Four players added to complete NRLW roster
Wests Tigers is delighted to announce the signing of a further four players ahead of the club’s inaugural NRLW season.
The addition of Salma Nour, Taylor Osborne, Eliza Siilata and Folau Vaki, completes the team’s 24-player roster, leaving just four development places to be filled.
All four players are either local juniors or have come through Wests Tigers women’s pathways, reinforcing the team’s ‘home grown’ identity.
Nour is a 20-year-old hooker who played her junior rugby league with Liverpool Catholic Club. She has played Tarsha Gale Cup with Illawarra Steelers for the past three years, earning player of the year honours in 2022.
Osborne is a 26-year-old second row now in her fifth season at the club and has played in the NSW Women’s Premiership since Wests Tigers’ inaugural season in 2019.
Siilata is a 19-year-old lock who began playing rugby league in a mixed boys’ and girls’ team with Macarthur Saints, when she was eight years old.
She has played the last three seasons with Wests Tigers in the Tarsha Gale Cup, after joining the club from Campbelltown Collegians.
Vaki has followed a similar path to Siilata, progressing from junior clubs Macarthur Saints and Campbelltown Collegians, and was part of the victorious NSW Women’s U/19s Origin team in 2021.
The Tongan-born forward is one of seven children and has played for all of Wests Tigers’ female pathways teams.
Wests Tigers NRLW head coach Brett Kimmorley believes there’s a good balance to the club’s inaugural squad.
“I love the look of the team we have assembled and there is a real ‘local flavour’ to it,” Kimmorley said.
“We’ve got a handful of very senior players with NRLW experience, another layer of players who have played in the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership, and then there’s the next wave of talent coming through.
I love the look of the team we have assembled, there is a real ‘local flavour’ to it.
Brett Kimmorley
“It’s a really exciting time for the club and I know the players are itching to get stuck into pre-season next week.”
“This reflects the club’s investment in women’s pathways, and the players’ desire to represent Wests Tigers.”
The four ‘development players’ will be announced later in the week before pre-season training commences on Monday 29th May.
Wests Tigers 2023 NRLW Squad:
Kezie Apps, Bianca Bennetts, Emily Curtain, Sophie Curtain, Imogen Gobran, Najvada George, Rikeya Horne, Jessica Kennedy, Josie Lenaz, Losana Lutu, Salma Nour, Taylor Osborne, Pauline Piliae-Rasabale, Christian Pio, Rebecca Pollard, Ebony Prior, Eliza Siilata, Tess Staines, Hope Tevaga, Sarah Togatuki, Leianne Tufuga, Folau Vaki, Botille Vette-Welsh, Jakiya Whitfeld
