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Important SN update for SouthlandFour NRLW stars you can't afford to miss in 2025
Sam Kosack • July 2nd, 2025 5:46 pm
The 2025 NRLW season kicks off this week, with a host of big-name transfers in the off-season demanding attention.
From Dally M medal winners to 2024 gold medal winners, the NRLW promises plenty of action off the back of a record-breaking State of Origin series, as it expands to 12 teams with the Warriors returning to the competition and the Bulldogs fielding a side for the first time.
Here are some of the most exciting players to watch out for in 2025:
Tamika Upton
Tamika Upton returns home to Brisbane after a decorated three-year career in Newcastle.
The 2023 Dally M medal winner won two Karen Murphy medals in the Knights' back-to-back premierships.
Having debuted with the Broncos back in 2019, Upton is arguably the game's best player, representing Queensland and Australia, and will make a huge difference for the Broncos as they hunt a fourth premiership.
Michaela Brake
Michaela Brake joins the New Zealand Warriors in their return to the NRLW as a marquee signing and dual Olympic Gold Medal winner.
Brake has signed a one-year deal with the Warriors, joining from rugby sevens where she leaves a glittering resume including back-to-back World Rugby Sevens women's player of the year in 2017-18 and scored over 250 tries in more than 230 international appearances, which she'll hope to add to on the wing.
Brake headlines a number of big signings for the Warriors, including Apii Nicholls and Laishon Albert-Jones, with the team having 16 club debuts to start Round 1.
The moment Michaela Brake knew she HAD to play for the Warriors | Ric & Chappy
Paige Travis
Paige Travis joins the Parramatta Eels as the fourth English player to make the journey to the NRLW, along with Hollie-Mae Dodd, Georgia Roche, and Francesca Goldthorp.
Travis has represented England on eight occasions and won four Challenge Cup titles with St Helens.
Lining up in the second row, Travis brings important experience to an Eels side that won the wooden spoon in 2024 and will be looking to greatly improve in 2025.
Tayla Preston
Tayla Preston has been named an inaugural co-captain of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in their first season in the NRLW.
Preston was signed from the Cronulla Sharks to play halfback for the Bulldogs, and was the club's first signing, having grown up a diehard supporter of the team she now leads.
The Sharks lost the grand final in 2024 to the Sydney Roosters, with Preston looking to go one better this year, supported by key signings Holli Wheeler and Ashleigh Quinlan, while being coached by former NRL player Brayden Wiliame.
If the Bulldogs are to impress in their debut season, it means Preston will have had a season to remember.
The NRLW season kicks off on Thursday with Preston's former club and 2024 runner ups, the Cronulla Sharks taking on the Parramatta Eels at Shark Stadium.
Greg Inglis on his transition to coaching in the NRLW | The Six Again Podcast
