The Parramatta Eels are pleased to announce the Club's five marquee players for the NRL Women's Premiership to be played in August this year.
Former Roosters captain and one of the toughest forwards in the women’s game Simaima Taufa will be joined by current NRLW players Tiana Penitani, Botille Vette-Welsh, Filomina Hanisi, and Kennedy Cherrington as the Parramatta Eels first five players to join the team.
Parramatta Eels CEO Jim Sarantinos said, "We are delighted to welcome a number of experienced, high-calibre representative players to the Club and there will be more to follow in the coming weeks.
"They are the foundation upon which our women’s team will be built on, and we’re sure they will have a positive influence on both the squad and aspiring female players within the Parramatta region."
Experienced lock forward Simaima Taufa is the former Roosters captain and an Australian and NSW Origin representative player. Taufa won the Dally M Female Player of the Year in 2017.
Australia and NSW representative, Tiana Penitani made her NRLW debut with the Dragons in 2019. Playing centre, she was the top try scorer at the 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s before making her Test debut for Australia later that year.
Former Roosters fullback Botille Vette-Welsh is an international player representing both Australia in the World Cup, and New Zealand for the Māori All Stars.
Filomina Hanisi played for the Parramatta Eels in the Tarsha Gale Cup in 2018 before signing with the Roosters as a prop in 2020. In the same year she made her State of Origin debut for New South Wales.
Kennedy Cherrington was named NRLW Rookie of the Year in 2020. She played lock for the Roosters and represented Māori All Stars earlier this year.
The Eels will continue to bolster their NRLW team in coming weeks as the 24-player squad for 2021 comes together. The NRLW pre-season begins in July 12, with the competition to kick-off in August.
To celebrate the introduction of the inaugural Eels NRLW Team, a special membership package has been launched and is now available here.
