NRLW Players: Natasha Penitani

After making her NRLW debut in Round 1, Wests Tigers forward Natasha Penitani is ready to make her mark on the competition.

The younger sister of NSW star Tiana, Penitani joined the club after three seasons playing for the Sharks in the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership, and has also featured at international level for Tonga.

During a period of uncertainty in recent years, ‘Tash’ wasn't sure if she was destined for a sporting career. However, the 24-year-old has made a rapid rise to the top.

“I just had about a year off where I wasn’t too sure what I was doing or what I wanted to do, and then around that time, my sister had started playing rugby league off the back of her Sevens career," Penitani explained. 

“She just asked me to come down and do a training session with the Sharks; the Harvey Norman team.

“I started with them, spent three years with Sharks at Harvey Norman level and then got the opportunity to play for Tonga in 2022, and then 2023 again in the Pacific Championships, and then picked up a contract with the Tigers this year.”

While she played the sport growing up, seeing sister Tiana become one of the first stars of the NRLW was a huge motivator in once again pursuing rugby league.

“When she transitioned over into rugby league, just watching her growth in the game and how much she was enjoying it, and she would always speak about how quick the game would grow and how opportunistic it would become.

“That definitely motivated me to want to start playing Harvey Norman at the Sharks, because I was still kind of learning the game when I started with them.

“Just wanting to get to the point where I could become a part of an NRLW team as well, just seeing how much enjoyment she was getting from playing, first and foremost, but also how much opportunity there would be in the coming years to get to the point where it is now.”

In a testament to her strong work ethic and commitment, Penitani also works full-time outside of rugby league.

“I work for the NSW Police Force, Monday to Friday, so I think a big goal for me would just be getting better at balancing my schedule," she said.

“It can get pretty hectic; up at five o’clock in the morning, working all day and then getting to training by four o’clock.”

It can be pretty full on but I’m really enjoying it and it does help when we are training and playing in a really good environment; definitely makes it worth it.

Natasha Penitani

Penitani will feature off the interchange bench for Wests Tigers in Saturday’s Round 3 NRLW clash against the Roosters.