Origin U19s offers key opportunity for NRLW expansion sides
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As they begin to build their squads for the 2025 NRLW season, June's Women's State of Origin under-19s provided the Bulldogs and Warriors with a valuable viewing window to some of the best young talent in the game.
While some who featured in the annual clash – which was won 46-4 by NSW this year – are already affiliated with NRLW clubs, there was plenty of talent currently without a deal who made the most of their opportunity on the big stage too.
Last year the Sharks, Raiders, Cowboys and Wests Tigers all leaned on U19 state reps from the previous seasons to help form their inaugural NRLW squads, and with the competition expanding again from 10 to 12 teams next year it is set to become an even more important scouting ground.
"They’re playing at a good level… we’d be silly not to look at the youth Origin arena," Warriors NRLW academy manager Nadene Conlon told NRL.com.
Because a lot of the senior and more established women are already signed and signed long term, we are definitely looking at some youth and players that could be with us for a long time. The State of Origin U19s gives us another platform to scope.
Nadene Conlon
"Right now we are looking at everyone and just compiling lists. We are interested in anyone that has sheer talent and work ethic."
The system and the potential it offers to NRLW clubs is well known to newly announced Bulldogs coach Blake Cavallaro, who led New South Wales to back-to-back U19 victories in 2021 and 2022.
From the latter of those two squads, Jada Taylor (Sharks), Petesa Lio, Monalisa Soliola (both Raiders), Mia Middleton (Cowboys) and Losana Lutu (Wests Tigers) all went on to play important roles for competition newcomers the following year.
In this case of Taylor, Soliola and Lutu, all three were fast-tracked into NRLW sides with their previous clubs in 2022 as well.
Jada Taylor is all that
Cavallaro said the fact that the female pathway now begins at a much younger age than in the past means it's completely feasible that some players can be brought straight through from age-group level to play in the NRLW.
"A lot the young players now are in development programs from early on. The ones in the older age group probably got it a bit later in their life," he told NRL.com.
"With the concept of programs starting around 15 years old now, with Lisa Fiaola Cup (U17s) and Tarsha Gale Cup (U19s), there is more development early.
"The U19s arena has been successful and has produced a lot of NRLW players over the past two years.
"There are some players that have caught a bit of the Bulldogs' eye [from the 2024 U19 match]."
Neither club has confirmed any signings for 2025 as of yet, but with the Bulldogs having announced Cavallaro as their head coach last month, the Warriors are closing in on the coach who will lead them in their NRLW return, with an announcement likely in July.
