in general.

“We talk about growing (women’s sport), having more numbers playing, not just here or in New Zealand, but around the world.

“If we can provide that pathway for them and be able to switch between both I think that’s awesome.”

But Waaka has been thrown into the deep end, making her debut just days after arriving in Australia. Picture: Getty Images

BRONCOS BOOST

She comes in at a crucial time for the Broncos who have lost their first two games to start the year, but are also missing Bri Clark and Annetta Nu’uausala through suspension.

Another former Olympic teammate, Broncos five-eighth Gayle Broughton, has also been named for her first game of the year on Sunday as she battles an ongoing back injury.

Broughton has been giving Waaka a crash course in rugby league as she learns the new game.

“I don’t really know plays or anything and I’ve learnt heaps in the last few days in here,” she said.

“I’m very uncomfortable but I love being in that zone, I love taking on new things and learning from so many different people. “There’s lots of Queenslanders (Origin players) in this team so if I can take what I can from them it will help me not just grow as a player, but grow as a person.”

Originally published as NRLW Round 3 news: Sharni Smale’s surprise code swap, Stacey Waaka opens up ahead of debut