Crossover stars lining up to bolster Kiwi Ferns

The Kiwi Ferns are set to be bolstered for the Pacific Championships and next year’s World Cup by an influx of crossover athletes to the NRLW and more could join them after the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Amber Hall has switched her allegiance to Fetu Samoa ahead of RLWC26 but the loss of the star forward has been offset by the inclusion of Warriors converts Patricia Maliepo and Payton Takimoana, who scored 15 tries in her debut season. 

Maliepo and Takimoana were named in the RLPA’s 2025 NRLW Dream Team, voted by the players, while team-mates Shakira Baker and Tysha Ikenasio also made successful transitions from rugby union.

The New Zealand club, which returned to the NRLW this season, has further recruits in their sights, with coach Ron Griffiths recently revealing that the Warriors had signed four “world class” stars for 2026 – three of whom “had been great names in rugby”.

The Black Ferns team at the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England includes Stacey Waaka, who played for the Broncos in 2024, former Knights and Cowboys back Katelyn Vahaakolo and Portia Woodman-Wickcliffe, who has expressed a desire to play in the NRLW

It is understood at least one member of the Black Ferns team has inquired about playing for the Kiwi Ferns at the Pacific Championships against Australia and Fetu Samoa and NZRL officials are considering the pros and cons of selecting her.

New Zealand will kick off their Pacific Championships campaign as part of a double-header against Samoa at Go Media Stadium on October 19 and will host the Jillaroos before the Kiwis v Tonga Test at Eden Park on November 2.

The Kiwi Ferns will have 2022 Golden Boot winner Raecene McGregor back after the star halfback missed last year’s series due to her wedding, and she is expected to be partnered by Maliepo in the halves.

With Hall lining up for Samoa, there could also be an opening in the back row for Baker, who joined the Warriors this season after a decorated career in rugby union.

The Samoan team, which qualified for the World Cup after beating Tonga and Fiji last year, earned promotion to the Pacific Cup by winning a play-off against PNG Orchids, and is also set to be stronger as more players put their hands up for selection, like Hall.

Others set to join the Samoa squad include Broncos sensation Shalom Suaso, Warriors prop Ivana Lauitiiti, boom Eels forward Ryvrr-Lee Alo and NSW U19s team-mate Tyra Ekipati, who moved mid-season from the Roosters to the Dragons.

Titans trio Niall Williams-Guthrie, Taliah Fuimaono and Destiny Mino-Sinipati also return after missing last year’s World Cup qualifiers due to injury, but star fullback Evania Pelite is pregnant and therefore unavailable.

Jillaroos prop Shannon Mato also missed the Titans NRLW campaign due to pregnancy, while 2024 Golden Boot winner Tarryn Aiken has been ruled out with a ruptured ACL and Raiders captain Simaima Taufa is undergoing hand surgery. 

The absence of Mato, Taufa and Millie Elliott (pregnancy) leaves the world champion Australian team light for experienced middle forwards, with Wests Tigers captain Kezie Apps shifting from the secondrow to prop in the 90-4 thrashing of England at Allegiant Stadium earlier this year.

Sarah Tagutuki, Keilee Joseph, Jessika Elliston, Ellie Johnston and Bree Chester are options to fill the gap, while 2024 Dally M Medallist Olivia Kernick, who was in the secondrow in Vegas, has been playing lock all season for the Roosters.

The Jillaroos are also set to blood a new halfback in place of Aiken, with Newcastle’s Jesse Southwell, Roosters utility Jocelyn Kelleher and Titans playmaker Lauren Brown vying for the No.7 jersey.

It is hard to imagine too many other changes to the Jillaroos team after winning last year’s Pacific Cup final against the Kiwi Ferns and humbling England in Las Vegas. Likely teams: 

Australia Jillaroos

1. Tamika Upton
2. Jakiya Whitfeld
3. Isabelle Kelly
4. Tiana Penitani Gray
5. Julia Robinson
6. Ali Brigginshaw
7. Jesse Southwell
8. Jessika Elliston
9. Keeley Davis
10. Sarah Togatuki
11. Kezie Apps
12. Yasmin Clydsdale
13. Olivia Kernick
14. Jess Sergis
15. Lauren Brown 
16. Keilee Joseph
17. Ellie Johnston

New Zealand Kiwi Ferns

1.Apii Nicholls
2. Payton Takimoana
3. Mele Hufanga
4. Abigail Roache
5. Shanice Parker
6. Patricia Maliepo
7. Raecene McGregor
8. Brianna Clark
9. Brooke Anderson
10. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa
11. Annessa Biddle
12. Shakira Baker
13. Georgia Hale
14. Ash Quinlan
15. Alexis Tauaneai
16. Tiana Davidson
17. Otesa Pule

Fetu Samoa 

1. Destiny Mino-Sinipati
2. Tyra Ekepati
3. Niall Williams-Guthrie
4. Lindsay Tui
5. Sarina Masaga 
6. Taliah Fuimaono
7. Pauline Piliae-Rasabale
8. Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala
9. Destiny Brill
10. Sienna Lofipo
11.Christian Pio
12. Eliza Lopamaua
13. Ryvrr-Lee Alo 
14. Shalom Sauaso
15. Amber Hall 
16. Evah McEwan
17. Ivana Lauitiiti