After years of teaming up together for New Zealand in a different code, Niall Williams-Guthrie and Gayle Broughton face each other for the first time as NRLW players on Thursday night.
The former rugby sevens stars clash at The Gabba, with Broughton's Broncos playing host to Williams-Guthrie and the Titans – who also have Evania Pelite, a long-time opponent of the pair on the sevens circuit while playing for Australia – in Round 2 of the expanded 10-team competition.
Last year it was Broughton who started the trend of New Zealand sevens players coming across to the NRLW when she signed with the Eels, and since then Williams-Guthrie and Tyla Nathan-Wong (Dragons) have followed.
Williams-Guthrie said her close friend deserved plenty of credit for paving the way for others to switch codes from New Zealand, but made it clear there would be no appreciation shown when they meet on the field.
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"I love Gayle and I love what she’s doing and how she came to the NRLW and started the trend of girls transitioning to league," Williams-Guthrie said.
"You’re mates off the field but once you cross that white chalk that’s your opponent. It’s always been like that and that’s how you get the best out of each other.
I’m following suit [after Gayle's move] but I’m a Titan and we’re going out there to win. I hope our team smashes them.
Niall Williams-Guthrie
Williams-Guthrie, whose brother is Sonny Bill Williams, made a winning start to life in rugby league last weekend as the Titans got over the Cowboys 16-6, with the centre running for 68 metres and making 12 tackles.
Broughton, who has been a hit since arriving in the NRLW and helped Parramatta to a Grand Final appearance last year, said she had no doubt her fellow Kiwi would be a success in the 13-aside game.
"The Titans have got a massive leader with her... she has got the engine of a James Tedesco. She will go all day, the lady never stops," Broughton said.
"I have no questions around her transitioning to league, I’m excited for her and so proud.
"I'm not looking forward to tackling her and I’m going to run around her, I don’t think I’ll get through her."
Williams-Guthrie is signed through until the end of 2023 and has a club option in her contract which the Titans can activate to keep her for the 2024 season.
Pelite, who is now in her fourth season playing NRLW, said while the class and professionalism of her new teammate was clear, she urged people to have patience as Williams-Guthrie adjusts to a new sport.
“I had a few conversations with Niall [before she signed]. I just said to her that on my transition over, people just assumed that because I had a decorated rugby sevens career that I was going to transition into rugby league really easily," Pelite said.
"I almost felt that I was a bit forgotten in that people forgot that I was still in my learning phase.
“I said to her, the biggest advice I can offer is to come here and ask lots of questions, because people will assume you know things, that you know the game, that you know how to play footy; but rugby league is so different to sevens.
"Niall brings a really great energy and physicality on the field.
"Obviously off the field, it's her professionalism and the way that she carries herself around the training facilities, so I'm excited to see where Niall’s game is going to go."