Rising stars: The 95+ Lisa Fiaola, Tarsha Gale talents who have played HNWP in 2024

An extraordinary amount of young women’s players have made the rise from Junior Reps through to the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership this year. We look at all 95+ players to rise in class.

The Junior Reps players who have stepped up to Harvey Norman Women's Premiership in 2024.

The Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership has long been a showcase of elite league talent.

Now more than ever the young guns of the game are making the step up from underage to open women’s level.

We take a look at the 96 players who have stepped up to higher honours at HNWP level this season.

CANTERBURY BULLDOGS

With an NRLW position coming their way next season, building from within and through the younger ranks has been a key focus for the Bulldogs.

That has seen seven players make the rise from Tarsha Gale Cup this year to test themselves against older women.

Those players are Abby Aros, Shaquaylah Mahakitau-Monschau, Ambryn Murphy-Haua, Paea Uilou, Waimarie Martin, Pauline Suli-Ruka and Bella McEachern.

In further good signs for the Bulldogs, Olivia Vaalele and Abbey Fuz from the Lisa Fiaola Cup premiership winning side have also spent time at this level.

CENTRAL COAST ROOSTERS

An incredible 20 players who featured in the Junior Reps earlier this year have lined up for the Central Coast Roosters in 2024.

Molly Pittman and Mahlie Cashin have got the call up from the Central Coast Lisa Fiaola side.

St George’s Taneisha Gray and Penrith’s Daisy McKeon have jumped ship from Tarsha Gale Cup.

A strong North Sydney Bears contingent of Sharlize Campbell, Jayla Dicker, Latisha Kaitap, Sienna Deeley and Jessica Stevens have made the rise to HNWP level.

The Roosters U19s have provided 11 players for the Central Coast this season, namely Mele Ketuu, Tyra Ekepati, Eliza Lopamaua, Phoenix Lamese, Taylah Fuiava, Anabelle Ross, Katelyn Whitehead, Sienna-Mae Montomgery, Imogen Hei, Aliyah Nasio and Tess McWilliams.

CRONULLA SHARKS

While it hasn’t been a season to remember for the Sharks as such, they will take great delight in the fact they have managed to blood so many young guns, as well as the current form of the NRLW side.

NRLW development players Stephanie Faulkner, Tia-Jordyn Vasilovski, Joy Levy and Koreti (Leki) Leilua have all featured so far.

Young guns Koolee Harbour, Ariana Harden, Olivia Herman and Jaydika Tafua have also been called upon by coach Robert Capizzi this season.

ILLAWARRA STEELERS

With the success of the Steelers as unbeaten Tarsha Gale Cup premiers it’s no surprise they feature heavily.

An incredible 10 players who featured in the premiership side have played at HNWP level this season.

Outside backs Jessica Patea, Mia-Rose Walsh, Maria Paseka, Indie Bostock and Herewaka Pohatu are joined by forwards Hope Millard, Brielle Luccitti, Sienna Yeo and Rhian Yeo as players to have made it to open age play.

The success story is Bronte Wilson, who made her NRLW debut in the season opener against the Gold Coast at just 18 years of age.

The production line doesn’t end there, with Lisa Fiaola U17s players Tori Shipton, Koffi Brookfield and Tahlia O’Brien all getting a run at HNWP.

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MANLY SEA EAGLES

Manly had some standout players throughout the Tarsha Gale season as they were narrowly edged out by eventual grand finalists Newcastle in the finals.

That form has resulted in six players being identified by coach Keith Hanley to make the step up in grade.

Those players so far have been Aleksandra Tunufai, Matisse Bettridge, Lili Boyle, Alianna Tonu’u, Lailani Montgomery and Chelsea Smyth.

MOUNTIES

As a non-NRL affiliated side Mounties has needed to recruit from outside, and that has included a handful of young guns.

Raiders forward Jaida Faleono and Sydney Roosters second rower Oriana Epati have come across from their Tarsha Gale sides for a shot.

Parramatta Fiaola Cup fullback/halfback Logan Lemusu has been a key player in recent weeks.

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

The young guns of the Knights who made the Tarsha Gale Cup final have been on show throughout the season.

Young talents Leah Ollerton, Aylah McCulloch, Evah McEwen, Fane Finau and Elizabeth Montgomery have all had a crack.

The NRLW side has been boosted with the presence of Lilly-Ann White and Evie Jones, and the pair have acquitted themselves well.

Newcastle has also recruited South Sydney’s Ava Osland to join the side.

PARRAMATTA EELS

While it’s been a tough season at the HNWP level for the Eels, their future stocks have been bolstered with some classy Tarsha Gale players stepping up to the mark.

It’s a great sign, particularly with how well the NRLW side has performed against expectations so far.

Raphaella Perigo, Ryvrr-Lee Alo, Bella Sandford and Caitlin Peadon have been getting strong game-time over the course of the season.

Aaliyah Haumono, Fontayne Tufuga, Liaina Dimech and Lindsay Tui have shown they are ones to watch as well.

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS

The Rabbitohs are looking to finish the HNWP season on a high and a number of young guns will be crucial to that cause.

Prolific tryscorer Shanelle Lyons has been joined by Nancy Sullivan, Mikayla Langer and Abbie Ritchie as spending solid time at this level.

Jaminey Weatherall and Georgie Coote are two more Tarsha Gale players who have earned a call-up.

Talented half Kiara McGregor was a standout in the Lisa Fiaola season and has been given a chance against older women at just 17 years of age.

Another Fiaola talent in Parramatta’s Khyliah Gray has also featured.

WENTWORTHVILLE MAGPIES

The dream season of the Magpies has been one to behold, and similar to Mounties they’ve had to look outside to bring in players.

Aaliyah Soufan captained the Parramatta Lisa Fiaola Cup team that made the semi finals earlier this season and has earned game time.

Danielle Seckold was in that same team and has been a regular on the wing for Wenty.

WESTS TIGERS

Similar to their male pathways, the Tigers have shown no hesitation in blooding their younger female talents at the higher level.

11 players from their Junior Reps programs have come into the fold this season, with the most notable Tiana-Lee Thorne who made her NRLW debut recently.

She was part of the Tarsha Gale side alongside fellow HNWP players Claudia Brown, Cheyenne Baker, Iemaima Etuale and Fanaafi Fauese.

Elite Lisa Fiaola talents Ellie Barnett and Lucyannah Luamanu-Leiataua have been called up and held their spots in the side.

The Tigers have also looked from outside their own ranks to recruit talents, with Illawarra stars Evie McGrath, Chelsea Savill and Darcy Eade joining the side, along with Penrith’s Montana McLean.

Originally published as Rising stars: The 95+ Lisa Fiaola, Tarsha Gale talents who have played HNWP in 2024