NRLW Players: Evie McGrath

Recent NRLW debutant Evie McGrath proved extremely impressive in her first appearance in the top grade last weekend, with the teenage five-eighth scoring a try and threatening the Cowboys defence throughout the match.

The 18-year-old junior representative star joined Wests Tigers this season after winning the 2024 Tarsha Gale Cup with Illawarra and representing NSW U/19s in their big win over Queensland in June. 

We chatted to the Shellharbour Stingrays junior after her debut NRLW match, where she discussed her rapid rise to the top grade… and her uncanny knack for winning rugby league games.

“I played with Illawarra Steelers through Lisa Fiaola and Tarsha Gale; this was my first year of Tarsha Gale and we ended up winning the premiership, undefeated,” McGrath said. 

“Then I made it into the Country [U/19s] team where we also won that and then the U/19s NSW Origin team which we won.

“I signed with Wests Tigers just before Origin, made my Harvey Norman debut for them this year and went from there.”

McGrath joined the club alongside two Steelers teammates, Chelsea Savill, who also made her NRLW debut against the Cowboys, and Darcy Eade, who is impressing for Wests Tigers’ NSW Women’s Premiership team.

McGrath was grateful for their support as the trio all moved to a new training and playing environment.  

“Steelers was my familiarity, they had all the people I’d grown up playing with, so moving to a new club I was quite scared,” McGrath explained. 

“It was a nervous experience because I didn’t know anyone there but then I found out Chelsea and Darcy were coming, who are both two really good friends. 

Having them with me in the transition when I moved to Tigers, I honestly probably couldn’t have done it without them, it brought a bit of home to somewhere new.

Evie McGrath

Evie also reflected on the sacrifices she’s made to reach this level and her excitement at finally getting to play in the national competition. 

“Anyone in the rugby league pathways has to make sacrifices to get their opportunity and I had to leave my local club to get my chance.

“I also missed out on my graduation for football and Chelsea and I drive about 1 hour and 40 minutes to get to training most days of the week.

“I knew I was ready for the moment though, I had trained with the girls for months now and they have all become my friends, so running on with them, there was trust and that helped me ground myself in the moment.

“It was a dream come true to make my NRLW debut and to top that off with a try was just the cherry on top.”