Your club's rookie to watch: The fresh faces of 2023

Whether they're cross-coders looking to make a dent or emerging stars who have risen through the ranks, here are the best rookie players to watch in the NRL Telstra Women's Premiership this year.

A total of 95 players are in line to make their NRLW debut in 2023 with the introduction of four new clubs giving a new crop of talent an opportunity to announce themselves on the biggest stage. 

Ashleigh Werner (Brisbane Broncos)

A former Australian bobsledder who missed the Tokyo Olympic Games, 30-year-old Ashleigh Werner will be wasting no time in looking to make a successful transition to the NRLW when she takes her place on the wing on Saturday night.

After playing a season for Wests Tigers in the Harvey Norman NSW Premiership, Werner instantly made her presence known in the game by bagging a hat-trick on debut.

Werner boasts the perfect combination of speed, agility, strength and power having played both touch football and rugby sevens at a high level earlier in her career.

Although her time in rugby league has been short, she has all the pedigree to be a try-scoring machine in the Broncos backline this season. 

After catching the attention of coach Scott Prince, the opportunity to be closer to family in Brisbane was also a major drawcard for Werner to knock back a Wests Tigers offer and play at Red Hill.

Grace Kemp (Canberra Raiders) 

The Raiders will blood plenty of players in their inaugural season but keep an eye on Grace Kemp, who will come off the bench for the Green Machine on Sunday.

Kemp is a 22-year-old prop who has come across from rugby union at the peak of her career in the 15s game. She wants to follow the likes of Raiders teammate Sophie Holyman and star forward Millie Boyle in a successful code switch.

Kemp represented the Wallaroos at the Rugby World Cup last year but is eyeing a possible long-term future in the NRLW and her professional experience at a young age has already impressed Raiders coach Darrin Borthwick. 

Lily Rogan (Sydney Roosters)

An outside back who can play in the centres, back-row or on the wing, the South Coast junior makes a move to Bondi after impressing in the Harvey Norman NSW Premiership for the Illawarra Steelers earlier this year.

Rogan took her game to new heights in 2023 after graduating from the Tarsha Gale Cup, playing alongside the likes of Jillaroos quartet Kezie Apps, Emma Tonegato, Taliah Fuimaono and Keeley Davis in the state competition.

After earning the Steelers' player of the season award, the 20-year-old is ready to make the next step on the NRLW stage.

Despite the likes of Jess Sergis and Isabelle Kelly ahead of her in the centres, Rogan's versatility will add some valuable depth to the squad and she should get a crack at some stage throughout the season.

Sareka Mooka (North Queensland Cowboys)

Promising forward Sareka Mooka has enjoyed a rapid rise in the past 12 months, representing the Australian Prime Minister's XIII in September before making her Indigenous All Stars debut under Ben Jeffries in February. 

The 23-year-old Cairns product can produce some big carries and is defensively sound through the middle or on an edge. She will come off the bench on Saturday.

North Queensland have a relatively inexperienced forward pack but Mooka and All Stars teammate Essay Banu are set to develop under Jeffries' guidance in the NRLW this year.

Sheridan Gallagher (Newcastle Knights)

Former Young Matildas captain Sheridan Gallagher will be hoping her light-stepping ways in soccer holds her in good stead with the 21-year-old makes her NRLW debut on Saturday afternoon. 

Having skippered the Australian under 20's side at the World Cup in Costa Rica she caught the eye of Knights coach Ron Griffiths after playing just two games at fullback for Mounties in the Harvey Norman NSW Premiership.

Gallagher will learn more tricks of the trade from arguably the best fullback in the women's game, Tamika Upton, in her maiden NRLW season and looks set to be on the end of plenty of tries should she take her opportunities first up. 

Pihuka Berryman-Duff (Parramatta Eels)

After impressing in the recent NRLW trial match for the Eels, rising five-eighth Pihuka Berryman-Duff is set to complement NSW halfback Rachel Pearson nicely in the halves this season.

Berryman-Duff, who has an extensive touch football background, is on the comeback trail after suffering an ACL injury. She recently had a taste of the game for South Sydney in the Harvey Norman NSW Premiership. 

It is hoped she can follow in the footsteps of Tarryn Aiken, Tamika Upton, Hayley Maddick and Ash Quinlan in transitioning over to rugby league this year and will get no better chance to start than in Round 1 against the Wests Tigers on Sunday.

Chantay Kiria-Ratu (Gold Coast Titans)

A promising playmaker who has a big future in the game, Kiria-Ratu signed with the Titans after shining for Queensland at the recent National Championships and in the Under 19s State of Origin. 

Providing a sublime cut-out pass to get the Rubys victory late in the grand final against NSW City, the 18-year-old has continued to take her game to new heights in 2023 after bursting onto the scene for Cook Islands at the World Cup.  

Kiria-Ratu, who has a twin sister on the comeback from injury, will partner star recruit Taliah Fuimaono in the halves for Round 1 and produced quality in the trial against North Queensland with two try assists. 

A tall and lanky halfback, the Titans hold Kiria-Ratu so highly they attempted to have her play in the NRLW at 17 last year, following in Jesse Southwell's footsteps, but the request was rejected by the NRL at the time.

Anessa Biddle (Cronulla Sharks)

Kiwi prodigy Annessa Biddle gets her opportunity in the NRLW after impressing for the Sharks in the Harvey Norman NSW Premiership in 2023. 

Biddle is a powerful outside back who impressed in Auckland rugby league's women's competitions previously before she moved across to Australia this year in the hope of being picked up by an NRLW club. 

She has edged former Dragon Cassie Staples for a debut on the wing against the Raiders on Sunday. 

Alexis Tauaneai (St George Illawarra Dragons)

Rising forward Alexis Tauaneai has made waves in the lower grades this season after moving across to Australia from New Zealand to start her rugby league journey.

The teenager picked up the Tarsha Gale Cup player of the year award, all while playing the next level up in the Harvey Norman NSW Premiership grand final, and dominated at the National Championships in May for NSW City. 

Tauaneai will start at lock for the Dragons against Newcastle on Saturday and is one to watch across the competition in 2023.

Salma Nour (Wests Tigers)

Former Dragon Salma Nour arrives at Wests Tigers after a brief stint in Wollongong as part of St George Illawarra's NRLW squad last season.

Although the 20-year-old never got on the field under Jamie Soward she has impressed in her short time at Concord since joining the joint venture.

Nour represented NSW in the under 19s State of Origin last year and will be pushing the likes of Sophie Curtain and Ebony Prior at dummy half in 2023 after missing selection for the season opener.

 

The 2023 NRL Telstra Women's Premiership kicks off on Saturday, July 22 in a newly expanded 10-team competition. Tickets to all matches are available at pan66.com/tickets.