By Billie Eder
St George Illawarra led the signings rush for the upcoming NRLW season by securing nine players within the first 24 hours of the contract window, including 2022 Dally M Medal winner and former Roosters halfback Raecene McGregor.
Dragons coach Jamie Soward was quick to announce his first round of contracted players in 2023, which also included former Newcastle centre and Indigenous All Star Bobbi Law, former Roosters prop Angelina Teakaraanga Katoa and former Broncos forward Sara Sautia.
“As coach of the NRLW side, probably my biggest signing to date for our 2023 season, [I’m] really excited, I have been a massive fan of hers for a long time now, and so stoked she is going to be joining the Red V, it’s the 2022 Daly M medallist, Raecene McGregor,” Soward said on Wednesday.
The club also announced the re-signing of McGregor’s sister Page, utility Renee Targett and forward Tara McGrath-West along with Jamilee Bright and emerging talent Cortez Te Pou.
The Dragons aren’t the only team pinching players from rival clubs in 2023. Former Knights captain Millie Boyle, who helped carry her team to last year’s grand final, is expected to sign with the Roosters.
Coaches and clubs were left scrambling to lock-in big-name players following the announcement this week that the NRLW contract window would open at 9am on Wednesday.
Dally M Medal winner Raecene McGregor (centre) has signed with the Dragons in 2023.Credit: Getty
The window opened after an agreement was reached between the NRL and the Rugby League Players Association (RLPA), which focused on key details such as the salary cap, minimum wage and player benefits.
Clubs have just over seven weeks to sign their squads of 24, along with four development players, and will need to have their top players contracted by May 24.
Ten teams will contest an expanded premiership this year, following the additions of the Raiders, Sharks, Cowboys and Wests Tigers.
Former NSW and Kangaroos halfback Brett Kimmorley is the inaugural coach of the Tigers women’s team. He told the Herald that although it was an uphill battle for new clubs to secure big names, it gives them an opportunity to “take care of our own backyard”.
“We have got quite a lot of our local girls that will hopefully get an opportunity as well,” Kimmorley said.
“From local development players who have been with us for a while, to obviously needing to seek some important recruits as well, [we’re going] to make sure we’re doing our best to be successful in the field.
“It’s [NRLW] just growing from strength to strength, and obviously the investment that the game is putting into it with the significant jump in the salary cap as well shows how they [NRL] rate it and where they think it could get to in a number of years.”
The agreement between the NRL and the RLPA allows NRLW players to sign multi-year contracts for the first time.
The Dragons are expected to add more names to their roster on Friday, but most clubs aren’t predicted to release news of their signings until early next week.
Stream the NRL Premiership 2023 live and free on 9Now.
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