The Wahine Rugby League Takeover (Aotearoa vs Tonga Debrief)
There was little to learn from Aotearoa Kiwi Ferns' big win over Tonga other than the continuation of wahine rugby league's growth in Aotearoa, which is steaming towards a World Cup later this year. Aotearoa defeated Tonga 50-12 and as Tonga are not one of the eight teams playing at the World Cup, a hefty dose of context is required with this result. Cook Islands are the only Polynesian nation preparing for the World Cup which highlights low-hanging fruit for international growth.
Aotearoa wahine growth is evident in how Kiwi Ferns teams have looked in recent years. Aotearoa lost to Australia late in 2019 and just five players from that game lined up to face Tonga, while Raecene McGregor was the only back to play in both games; Kiwi Ferns basically rolled out a fresh backline from 2019 to 2022.
Late in 2020, among a funky pocket of NZRL representative fixtures there was a Kiwi Ferns vs Samoa Invitational fixture. This amplified the depth in wahine rugby league with Katelyn Vaha'akolo the only player from that game playing against Tonga in the same position (starting winger both games). Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly was playing in the halves against Samoa with Lavinia Tauhalaliku at fullback, which flipped to Stephens-Daly starting at fullback against Tonga - who had Tauhalaliku at fullback.
Across their last three games, Aotearoa has not had one back play in all three games. Krystal Rota is the only player overall who has played all three games and this means that at least 20-25 different players have been used for Kiwi Ferns in their last three games. If all three of these games were against Australia, Aotearoa would struggle when dipping into their depth but games against building Samoa and Tonga teams has helped everyone get more international experience during niggly times.
Aotearoa had Laishon Albert-Jones and Christyl Stowers playing against Tonga as the only two players who haven't played NRLWahine. Both could play NRLWahine in the upcoming season with Albert-Jones forecasting as a funky play-maker who would look her best alongside an experienced half, as was the case with McGregor for Kiwi Ferns; McGregor may be the best halfback in the world.
Smaller middle forwards are trendy in NRL, which could benefit Stowers as she fits that mould perfectly. Georgia Hale may be the blueprint for Stowers with rugged defence, mobility and distribution adding to the middle forward combinations. Kiwi Ferns fixtures provide the best platform to command NRLWahine opportunities, although NRLWahine will stay at six teams for the upcoming season. More players in the same amount of teams could limit opportunities.
After the World Cup, NRLWahine will expand and I expect Aotearoa to flood NRLWahine with more roster spots available. Albert-Jones and Stowers are capable of stepping up to NRLWahine, they will probably need to wait for expansion though.
Page McGregor, Amy Turner and Roxy Murdoch-Masila made their Kiwi Fern debuts and all looked like certified internationals. Turner will lace up for Broncos again in NRLWahine, McGregor has re-upped with Dragons and Murdoch-Masila is yet to be signed after impressing with Broncos earlier this season. Murdoch-Masila will get a gig somewhere and is one of many Kiwi Ferns or Aotearoa NRLWahine players who will be part of a signing flurry in the coming weeks.
Here is a breakdown of Kiwi Ferns (played vs Tonga and recent squads) already signed to NRLWahine teams for the second season of 2022...
Broncos: Nita Maynard, Annetta Nu'uausala, Crystal Tamarua, Amber Hall, Lavinia Gould, Amy Turner.
Titans: Madison Bartlett, Apii Nicholls, Rona Peters, Kimiora Breayley-Nati, Hailee-Jay Maunsell, Georgia Hale.
Knights: Kiana Takairangi, Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly.
Eels: Gayle Broughton.
Dragons: Page McGregor.
Roosters: Raecene McGregor, Mya Hill-Moana, Leianne Tufuga.
Other players will be signed and I'll be tracking this in our email newsletters, as well as covering the upcoming season. Players like Amber Hall, Apii Nicholls, Crystal Tamarua and Kimiora Breayley-Nati are notable Kiwi Ferns and also NRLWahine veterans who will all be eager to get back in the selection mixer. Leianne Tufuga was among the best wingers in NRLWahine while winning a championship with Roosters and she could be a factor as well, while former Aotearoa Sevens player Gayle Broughton has made a switch to NRLWahine just in time for World Cup footy.
Ponder the fullback slot where Stephens-Daly played against Tonga. Nicholls held that spot for a few years prior to the pandemic and her move to Titans has her back in NRLWahine footy. Broughton has been playing fullback for Mounties in NSW Women's Premiership ahead of her first NRLWahine campaign with Eels. These three could all be starting fullbacks in NRLWahine and this level of depth is where low key World Cup hype starts to build.
Aotearoa is growing its halves depth to help build a more competitive selection process. Raecene McGregor's the best then the likes of Albert-Jones, Breayley-Nati and Karli Hansen are in the mix. Charntay Poko played in the halves for the 2019 outing against Australia and should be in any Kiwi Ferns squad, although she may shine as a skillful middle forward or bench utility.
There is plenty of depth in positions where Aotearoa is traditionally well stocked. Now Aotearoa has more options for key spine positions and the upcoming NRLWahine campaign will be crucial as players compete for Aotearoa selection. Hopefully there are more NRLWahine signings over the coming weeks, especially after showcasing talent in a highly visible Kiwi Ferns Test. All of which builds into the World Cup and sets up NRLWahine as Aotearoa's most important season yet.
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