Follow the leader: The NRLW captains ready to lead in 2023

Leadership isn't something a player is born with but rather earned as they embark on their rugby league careers. 

Every captain named by their clubs for the 2023 NRL Telstra Women's Premiership season has either represented their state and/or country. 

With four new NRLW clubs this year, coaches have turned to their most experienced players in a bid to lead sides towards premiership glory. 

Ali Brigginshaw (Brisbane Broncos)

Jillaroos and Maroons captain Ali Brigginshaw is the longest-serving captain at an NRLW club as she looks set to skipper in her sixth season.

The Broncos will look to Brigginshaw for leadership as they attempt to get back into the finals in 2023 following a tough two campaigns last year.

The 32-year-old has 23 NRLW appearances under her belt - level with Raecene McGregor and Keeley Davis - and only one game behind overall leader, Maroons teammate Zahara Temara.

Simaima Taufa and Zahara Temara (Canberra Raiders)

The Raiders will have plenty of experience in leadership with Temara arriving to the nation's capital at the top of the all-time NRLW appearances list.

Temara is also the NRLW's leading points-scorer with 95 points. Simaima Taufa will join Temara as co-captain and the Jillaroos forward comes with big credentials after leading Parramatta during their two NRLW seasons last year.

Both players aren't big with their words on-field but they'll be leading with their actions in Canberra's inaugural campaign.

Tiana Penitani (Cronulla Sharks)

She made her return to rugby league with the Sharks Harvey Norman NSW Premiership side in 2019 so it's only fitting Tiana Penitani takes charge of the NRLW outfit for their maiden season in the competition.

Penitani was announced as the club's captain at a season launch last week. The former Eels co-captain has the leadership qualities you want in a skipper and joins Isabelle Kelly as the only other centre in the game to have the 'c' next to her name.

Penitani was desperate to play for the Sharks this season and sought a release from the Eels in May after being part of the black, white and blue in the lower grades for the past four seasons.

Georgia Hale (Gold Coast Titans)

The Titans have turned to Kiwi Ferns stalwart Georgia Hale to lead them in their third season with former captain Brittany Breayley-Nati reverting to a vice-captain role in 2023. 

Hale has plenty of experiencing leading teams. She skippered the Warriors when they were in the NRLW between 2018-2020, including being one of five Kiwis to move to Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic in a bid to represent the New Zealand club.

After a recent stint in the UK's Super League competition for Leeds, Hale will join Raecene McGregor in becoming the first-ever Kiwi players to captain Australian NRLW clubs.

Hannah Southwell (Newcastle Knights)

Local Knights product Hannah Southwell is on the comeback trail after her debut for the club in last year's NRLW campaign soured when she ruptured her ACL in the first half of the Round 1 clash against Brisbane.

Southwell and former Knight Millie Boyle co-captained the side last year before Boyle took over when Southwell was sidelined. She is a no-fuss leader and will look to influence her teammates when they step onto the field. 

The Knights announced Southwell's reappointment at their NRLW season launch on Monday morning with Tamika Upton to vice captain the defending champions.

Tallisha Harden and Kirra Dibb (North Queensland Cowboys)

The Cowboys have joined two other new franchises in announcing a co-captaincy model for their inaugural season.

Experienced Jillaroos forward Tallisha Harden will join former Knights five-eighth Kirra Dibb in leading the side with the pair representing Australia together in 2019. 

Both have also been part of the Indigenous All Stars campaigns under Ben Jeffries in recent years - Harden withdrawing due to injuries on two occasions but playing an important off-field role for the team. 

The leadership role should suit Dibb, who has had a career turnaround in the past 12 months where she has gone from being without an NRLW contract to winning her first title. 

Kennedy Cherrington and Rachael Pearson (Parramatta Eels)

There will be a new-look Eels side in 2023 and a big change in leadership after the departures of former co-captains Tiana Penitani (Sharks) and Simaima Taufa (Raiders) to rival clubs. 

Parramatta will rely on Kennedy Cherrington and new recruit Rachael Pearson to lead with their words and actions. 

Cherrington has enjoyed plenty of personal growth and success in the last 12 months by earning a recall to the NSW side and winning a World Cup with the Jillaroos in her first international campaign. 

Pearson should complement Cherrington's leadership when she takes control of the side in the halves. At 29 and secured on a three-year contract, the Eels have invested plenty in her to ensure they have a stable base long-term.

Raecene McGregor (St George Illawarra Dragons)

Dally M medal winner Raecene McGregor arrives to the Dragons with plenty of expectation after a stellar 12 months that's included a third NRLW title and taking out the golden boot award after her efforts for New Zealand. 

There may be no greater challenge in McGregor's career to date, however, than leading an inexperienced Dragons side who have undergone a major squad overhaul with several international stars departing the club. 

McGregor will be leading from the front in the halves and will look for assistance next to her with rugby sevens star Tyla Nathan-Wong bringing her experiences in union across to the NRLW for this season. 

Isabelle Kelly (Sydney Roosters)

A stellar 2022 season which included an NRLW title, State of Origin victory and World Cup success has only added to the impressive rugby league resume for Roosters captain Isabelle Kelly.

Kelly returns for a second season in charge of the Tricolours after taking over from Corban Baxter (birth of her second child) in 2022, where she was also named captain of the year at the Dally M awards.

Baxter will return to the Roosters this year and will naturally lead but this is now Kelly's side to own for as long as she wants to.

The 2018 golden boot winner made a successful return to the field last month after a nasty throat injury in Origin I.

Kezie Apps and Botille Vette-Welsh (Wests Tigers)

Two familiar faces who have been around the Wests Tigers scene in recent seasons take on the co-captaincy in 2023 with former Dragons captain Kezie Apps earning the honour alongside Botille Vette-Welsh.

Apps has all the leadership experience required with NSW and Australian captaincy honours throughout her career. She is exactly what is required for a young squad embarking on their first season in a senior competition.

Vette-Welsh, on her own comeback from an ACL injury, will provide the passion from fullback. The former Jillaroos utility has been at the forefront of Wests Tigers' push towards the NRLW for the past four years.

 

The opening round of the 2023 NRL Telstra Women's Premiership gets underway on Saturday in a newly-expanded 10-team competition. Secure your seats at NRL.com/tickets.