Nine NSW Sky Blues players are captains or co-captains of their clubs for the 2023 NRLW season

Author: Margie McDonald
Timestamp: Fri 21 Jul 2023, 08:58 AM

The Harvey Norman NSW Sky Blues have dominated leadership positions for their NRLW clubs with nine players being named captain or co-captain for the 2023 season starting this weekend (Saturday 22 July).

The expansion of the NRLW from six to 10 teams marks the continued growth of the women’s game.

The popularity of the Ampol Women’s State of Origin series this year saw a record crowd of 12,972 at Game One only to be broken again with 18,275 at Game Two.

There are six Sky Blues players from this year’s series who have been recognised by their clubs to lead their teammates into the sixth edition of Rugby League’s elite women’s competition.

In fact, three of the four new clubs for 2023 have appointed Sky Blues as skippers: Tiana Penitani (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), Simaima Taufa (co-captain at the Canberra Raiders), and Kirra Dibb (co-captain North Queensland Cowboys).

They join Hannah Southwell (Newcastle Knights), Kennedy Cherrington and Rachael Pearson (Parramatta Eels), Isabelle Kelly (Roosters), Botille Vette-Welsh and Kezie Apps (Wests Tigers).

Southwell and Vette-Welsh missed the 2023 Origin series due to knee reconstructions from last season, while Dibb was in the extended Sky Blues squad for Game One but didn’t play.

Penitani is enjoying her third NRLW club after two years with St George Illawarra (2019-20) and Parramatta (2021-22).

But since she plays for the Sharks in the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership, it’s a coming home of sorts.

“It’s an honour for me to lead this team,” Penitani told nswrl.com.au earlier this week.

“I’m so proud to finally be in the NRLW with a club that’s played a huge part in my Rugby League career.

“I’ve learned a lot from the leaders I’ve played alongside so my focus is to contribute to an environment where girls around me feel like they are thriving and learning.

“The best leaders create more leaders and that’s what I want to do with my influence (as captain).”

Taufa led Mounties to the 2023 Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and then played her 10th game for NSW with the 18-14 win over the Maroons in Townsville on 22 June.

“It’s an honour and a privilege to be recognised to co-captain (with Zahara Temara) this amazing group of women and athletes,” Taufa told nswrl.com.au.

“I’m extremely proud to now be entrenched in the club’s history and be part of the Canberra Raiders fabric alongside the inaugural team and staff.

“I’ve been blessed by being led incredibly strong and admirable leaders during my time as a player. I’ve learnt so much and been fortunate to lead myself with my Harvey Norman women’s team.

Simaima Taufa takes on the Maroons defence in Origin II

“Like with life, we all learn and grow from these experiences. Through this season I hope to grow and challenge myself to be better for the team… ‘Z’ (Temara) and I want each individual to be leaders in their own right.

“We will facilitate this growth and be the shoulder that they all lean on.

“We are a Raiders family.”