2025 New Zealand Women Warriors Signings Tracker: First Wave
The New Zealand Women Warriors have started to build their 2025 NRLW squad by signing Apii Nicholls, Mya Hill-Moana, Harata Butler and Capri Paekau, who have all played for Aotearoa Kiwi Ferns. There is a distinct flavour in these four signings as they all have strong connection to local communities, led by the return of Nicholls to Auckland and a hearty trio of Waikato wahine.
These players all have roots in rugby league as well which forms the foundations that NZWW can build on for their return to NRLW. Nicholls played for NZWW in 2018 and 2019 before the pandemic snatched away most NZW teams, with Nicholls moving to Titans for 2022 and Raiders for the last two seasons. As a longtime Kiwi Ferns fullback, Nicholls is the best fullback from Aotearoa and she is likely to start next season in the numero tahi jersey.
Nicholls' journey through Titans and Raiders has developed her fullback mahi, going from 87m/game in her debut season to 120m/game this year. This growth is also evident in her tackling efficiency which has improved from 70.9% in 2018 to 81.5% this season.
Nicholls hasn't scored a try in her 26 NRLW games though, so hopefully that changes next year. The classy fullback has eight try assists in 15 games for Raiders ahead of this weekend's action and she was the fullback for Aotearoa's win over Australia last year, offering a linebreak and a try assist. Nicholls is 31-years-old and the quality of Hill-Moana is evident in how the 22-year-old has played 24 NRLW games, two less than Nicholls.
Hill-Moana has already churned through 10 Tests for Aotearoa as well. After making her Kiwi Ferns and NRLW debuts as a teenager, Hill-Moana is in her fourth NRLW season and she has played at least five games in all four campaigns. Hill-Moana has showcased her mana by earning opportunities in Australia through Bulldogs to spark up her NRLWahine career with Roosters as well as being entrenched in Taniwharau Rugby League.
Butler shares that Taniwharau mana and while Hill-Moana has excelled at a young age, Butler has earned her NRLWahine opportunities as a mature mother. After grinding through the local scene to earn a Kiwi Ferns debut in 2020, 31-year-old Butler was snapped up by Sharks for the 2023 NRLW season and this year she shifted to Cowboys where she has been playing under Kiwi Ferns coach Ricky Henry.
There is a funky chance that NZWW roll out Hill-Moana and Butler in their middle forwards together, which would give them a double dose of Taniwharau oomph. Butler is slightly bigger than Hill-Moana and has primarily added impact off the bench, although she has shown that she can play more minutes as a starting prop. The best example this season was round six when Butler played 44 minutes vs Broncos with 11 runs - 138m @ 12.5m/run.
Paekau will be aiming for a dummy half role, either starting or coming off the bench next season. The 23-year-old from Te Awamutu played five games for Eels last season and made her Kiwi Ferns debut but she isn't playing NRLW at the moment. Paekau probably returned to Aotearoa knowing that she could earn an opportunity with NZWW and she has been in front of NZWW scouts most weeks this year playing for Taniwharau in the Auckland Women's Premiership.
Now Paekau is playing for Waikato in the NZRL Women's Championship as the other three roll through NRLWahine footy, with all four aiming for Kiwi Ferns footy coming up. The first round of NZWW signings highlight the standing of women's rugby league in Aotearoa as they have all earned NRLW opportunities directly from grassroots rugby league. Given how these ladies and many others have transitioned from Aotearoa footy to NRLW, the quality of women's rugby league in New Zealand can't be overlooked.
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