Raiders eyeing US talent to bolster NRLW squad
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US Rugby 7s representative Liz Tafuna is set to fulfil an NRLW dream after club bosses witnessed first hand the talent in North America during their visit to Las Vegas for the historic season opener.
Tafuna told pan66.com last week that she wanted to play in the NRLW and Canberra CEO Don Furner spoke to her about joining the Raiders at the pan66.combine on Saturday ahead of the double-header at Allegiant Stadium.
Parramatta CEO Jim Sarantinos, North Queensland's Jeff Reibel, Canterbury's Aaron Warburton, Dolphins boss Terry Reader and Brisbane head of female football Paul Dyer also attended the inaugural pan66.combine.
Canada Ravens star Megan Pakulis and USA international MarCaya Bailous were selected to train with an elite team in Australia after the Combine at Game Changers and UFC HQ in Las Vegas.
The male winners were Kristopher Leach and Michael Woolridge.
However, Tafuna is likely to become the first American to play in the NRLW after Furner revealed he had already discussed signing her with Raiders coach Darrin Borthwick.
“I wasn’t even going to come out to the Combine, but I am glad I did because the athletes are way better than I thought,” Furner told pan66.com.
“You can coach them at training, but if they can catch and run that is half the battle. They're certainly very athletic, and some of the women’s players, in particular, have played sevens rugby so that certainly helps.
“There’s certainly so some girls here who could play NRLW. I have sent a few clips back to our NRLW coach and we are going to talk to one or two of them who we would love to get.
“The young girl I watched and spoke to was outstanding, so we definitely want to talk to her.”
Tafuna, who has a Māori mother and a Tongan father, began playing rugby union in Utah and has represented the US in sevens and the 15-aside version of the code.
The 21-year-old met Raiders centre Mackenzie Wiki while playing in a Māori rugby league tournament in Rotorua in 2022 and has been pondering a code switch ever since.
“I’ve had quite a few conversations that I feel great about,” Tafuna said.
“I think some of them were wondering if this is something that I was really wanting to lean into and whether I would really switch codes, but when you see how much they back the women’s game how could you not want to.
“I want to be a part of that, and I am ready to take any opportunity that is coming.
“I'm grateful, and I'm still pinching myself at the things that are happening, even just being here at the UFC, and all the parts of this Combine.
“I think that was also one of the moments when I was like, ‘oh, it’s real, and this is something that is really possible’.”
