Why this NRLW star chose love over staying with the premiership-winning Broncos

A premiership ring, State of Origin and Jillaroos caps sealed a season to remember for Broncos NRLW champion Keilee Joseph. Pamela Whaley reveals why the tough rake walked away from the most successful team in the competition.

The things you do for love.

Few players leave NRLW powerhouse and reigning premiers Brisbane, but Jillaroos and Queensland star Keilee Joseph is one of them.

Two years of making a long distance relationship work takes a toll, and Joseph is ready to settle back at home in Penrith with her fiance, Jack.

The 23-year-old has packed up her clothes and moved back to Sydney in anticipation of a fresh start with Parramatta in 2026.

After winning the Pacific Championships with the Jillaroos last weekend, Joseph explained her reasons for knocking back offers from elsewhere to sign with the Eels in anticipation of the massive year ahead of her next season.

A new club, a wedding, and hopefully, a World Cup.

Keilee Joseph in action for the Jillaroos against the Kiwi Ferns. Credit: NRL Images.

“It was a great season with the Broncos this year, finishing off with a ring,” she said.

“But my partner is in Penrith and I thought it’s just time to come home.

“I’m really excited to have a fresh start at Parramatta. Hopefully I can bring some knowledge to their team and help lead the forward pack.”

Technically, she lives here in Penrith anyway, so relocating meant packing up her clothes after winning the NRLW grand final and finally settling back in with her long-time love.

The pair were engaged at the end of 2024, and with a wedding date set for the end of November in 2026, planning is about to kick up a gear.

One ring at the end of this year, and another at the end of next.

“It’s such a good bunch of girls at the Broncos, but I just know for me moving forward Parramatta is the best decision for me,” she said.

“It’s been a massive year.

“I get married at the end of next year, so that’s another reason I had to come home. Wedding planning. It’s a big year coming.

“We have the World Cup, and then two weeks later is our wedding day.”

KNOCKING BACK RIVALS

Although her family are in Brisbane, Joseph has roots in Sydney through Jack and the Sydney Roosters.

She was a star of their pathways system and made her debut at the club in 2021.

When deliberating her future beyond the end of the season, she knocked back a chance to return to the club, as well as a chance to join a rebuild at the Wests Tigers.

“I was at the Broncos for two years, it was a long time away during the season, I just knew it was time to come home,” she said.

“It was a tough decision to be made.

“There was the Roosters I could have come back to, Wests Tigers and Parra, but I was really looking forward to playing with the spine that Parramatta have.

“They have some really strong girls and I’m excited to play with them.”

Eels fullback Abbi Church is one such player.

The pair bonded over their time in Jillaroos camp.

“I can’t wait to play with her, she adds so much to a team,” she said.

Keilee Joseph was part of the Broncos side that took out the NRLW premiership. Credit: NRL Images.

Keilee Joseph with partner Jack. Credit: Instagram.

THE MOMENT THE EELS KNEW

The addition of Joseph to the Eels pack will take them to a new level in 2026.

Although she’s still young, Joseph has five years of NRLW experience under her belt as well rep honours, and coach Steve Georgallis jumped at the rare chance to sign the premiership-winner.

“There are not many that come on the market,” said Eels coach Steve Georgallis.

“It’s very rare that one of those players come off contract, and then you have to fight against the Roosters and the Broncos too.”

She fills a gap that’s missing in their forward pack, which is made up of either rising young guns like Tess McWilliams, Ryvrr-Lee Alo, Fontayne Tafuga and Chloe Jackson, or experienced heads like Elsie Albert.

Keilee Joseph was part of the Broncos side that took out the NRLW premiership. Credit: NRL Images.

Joseph is in her prime, and there was a moment in their meeting he knew she was going to be the perfect fit.

“We thought we needed some midrange players in our team… and she fit that bill,” Georgallis said.

“We had an interview with her and I found her very down to earth, she came with a book, writing notes. Her attention to detail was really good.

“That, to me, was a sign that she was a player we wanted at the club. We went through a process of who we had and who we needed to let go.”

And there is more development to come.

“All of our forwards can run and pass, and that’s something she was excited to improve in her game,” he said.

“Defensively she doesn’t stop, and we saw that with the Broncos, with Queensland in State of Origin and with the Jillaroos at the end of the season.

“She’s a humble type of player who rolls up her sleeves and gets the job done, which is the way we want to play as a forward pack.

“And she’s in the prime of her career in that age bracket.”

POST SEASON PLANS

Joseph has been a rising gun for the past few years, but this season in particular she was a giant for the Broncos across their premiership push.

She played big minutes in the middle and was among the best forwards in the NRLW, also playing two State of Origin games for Queensland, winning the player of the match in the Indigenous All Stars clash as well as the Jillaroos test against England in Las Vegas.

She’s earned a break.

“I can’t wait for the off-season,” she says.

“We’re going on a holiday to Hamilton Island to relax. I’m very excited to switch off a bit.”

Originally published as Why this NRLW star chose love over staying with the premiership-winning Broncos