The Westpac NSW Under 19s Women will be aiming to defend their Shield when they face the Queensland Under 19s Women in the State of Origin Under 19s match at Sunshine Coast Stadium on the Sunshine Coast tonight. nswrl.com.au casts its eye over the team.
Westpac NSW Under 19s Women
1. Logan Fletcher
Club: Sydney Roosters. Position: Fullback.
Tall and rangy fullback who can prove tough for any defence to pull down and a handy goalkicker to boot. Also represented Country in the narrow 27-26 loss to Sydney and was a star for the Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy in their road to the Grand Final against the Parramatta Eels in the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup.
2. Liesl Hopoate
Club: Illawarra Steelers. Position: Winger.
Alongside Siulolo Richter (see below), Hopoate was made co-captain of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup (Under 17s) last year for her leadership qualities and has now signed with Mounties for the 2025 Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership. A strong ball runner and renowned edge defender, Hopoate has plenty of natural talent and also represented the Australian Schoolgirls last year.
3. Indie Bostock
Club: Illawarra Steelers. Position: Centre.
Speedy and tackle-busting centre who only needs clear air to give the defence something to chase. Had a season to remember in 2024 after being named Player of the Match for the Illawarra Steelers after their Grand Final win in the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup, representing Country and NSW in the Under 19s, and winning the Steelers’ first title in the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership.
4. Tyra Ekepati
Club: Sydney Roosters. Position: Centre.
Another speedy and elusive centre with great acceleration. A Wyong Roos junior who came through the Roosters pathway system where she was coached in the Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup (Under 17s) by Westpac NSW Blues Women’s winger Jayme Fressard. Has moved from a development contract in 2024 to part of the Roosters Top 25 for the NRLW season.
5. Maria Paseka
Club: Illawarra Steelers. Position: Winger.
A proven try-scorer who can turn a half-chance into points, Paseka was a crucial part of the Steelers undefeated team that claimed the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup premiership in 2024. Her try-scoring spree continued for the Steelers in the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership where she bagged multiple four-pointers on more than one occasion.
6. Evie McGrath
Club: Wests Tigers. Position: Five-eighth.
A five-eighth with a great running game and strong support play, McGrath was part of the NSW Under 19s Women’s team which defeated Queensland last year. She also tasted success with the Illawarra Steelers team that claimed the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup and joined Wests Tigers on a development contract in 2024, scoring a try on debut against North Queensland.
7. Kasey Reh
Club: Illawarra Steelers. Position: Halfback.
A gifted halfback with all the skills who is well on her way to becoming an established star of the game. Crowned the NRLW Dally M Rookie of the Year in 2024, Reh was also named Player of the Series after steering the Steelers to a premiership in the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup that season. She was also Player of the Match after guiding the NSW Under 19s Women to an emphatic win over Queensland in 2024, scoring a try and having a hand in four others.
8. Ella Walker
Club: Wests Tigers. Position: Prop.
A powerful front rower who can bulldoze her opponents to put her team on the front foot, Walker represented the Australian Schoolgirls last year. She also has plenty of resilience after fighting her way back from a serious knee injury in 2023 to resume her Rugby League journey and played a crucial role in helping Wests Tigers make the Semi-finals of the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup this year.
9. Tori Shipton
Club: Illawarra Steelers. Position: Hooker.
Pint-sized dummy-half who punches above her weight and enjoyed a meteoric rise throughout the grades last year. She made the leap from the Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup (Under 17s) last year to playing in the premiership-winning team for the Steelers in the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership. She is young enough to still represent the NSW Under 19s Women next year.
10. Tess McWilliams
Club: Parramatta Eels. Position: Prop.
A powerhouse front rower who turned the tables for the Eels in the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup Grand Final after bagging a first-half double. Trailing 16-0, McWilliams scored twice to put the Eels back in the contest and spark a comeback that saw them finish on top 28-16. She will prove a handful for the Queensland defence.
11. Fontayne Tufuga
Club: Parramatta Eels. Position: Second row.
If you ever need evidence of the impact Tufuga can bring to a team, you only need to watch her try to seal the result for the Eels in the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup Grand Final. From 80 metres out, Tufuga fended her way through the defence before swerving and accelerating away to score. She went on to play eight games in the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership.
12. Evah McEwen
Club: Newcastle Knights. Position: Second row.
A powerful back-rower with great footwork, McEwen has progressed through the Newcastle Knights pathways and is now part of their NRLW squad. She scored a strong try for the NSW Under 19s Women’s team last year and capped her season after representing Samoa in three Tests in the Pacific Bowl including the 34-12 win over Papua New Guinea in the Final.
13. Ryvrr-Lee Alo
Club: Parramatta Eels. Position: Lock.
A strong-running forward who bust through tackles, sniff out a try and was a driving force in steering the Parramatta Eels to a premiership in the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup this season. Although she was unable to finish the game due to a HIA, her performances during the season saw her crowned Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup Player of the Series.
14. Ava Jones
Club: Parramatta Eels. Position: Hooker.
Jones started the season on the bench for the Eels in the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup but by the end had earned the right to start and helped steer her team to a Grand Final win over Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy. A No.9 who may be short on stature but knows how to set up a try or sniff one out close to the line.
15. Bronte Wilson
Club: Illawarra Steelers. Position: Prop.
A talented front rower with speed and strength, Wilson became only the second player last year (behind Westpac NSW Blues Women halfback Jesse Southwell) to be granted an age exemption to make her NRLW debut. She showcased her speed and strength to score a try in the Steelers’ Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup premiership win last year and backed that up shortly afterwards with another effort to chase down a kick and score for the NSW Under 19s.
16. Siulolo Richter
Club: Illawarra Steelers. Position: Second row.
A former co-captain for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup (Under 17s) before linking with the Steelers for the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup (Under 19s) this season, Richter will now join Mounties for the 2025 Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership. A natural leader, Richter is no stranger to a barnstorming run to change the momentum for her team and is also a solid defender.
17. Khyliah Gray
Club: Parramatta Eels. Position: Utility.
A versatile player with a grounding in touch football and rugby union, Gray has great speed and vision and played a pivotal role in Parramatta’s success in the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup this season. She also started on the bench in the City team that defeated Country 27-26 this year.
18. Tahlia O’Brien
Club: Illawarra Steelers. Position: Utility.
An athletic utility with a long stride, O’Brien was a former captain of the Steelers in the Westpac Lisa Fiaola Cup (Under 17s) that had a positive influence on the players around her. She played a key role in the Steelers claiming the Minor Premiership in the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup (under 19s) this season and also represented Country against City in the Under 19s match at Kogarah Oval.
19. Kiara McGregor
Club: South Sydney Rabbitohs. Position: Halfback.
It was a tough season for McGregor and the Rabbitohs in the Westpac Tarsha Gale Cup but her class still shone through and was on display again in the Country v City Under 19s Women’s match at Kogarah Oval. With the game drawn 26-all at full-time, and again after 10 minutes of extra time, McGregor stepped up to slot the match-winning field goal to seal an epic win and earn herself Player of the Match honours.
20. Kayla Henderson
Club: Penrith Panthers. Position: Fullback.
A two-time Australian Schoolgirls representative, Henderson possesses great vision and knows how to step and swerve her way to the tryline. She grew up in a Rugby League family and started her career with the Parramatta Eels in the Lisa Fiaola Cup, before switching to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and now the Panthers.
