NRLW 2023: Surprise packets emerge for title, Dally M Medal after unprecedented player movement

A historic 10-team comp has prompted an unprecedented amount of NRLW player movement. PAMELA WHALEY examines who’s in the frame for the title as the season kicks off

Tarryn Aiken isn’t the biggest name at the Sydney Roosters, but she’s backed by teammates to take her star power to a new level in a historic new NRLW season.

The ex-Brisbane half made her debut with the Jillaroos in the World Cup in 2022, but out of a brilliant group of new players in Bondi, she’s the player Jess Sergis reckons will storm Dally M rankings.

On the back of international signings including Millie Boyle from Newcastle and Amber Hall and Aiken from the Broncos, the Roosters have assembled a star-studded line-up that bookies have favoured to take out the NRLW premiership.

Aiken’s performance for the Jillaroos at last year’s World Cup should have the NRLW on notice. Picture: David Davies/PA Images via Getty Images

But ahead of the biggest NRLW season to date, which kicks off on Saturday, Sergis insists 24-year-old Jillaroo and Queensland half Aiken could break through as one of the game’s best.

“She’s one of the signings I’m most looking forward to playing with. I got the taste of that in the World Cup, she’s a big game player,” the NSW and Roosters centre said.

“Her actions speak louder than her words. You won’t hear her talking a lot off the field, but on the field she turns into this beast and takes control of a game. This year will be a standout for her and she’ll be up there with the Dally M contenders.”

The Broncos host the Roosters at Sunshine Coast Stadium in the first round of blockbuster games across nine rounds this season.

“We recruited well, and there’s obviously been a lot of hype and pressure around our squad and signing some big key, quality players, but it’s all good and well on paper but we have to play well,” Sergis said.

“We’ve been training really well, so I’m just really excited to have a tough hit out against the Broncos in round one.”

The grudge matches will run deep across the women’s game this year after an unprecedented amount of movement as the competition grew from six teams to 10.

Newcomers North Queensland, Canberra, Wests Tigers and Cronulla are the big unknowns having recruited from scratch, but there were player trades across all 10 teams with players able to sign multi-year contracts for the first time.

Sergis is expecting big things from the new look Rosters outfit in 2023. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Jillaroos star Tiana Penitani was one such big-name to make the switch, joining the Sharks from grand finalists Parramatta, along with former Dally M Medalist and ex-Dragons fullback Emma Tonegato.

As a result, the Sharks are also tipped for big things based on their stacked squad, and they’ll face the Raiders at Cronulla on Sunday.

“It’s been about getting to know each other, and building connections off the field,” Penitani says of building a brand new team from scratch.

The inaugural Cronulla Sharks NRLW line-up. Picture: Cronulla Sharks/Supplied

“And in terms of the high performance one-percenters, the Sharks have really been all over it.

“For our induction day, we did an Amazing Race through Cronulla.”

“We ended up running about 8kms around Cronulla chasing clues… and once we were done we came back to the club house, everyone had to bring a plate relative to your cultural background or your childhood. We all shared food, and that was a really special way to get to know each other.”

Elsewhere, the new-look Gold Coast will kick off the round on Saturday afternoon against the Cowboys, led by ex-Knights half Kirra Dibb.

The premiers, Newcastle, will host St George Illawarra later in the day, while the Brett Kimmorley-coached Wests Tigers will play their first NRLW game against the Eels at Commbank Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Originally published as NRLW 2023: Surprise packets emerge for title, Dally M Medal after unprecedented player movement