As the 2022 Telstra Women's Premiership kicks off this weekend, NRL.com takes a look at the players who are set to lead each club as in their aim to lift the Premiership trophy aloft on October 2.
From long-serving skippers like Ali Brigginshaw to first timers like Isabelle Kelly, these are the players who will be asked to manage the game, their team and to keep their head when all around them others are losing theirs.
Brisbane Broncos
Captain: Ali Brigginshaw
The current Queensland Maroons and Australia Jillaroos captain, Ali Brigginshaw will once again lead the Broncos in 2022 as Brisbane look to put last season's disappointing semi-final exit behind them. The 2020 Dally M Medal winner, Brigginshaw has played the equal most NRLW games of any player with 18 and will be eyeing off further Premiership success in 2022 before playing her third and potentially final World Cup at the end of the year. Brigginshaw will be leading the most experienced NRLW squad this year (203 games experience for Brisbane), with the side determined to start fast as they come up against former teammates Millie Boyle and Tamika Upton, who are now at Newcastle, in Round 1.
St George Illawarra Dragons
Captain: Kezie Apps
The current New South Wales Sky Blues captain, Kezie Apps will lead the Dragons in 2022 as they aim to go one better following their Grand Final defeat in the 2021 competition. A Dally M Medal winner in 2016, Apps brings with her a wealth of experience after eight games for New South Wales and 11 Tests for Australia and captained the Blues to a thrilling win over the Maroons earlier this year. Apps is one of two players to have featured in every campaign for the Dragons since 2018 — the other being Keely Davis — and has captained the side in every season, missing just a handful of matches to injury across the five years.
Parramatta Eels
Captains: Tiana Penitani and Simaima Taufa
Tiana Penitani and Simaima Taufa will co-captain the Eels in 2022 with the experienced pair put in charge of leading the most inexperienced squad in the competition. Parramatta have a potential 13 NRLW debutants this year, and the experience of Taufa and Penitani — the first player signed by an NRLW club on a multi-year deal — will be key as the blue and gold look to build on their maiden season in the women's Premiership last year. A Western Sydney local, Taufa has captained Mounties for over six years and will look to bring that experience with her to the Eels this year as Parramatta aim to secure their first finals finish.
Newcastle Knights
Captains: Hannah Southwell and Millie Boyle
New recruits Millie Boyle and Hannah Southwell will lead the Knights in 2022 after Romy Teitzel captained Newcastle in their debut season last time around. Boyle (joining from the Broncos) and Southwell (joining from the Roosters) bring with them 29 games of NRLW experience along with seven Origins for New South Wales and three Tests for Australia — a much-needed boost for the Knights after they were the most inexperienced squad in 2021. Newcastle was more active in the player market than any other club, signing 17 new players to go with just seven players from their squad last year, and hopes are understandably high for a much improved season in the Hunter. How Southwell and Boyle go managing increased expectations as well as a new look squad will go a long way in determining the Knights' fortunes in 2022.
Sydney Roosters
Captain: Isabelle Kelly
With previous captain Corban Baxter (pregnancy) missing the 2022 season, experienced centre Isabelle Kelly will step up to the captaincy at 25 years of age. Kelly, who featured for the Roosters in 2018 and 2019 before switching to the Dragons in 2020, returned to the Tricolours with aplomb in 2021 — helping the side break the Broncos' dynasty with the club's maiden NRLW Premiership. The 2018 Golden Boot winner will now lead the Roosters into the new season in the unfamiliar position as defending premiers as rival teams look to knock them off top spot.
Gold Coast Titans
Captain: Brittany Breayley-Nati
Brittany Breayley-Nati captained the Titans in their inaugural campaign last season and will do so again in 2022. One of the best hookers in the game, Breayley-Nati has a wealth of NRLW (14 games) and representative experience (eight games for Queensland and 10 Tests for Australia) and will look to use that knowledge as she guides a balanced roster. The Titans go into the 2022 campaign as the only team without a potential debutant, while also boasting the second most experienced squad behind the Broncos, which could prove to be a telling factor for the Gold Coast side as they look to build off last year's semi final finish.