The NRLW Tackle: Next generation stars who fired in NRLW debuts

Indie Bostock’s name has been reverberating around the NRLW for a while and she met the hype on her Dragons debut, but she wasn’t the only next-gen star to emerge in round one. That and more in the NRLW Tackle.

Pamela Whaley reveals her likes and dislikes from round one of the NRLW season, from the impressive next generation of stars shining on debut, to the trouble in the Hunter as the Knights show signs of struggle.

LIKES

NEXT GEN DOMINATES

Indie Bostock’s name has been reverberating around the NRLW for a little while.

Earlier this year she sat out the Tarsha Gale Cup season with Illawarra to build up her body to handle the week-to-week rigours of NRLW in anticipation of her debut.

Indie Bostock announced herself to the NRLW world on Saturday. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

It was a bold plan by new coach Nathan Cross, but appears to have paid off.

The 18-year-old Australian Schoolgirls star was one of a handful of rising players to score on debut in round one, marking a new wave of talent flooding the women’s game.

Bostock carved up with a double, 152 running metres, three tacklebreaks and a try assist in the Dragons win over the Raiders.

Rugby union converts Moana Courtenay (Bulldogs) and Kerri Johnson (Broncos) also scored doubles for a win on debut, while Caitlin Turnbull got over for the Tigers in their loss to the Broncos.

BULLDOGS MAKE HISTORY

It’s hard to know what to make of an inaugural team, and that’s been especially true with the Bulldogs ahead of their first NRLW season.

With no Jillaroos or NSW Origin players on their roster, as well as a rookie coach in Brayden Williame who joined at the very start of the pre-season after their former coach Blake Cavallaro parted ways with the club back in January, there was a healthy amount of scepticism around how they would match it with some of the more established teams in the competition.

History for the Bulldogs. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

But heart can’t be measured, and the Bulldogs have it by the bucket load right now.

The adversity of the off-season looks to have bonded them, and on a special night for the club they beat two-time NRLW champions Newcastle 26-12 and belted out a flawless rendition of the team song.

What a team.

TRY JULY

The NRLW players always get behind Try July and round one was no exception.

You can’t help but love the creativity of the post-try celebrations, but there’s been none better than Dragons co-captain Zali Hopkins, who paid homage to assistant coach Mark Riddell’s famous effort from 2002.

Ironically, the same year she was born.

Zali Hopkins honours Piggy 👏 Sportsbet #TryJulypic.twitter.com/HRNALmCpxB

— NRLW (@NRLWomens) July 5, 2025

INTERNATIONAL SHAKE UP

Las Vegas showed just how far ahead the Jillaroos are to the rest of the world.

New Zealand is the only real challenge for Australia, and even then Kiwi Ferns wins have been few and far between over the last few years.

In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph last week, reigning Dally M winner Olivia Kernick proposed the changes, saying she would love the chance to represent her mum’s New Zealand heritage at some point in her career.

The professionalism of the game in Australia is absolutely booming and the players at the representative level are the best in the game.

The only way to boost the international game is to open up the eligibility for NSW and Queensland Origin players to be available for other nations.

Origin is such a beast. They’re the three best games of the season, it’s a big financial payday with players earning $15,000 per game in a three-game series.

While the women’s game is still in its very early days, it’s not fair to ask them to choose between earning some well deserved cash by playing Origin, and representing their families and boosting smaller nations.

It’s a huge hit to their earnings, which are still a small fraction of the men’s salaries.

We want more competition at the international level.

DISLIKES

EARLY ROOSTERS BLOW

Sydney Roosters winger Jayme Fressard is facing a long stint on the sidelines after suffering a gruesome injury in Sunday’s win over the Warriors.

The NSW Origin star and cult hero appeared to dislocate her right elbow while awkwardly fending off a Warriors player attempting to score a try in the second half of a 30-6 win at Allianz Stadium.

Fressard was in immediate distress cradling her arm and was taken from the field in a medicab as worried teammates looked on.

It could have big consequences for the Roosters and the 28-year-old fan favourite.

Depending on the severity of the damage, Fressard could return towards the end of the NRLW season, but a fracture or surgery could rule her out for much longer.

The freak incident sours a big win for the NRLW champions, who were ruthless against the Warriors in their return to the competition.

Fressard scored the first try of the game 15 minutes in, but the majority of action went to the right edge with winger Taina Naividi scoring a hat-trick in the first half.

Jayme Fressard is facing a long stint out. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Jasmin Strange’s switch to the second row looks a stroke of genius, setting up two tries for Naividi and a couple of linebreaks, while Olivia Kernick’s shift to the middle ended with a try and a try assist for ex-Knights forward Rima Butler in the second half.

The Warriors looked promising early but have work to do in their return to the NRLW for the first time since 2020.

Promising rugby convert Patricia Maliepo scored and converted the lone try.

TROUBLE IN THE HUNTER

After winning back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023, the Knights look to be in a bit of trouble this season.

Losing Tamika Upton to Brisbane is an obvious hit, but she’s one of nine players from their last premiership winning team to leave the club.

Former NSW Origin stars Caitlan Johnston-Green (Sharks) and Hannah Southwell (Dragons) have both moved on this season, as well as Abigail Roache (Cowboys), Nita Maynard (Dragons) and Jacinta Carter (Sharks).

On Sunday former forward Laishon Albert-Jones was strong for the Warriors, while Jasmin Strange and Rima Butler both starred for the Roosters.

It’s a concerning trend for the Knights who were stunned by a 26-12 loss to the Bulldogs on Friday night to start their season.

The optics aren’t great.

One of the historically best teams in the NRLW overpowered by the competition newcomers.

With NSW Origin stars Jesse Southwell and Yasmin Clydsdale in the team, they have enough class to turn it around this week in a tough trip to Townsville against the Cowboys.

Worrying signs for the Knights. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

SCHEDULING ISSUES

NRLW is quickly growing. Already there’s six games a weekend forced into the schedule around eight NRL games, often at odd times and clashing with the men’s.

Soon every NRL club will have a women’s team. What then?

The TV numbers get a free kick in the first two rounds with prime-time Thursday night stand-alone games — Cronulla and Parramatta’s season-opener had a total national reach of 1.3 million people.

The stands were relatively empty, but viewers tune in for good timeslots, and that’s where much-needed broadcast dollars will come from when the next deal is finalised for 2028 onwards.

In the meantime, awkward timeslots on Saturday and Sunday mornings and NRL clashes don’t help anyone.

Once NRLW players are fully professional it would be great to see rugby league on our TVs seven nights a week, with clear air for the women’s game, just as they deserve.

Originally published as The NRLW Tackle: Next generation stars who fired in NRLW debuts