NRL 2024; Pacific Championships, New Zealand, women; Gayle Broughton, Mackenzie Wiki among new faces in Kiwi Ferns

Broughton, Wiki among new faces in Kiwi Ferns

Author: Brad Walter NRL Senior Reporter
Timestamp: Tue 8 Oct 2024, 09:56 AM

Broncos superstar Gayle Broughton is among four debutants named in Kiwi Ferns squad for the Pacific Championships against Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Broughton, a New Zealand Olympic gold medallist at the 2020 Games in Tokyo, will pull on the Kiwi Ferns jersey for the first time alongside Raiders centre Mackenzie Wiki, Dragons lock Alexis Tauaneai and Wests Tigers forward Brooke Talataina.

Wiki is the daughter of NRL Hall of Famer Ruben Wiki, who is one of just two Kiwis to have played more than 50 Tests, along with Adam Blair.

The Kiwi Ferns will be captained by IRL Golden Boot winner, Georgia Hale, who made her Test debut in 2014 and has been a mainstay for the team since.

The Titans lock last season was named co-captain alongside Raecene McGregor, acknowledging her growing influence within the team.

However, Hale will captain the side on her own in 2024 as McGregor has chosen to withdraw from selection this season due to family commitments.

“We are excited about the squad we have assembled,' Kiwi Ferns coach Ricky Henry said.

"The depth of talented Kiwi players across the NRLW this year has been
outstanding to watch and made our selection process more difficult than ever.

“We are looking forward to seeing the rookies take their opportunity. They have been impressive to follow throughout the season and we have no doubt they will proudly represent the jersey.

"It is also a great pleasure to name Georgia in her 10th Kiwi Ferns squad.”

Last season the Kiwi Ferns defeated the Jillaroos in the final round to break a seven-year streak of losses to their trans-Tasman rivals.

They will be looking to maintain that winning form when they meet again on the 27th of October.

The match will kick off the Kiwi Ferns Pacific Championship campaign and celebrate the teams return to the South Island for the first time since 1998.

“To bring test level women’s rugby league back to Christchurch is exciting," Henry said. "It’s great to be giving young wāhine down south the opportunity to see that there is a pathway in the game that leads to representing your country.

"We hope to continue to inspire that next generation of Kiwi Ferns with more games played across Aotearoa in future."

The Christchurch match will be played as a doubleheader with the Kiwis men also
playing Australia.