Auckland players form the core of the Vodafone Warriors’ squad named today for the inaugural NRL Women’s Premiership.

Twenty one of the 22 players selected to represent the club currently play in the Auckland competition, with 16 of them having taken the field in last Sunday’s Farrelly Photos Women’s Premiership Grand Final, which saw Manurewa beat Richmond 20-18. 

Also in the team are 2018 Auckland Vulcans representatives TJ Noble-Bell and Lorina Papali’i, who stood out at the National Women’s Tournament in June. 

Papali’i, whose son is Vodafone Warriors forward Isaiah, will also  create rugby league history, with the pair becoming the first mother and son to represent a club at the same time.

VODAFONE WARRIORS | 2018 NRL WOMEN'S PREMIERSHIP

RAQUEL ANDERSON-PITMAN

Born: November 2, 1991

Birthplace: Tokoroa, NZ

Club: Manurewa Marlins

Position: Halfback/hooker

Rep Honours: Kiwi Ferns (2017-2018), World Cup (2017), Counties Manukau Stingrays

Occupation: Boiler operator, Oji Fibre Solutions

SARINA CLARK

Born: November 11, 1981

Birthplace: Auckland, NZ

Club: Manurewa Marlins

Position: Fullback

Rep Honours: Kiwi Ferns (2006-2016), World Cup (2008, 2013), NRL Nines (2015, 2016, 2017), New Zealand Maori (2015), New Zealand kabaddi (2013-2015), New Zealand touch (2009), Counties Manukau Stingrays

Occupation: Case manager, WINZ

LISA EDWARDS

Born: October 19, 1992

Birthplace: Auckland, NZ

Club: Mount Albert

Position: Wing

Rep Honours: Akarana Falcons

Occupation: Receptionist, Crittal Armold

LOUISA GAGO

Pronunciation: Loo-ee-sah Nung-or (Nung as in rung)

Born: November 8, 1993

Birthplace: Auckland, NZ

Club: Manurewa Marlins

Position: Second row/loose forward

Rep Honours: Kiwi Ferns (2017-2018), NRL Nines (2017), Counties Manukau Stingrays

Occupation: Customer service, Smith & Smith

GEORGIA HALE

Born: August 9, 1995

Birthplace: Auckland, NZ

Club: Richmond Roses

Position: Halfback/standoff/hooker

Rep Honours: Kiwi Ferns (2015-2018), World Cup (2017), NRL Nines (2015-2017), New Zealand touch, New Zealand tag, Akarana Falcons

Occupation: Community coordinator, Vodafone Warriors

AMBER KANI

Pronunciation: Car-nee

Born: January 17, 1991

Birthplace: Auckland, NZ

Club: Manurewa Marlins

Position: Centre

Rep Honours: Kiwi Ferns (2015-2018), World Cup (2017), NRL Nines (2016-2017), New Zealand Maori (2014-2016), Tag World Cup, New Zealand Maori (2012), Counties Manukau Stingrays

Occupation: Ambassador, Manurewa Business Association

ONJEURLINA LEIATAUA

Pronunciation: On-jar-lee-nah Lay-a-toe-ah

Born: December 1, 1995

Birthplace: Auckland, NZ

Club: Otahuhu Leopards

Position: Centre/second row

Rep Honours: Counties Manukau Stingrays

Occupation: Warehouse assistant, Tupperware

HILDA MARIU

Pronunciation: Mar-ree-oo

Born: August 9, 1983

Birthplace: Auckland, NZ

Club: Manurewa Marlins

Position: Second row/centre

Rep Honours: Kiwi Ferns (2014-2018), World Cup (2017), NRL Nines (2015), Counties Manukau Stingrays

Occupation: Health promoter, Te Kaha o Te Rangatahi Trust

LAURA MARIU

Pronunciation: Mar-ree-oo

Born: December 2, 1980

Birthplace: Auckland, NZ

Club: Manurewa Marlins

Position: Loose forward/halfback

Rep Honours: Kiwi Ferns (2000-2018), World Cup (2000, 2003, 2008, 2013, 2017), NRL Nines (2015, 2016, 2017), Counties Manukau Stingrays

Occupation: Constable, New Zealand Police

VA'ANESSA MOLIA-FRASER

Pronunciation: Var-ah-nessa Morleeah

Born: January 18, 1996

Birthplace: Auckland, NZ

Club: Richmond Roses

Position: Fullback

Rep Honours: Kiwi Ferns (2016, 2017), NRL Nines (2017), Akarana Falcons

Occupation: Student, AUT

APII NICHOLLS

Pronunciation: Ah-pee

Born: February 26, 1993

Birthplace: Rarotonga, Cook Islands

Club: Otahuhu Leopards

Position: Fullback

Rep Honours: Kiwi Ferns (2017-2018), World Cup (2017), Cook Islands sevens (rugby union), Cook Islands tag, Counties Manukau Stingrays

Occupation: Constable, New Zealand Police

TANIKA-JAZZ NOBLE-BELL

Born: February 20, 1996

Birthplace: Auckland, NZ

Club: Manurewa Marlins

Position: Second row/prop

Rep Honours: Kiwi Ferns wider squad (2018), Kiwi Ferns (2017), NRL Nines (2017), Counties Manukau Stingrays, Auckland Vulcans

Occupation: Student, University of Auckland

ANNETTA-CLAUDIA NUUAUSALA

Pronunciation: Noo-ow-sar-lah

Born: January 22, 1995

Birthplace: Auckland, NZ

Club: Richmond Roses

Position: Prop

Rep Honours: Kiwi Ferns (2016-2018), World Cup (2017), Akarana Falcons

Occupation: Customer/after sales support, Husqvarna NZ

LORINA PAPALI'I

Pronunciation: Law-ree-nah Par-par-lee-ee

Born: January 16, 1977

Birthplace: Hamilton, NZ

Club: Richmond Roses

Position: Second row/prop

Rep Honours: Kiwi Ferns (1994-2005), World Cup (2000, 2003), New Zealand tag (2007, 2010, 2011), Samoa Mausina rugby union (2002 World Cup, 2006 World Cup), Akarana Falcons

Occupation: Office supervisor, Worth & Douglas

KAHURANGI PETERS

Pronunciation: Car-who-rung-ee

Born: February 23, 1994

Birthplace: Auckland, NZ

Club: Manurewa Marlins

Position: Prop

Rep Honours: Kiwi Ferns (2013-2018), World Cup (2013, 2017), NRL Nines (2015, 2016, 2017), Counties Manukau Stingrays

Occupation: Mother

KRYSTAL ROTA

Pronunciation: Roar-tah

Born: October 3, 1985

Birthplace: Auckland, NZ

Club: Manurewa Marlins

Position: Hooker

Rep Honours: Kiwi Ferns (2008-2018), World Cup (2008, 2017), NRL Nines (2015, 2017), New Zealand Maori, New Zealand touch, New Zealand tag, Counties Manukau Stingrays

Occupation: Mother

AIESHALEIGH SMALLEY

Pronunciation: Ah-eee-shar-lee

Born: September 23, 1991

Birthplace: Auckland, NZ

Club: Otahuhu Leopards

Position: Prop

Rep Honours: Kiwi Ferns (2017-2018), World Cup (2017), NRL Nines (2017), Counties Manukau Stingrays

Occupation: Mother

MASUISUIMATAMAALII (SUI) TAUASA-PAUARAISA

Pronunciation: Sue-ee Toe-ar-sah Par-wah-rye-sah

Born: October 30, 1987

Birthplace: Motootua, Samoa

Club: Linwood Keas (Christchurch)

Position: Second row/loose forward

Rep Honours: Kiwi Ferns wider squad (2018),

Occupation: Clinical administrator, Christchurch District Health Board

CRYSTAL TAMARUA

Pronunciation: Tar-ma-roo-ah

Born: July 30, 1995

Birthplace: Auckland

Club: Richmond Roses

Position: Second row/loose forward

Rep Honours: Kiwi Ferns (2017), Cook Islands (2017), World Cup – Cook Islands (2017), Akarana Falcons

Occupation: Postie, NZ Post

ALICE VAILEA

Pronunciation: Vie-lee-ah

Born: January 30, 1996

Birthplace: Auckland, NZ

Club: Richmond Roses

Position: Second row

Rep Honours: Akarana Falcons

Occupation: Teacher aide, Waikowhai Intermediate School (Auckland)

Personal Note:

LANGI VEAINU

Pronunciation: Lung-ee Vee-eye-nu

Born: November 3, 1993

Birthplace: Auckland

Club: Otahuhu Leopards

Position: Wing

Rep Honours: Kiwi Ferns (2016-2018), NRL Nines (2016, 2017), Counties Manukau Stingrays

Occupation: Mother

SHONTELLE WOODMAN

Born: September 2, 1986

Birthplace: New Plymouth, NZ

Club: Richmond Roses

Position: Centre/wing

Rep Honours: Kiwi Ferns (2014-2018), World Cup (2017), Akarana Falcons

Occupation: Teacher, Melville High School (Hamilton)

Article added: Wednesday 01 August 2018