Rising stars unite at 2026 NRLW Rookie Camp

2026 NRLW Rookie Camp Cohort

On 23 May, League Ahead welcomed nearly sixty rising stars from across all 12 clubs to the 2026 NRLW Rookie Camp to learn, connect and prepare for all aspects of life as a professional female rugby league player.

The NRLW Rookie Camp was a two day event which took place in Brighton, Sydney and featured a variety of workshops, guest speakers and the first-ever NRLW Rookie Female Health Expo made possible through the support of Chemist Warehouse, Neutrogena and The Female Collective. The camp covered a diverse range of topics specifically curated for the women’s game, with players participating in sessions focused on mental health, financial planning, social media, celebrating identity and the demands of being a full-time professional athlete.

Mahalia Murphy, Chloe Molloy and Shalom Sauaso

Players heard from a combination of both industry professionals as well as current and former elite athletes to provide a more dynamic view of the content covered. Guest speakers included: Simone Karpani (Knights), Jakiya Whitfeld (Cowboys), Chloe Saunders (Raiders), Brydie Parker (Roosters) and Nita Maynard (Dragons) from RLPA, Shalom Sauaso (Broncos), Mahalia Murphy (Eels), Chloe Molloy (Sydney Swans), Jessica Skinner (Jillaroos Head Coach), whilst the camp was expertly co-hosted by Kiana Takairangi (Eels) and Ali Brigginshaw (Broncos).

League Ahead NRLW Wellbeing and Education Manager Sheridan Hawkins said this year’s camp marked another significant step forward in preparing the next generation of female rugby league players for life as professional athletes.

“The NRLW Rookie Camp was a huge success. We had the greatest number of current players involved in co-facilitating wellbeing sessions, while the inclusion of the first-ever NRLW Female Health Expo helped take the camp to another level. The feedback from players, wellbeing managers and facilitators has been overwhelmingly positive,” Hawkins said.

“As the NRLW competition continues to grow, the importance of preparing female players for life as professional athletes, both on and off the field, becomes increasingly important. Events such as this play a vital role in supporting that development.”