The latest Kiwi Ferns squad has been named to contest the 2024 Pacific
Championships.
21 players will have the honour of representing their country, with four rookies set to
pull on the Kiwi Ferns jersey for the first time: Alexis Tauaneai, Gayle Broughton,
Mackenzie Wiki and Brooke Talataina.
Kiwi Ferns Head Coach Ricky Henry said: “We are excited about the squad we have
assembled. 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.”
IRL Golden Boot winner, Georgia Hale, debuted for the Kiwi Ferns in 2014 and has
been a mainstay for the team since then. Last season she was named co-captain
alongside Raecene McGregor, acknowledging her influence within the team.
However, Hale will soley captain the side in 2024 as McGregor has chosen to
withdraw from selection this season due to family commitments.
Last season the Kiwi Ferns defeated the Jillaroos in the final round to break a sevenyear
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. 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,” said Henry.
The Christchurch match will be played as a doubleheader with the Kiwis men also
playing Australia. Tickets are available from Ticketek.
2024 Kiwi Ferns Squad:
Abigail Roache, Knights
Alexis Tauaneai, Dragons*
Amber Hall, Roosters
Angelina Teakaraanga Katoa, Dragons
Annessa Biddle, Sharks
Apii Nicholls, Raiders
Ashleigh Quinlan, Raiders
Brianna Clark, Broncos
Brooke Anderson, Sharks
Brooke Talataina, Tigers*
Gayle Broughton, Broncos*
Georgia Hale, Titans
Leianne Tufuga, Tigers
Mackenzie Wiki, Raiders*
Mele Hufanga, Broncos
Mya Hill Moana, Roosters
Najvada George, Tigers
Otesa Pule, Roosters
Shanice Parker, Knights
Tiana Davison, Knights
Tyla King, Dragons
*Denotes potential debut.
Wider Squad:
Amelia Pasikala, Raiders
Cheyelle Robins Reti, Raiders
Jasmine Fogavini, Broncos
Laishon Albert Jones, Knights
Rosie Kelly, Eels
Unavailable Due to Injury:
Stacey Waaka, Broncos
Tafito Lafaele, Broncos
Management:
Head Coach: Ricky Henry
Assistant Coach: David Faiumu
Assistant Coach: Andrew Auimatagi
Team Doctor: Ben Soole
Lead Physio: Megan Kelly
Assistant Physio: Melissa Falani
Lead S&C Trainer: Justen Parle
Assistant S&C Trainer: Lee Mou
Performance Analyst: Wade Sinclair
Wellbeing Manager: Carmen Taplin
Logistics Manager: Holly Nahu
Digital Content Manager: Lucy Tuave
Media Manager: Utah Mann
Videographer: Arizona Leger
Team Manager: Gina Cocker
Media Contact:
Emmelena Bryce
emmelena.bryce@nzrl.co.nz
+64 22 453 8231
Kiwi Ferns Pacific Championships Schedule:
Sunday 27 October
• Pacific Cup – New Zealand v Australia at Apollo Projects Stadium,
Christchurch (doubleheader with men)
Sunday 3 November
• Pacific Cup – New Zealand v Papua New Guinea at Santos Stadium, Port
Moresby
Sunday 10 November
• Pacific Cup men’s and women’s Grand Final in Sydney, Australia
Rookie Player Profiles:
Brooke Talataina
Height: 174 cm
Date of Birth: 06 March 2004
Weight: 82 kg
Birthplace: Auckland, NZ
Age: 20
Debut Club: Wests Tigers Women
Date: 03 September 2023
Opposition: Gold Coast Titans Women
Round: 7
Junior Club: Minchinbury Jets
Brooke Talataina is a talented five-eighth who burst onto the scene in 2023 as part of
the Roosters’ premiership in the NSWRL’s Under 19s women’s competition, scoring
a try in the 26-22 win over Canterbury-Bankstown in the Grand Final. She was vicecaptain
for the Roosters Tarsha Gale Cup the same year and was named ‘best back’
for the Roosters Under 19s.
Talataina also played in both the NSW City Under 19s and NSW Under 19s State of
Origin teams in 2023.
Continuing her exciting 2023 season she made her NRLW debut with three games
for the Wests Tigers. She is signed with the Tigers through until the end of 2025,
with a Club Option for the 2026 season.
Mackenzie Wiki
Height: 169 cm
Date of Birth: 28 September 2001
Weight: 81 kg
Birthplace: Queanbeyan, NSW
Age: 22
Debut Club: Canberra Raiders Women
Date: 23 July 2023
Opposition: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Women
Round: 1
Mackenzie Wiki made her international debut for the Cook Islands at the 2021 Rugby
League World Cup, scoring two tries in her three matches.
She then made the move to Australia from New Zealand at the end of 2022 and in
2023 was part of the Mounties squad that won the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s
competition that year.
Following in her fathers’ footsteps, Mackenzie ran out for the Raiders in round one of
the 2023 NRLW season to make her debut for the Canberra side. Her father Ruben
is a legend of the club having played 224 games for the Raiders between 1993 and
2004. They are the first father daughter duo to play for the same NRL club.
Alexis Tauaneai
Date of Birth: 01 January 2005
Birthplace: Wellington, NZ
Age: 19
Debut Club: St. George Illawarra Dragons Women
Date: 22 July 2023
Opposition: Newcastle Knights Women
Round: 1
Junior Club: Wainuiomata Lions
From Wainuiomata near Wellington, Alexis made the move to Sydney in 2023 and
quickly cemented her place in the rugby league scene.
She took out player of the tournament for both the Harvey Norman Tarsha Gale Cup
and Harvey Norman Women’s National Championships that first season, which led
to her inclusion in the New South Wales U-19 side for the Women’s Under 19s State
of Origin match in Redcliffe.
In her second season with the Dragons, Alexis Tauaneai was named their 2024
NRLW Player of the Year shared with Kiwi Fern, Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.
Gayle Broughton
Height:173 cm
Date of Birth: 05 June 1996
Birthplace: Hawera, New Zealand
Age: 28
Debut Club: Parramatta Eels Women
Date: 20 August 2022
Opposition: Sydney Roosters Women
Round: 1
Previous Club: Parramatta Eels Women
Junior Club: Hawera Hawks
Gayle Broughton made her debut for the Black Fern Sevens in 2014 at just 18-yearsold
and has since won six World Rugby Sevens Series titles, Olympic Games gold
and silver, Commonwealth Games gold and Rugby World Cup Sevens winner.
In 2022 she retired from Sevens and made the shift to the NRLW, debuting for the
Parramatta Eels having an outstanding season that secured her as a star in her new
code. In 2023 she signed with the Broncos on a two-year deal and shifted from
fullback to five-eighth. She had a career best season in her new position scoring 4
tries, 4 try assists, 104 tackles and 5 offloads.
In 2024 Gayle was named in the NRLW RLPA Dream Team, a team voted for by
fellow players.
