The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are proud to announce the Club’s inaugural 24-player NRLW squad, who will make their Premiership debut on Friday, July 4 against the Newcastle Knights.
The Bulldogs’ squad features a strong balance of NRLW mainstays, representative talent, local juniors and pathways talent, headlined by Holli Wheeler and Tayla Preston.
Wheeler, a three-time NRLW Grand Finalist and representative at both State and International level, brings a wealth of experience to a fledgling side looking to bring further success to Belmore. A veteran of seven seasons, Wheeler is a hard-working forward that inspires through her actions on and off the field.
Preston – who comes from a Bulldogs mad family – has been a staple of the NRLW since her debut. A two-time NRLW Grand Finalist, Preston steered Parramatta to the 2022 decider, before guiding the Sharks in the 2024 Grand Final alongside Wheeler.
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The Bulldog pedigree enters a new era with Tongan representative duo and 2024 NRLW Grand Final opponents Tegan Dymock and Kalosipani Hopoate.
Dymock, whose father Jim claimed the Clive Churchill Medal in the 1995 Premiership win, arrives via a Grand Final appearance for Cronulla, while Hopoate, whose brother Will played 124 NRL matches as a Bulldog from 2016-2021, comes off a Premiership-winning campaign with the Sydney Roosters.
Andie Robinson (Sharks), Bridget Hoy (Broncos), Ebony Prior (Tigers) and Maatuleio Fotu-Moala (Dragons) also arrive to continue their NRLW careers, having recently debuted in the women’s top-tier competition.
Kiwi Fern trio Alexis Tauaneai, Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa and Ashleigh Quinlan arrive following personal best seasons in the NRLW, culminating in appearances in the 2024 Pacific Championships Final, adding a touch of class and tenacity to the squad.
On the development front, Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership co-captains Sarahcen Oliver and Latisha Smythe make the step up, alongside aunty-niece duo Shaniece Monschau and Shaquaylah Mahakitau-Monschau as fellow graduates through the Club’s Pathways program.
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That list also includes teammates and Tongan representatives Paea Uilou and Shannon Muru, who further add starch to an already impressive pack of forwards.
Up and coming trio Elizabeth MacGregor, Hope Millard and Pauline Suli-Ruka will be pushing for NRLW debuts, with the latter two having impressive resumes in the female pathways space. Local junior Anneka Wilson returns to the Club having represented in the lower grades.
Tongan rugby international Moana Courtenay rounds off the squad, looking to become the latest in a number of converts to make the jump to the 13-a-side code.
At the time of writing, two spots remains in the Club’s Top 24 squad, while Leilani Wilson, the 2024 Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership Player of the Year, and Waimarie Martin, a Women’s State of Origin Under 19s representative, fill in the two development player spots.
The NRLW Squad is as follows:
Alexis Tauaneai
Andie Robinson
Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa
Anneka Wilson
Ashleigh Quinlan
Bridget Hoy
Ebony Prior
Elizabeth MacGregor
Holli Wheeler
Hope Millard
Kalosipani Hopoate
Latisha Smythe
Maatuleio Fotu-Moala
Moana Courtenay
Paea Uilou
Pauline Suli-Ruka
Sarahcen Oliver
Shaniece Monschau
Shannon Muru
Shaquaylah Mahakitau-Monschau
Tayla Preston
Tegan Dymock
The NRLW Development Contracted Players are as follows:
Leilani Wilson
Waimarie Martin
