The Warriors could boast two star-studded teams from next year with their NRLW squad potentially boasting some of New Zealand's top rugby union stars who have made "expressions of interest" around a code swap.
The Kiwi NRL club will make their return to the women's competition after a five-year absence as part of an expanded 12-team league in 2025 which will reportedly feature an eight-week preseason, an 11-round regular season and a two-week finals series.
Given the calls earlier this year to continue pushing for a longer Super Rugby Aupiki competition, this new opportunity is already proving enticing for some of New Zealand's top women's rugby union players with Warriors NRLW Academy Manager Nadene Conlon confirming to 1News they've had contact with "high performance athletes" already.
"We've had a lot of expressions of interest and we're compiling all our names at the moment but there's quite a lot of depth there," Conlon said.
"But we want to get a good balance so we're not rushing in to too many signings right now, but we've definitely got a good list going."
Despite the prospect of losing some of their best, Black Ferns assistant coach Steve Jackson said it was "healthy" to have competition for top talent.
Black Fern Liana Mikaele-Tu'u is the latest to indicate an interest in switching to rugby league, Brodyn Knuckey reports.
"It's great that there's a lot more professional teams that our ladies have an opportunity to go out there and have a good look and we support whatever the players want to do."
Black Ferns wing Ruby Tui, who is off-contract with NZR at the end of 2024 but in "discussions" about her future, agreed.
"It's really exciting," Tui said. "When I grew up it was the Silver Ferns or nothing. Now it is the Silver Ferns, Black Ferns, Black Ferns Sevens, Warriors — AFL if you really want to!"
But Jackson added they were also doing their best to keep those players in the black jersey.
"We're trying to create that culture and environment here to say, 'look, I want to be a Black Fern for a long time'."
Building blocks
Tyla King, née Nathan-Wong. (Source: Photosport)
The code swap between union and league isn't a new concept but it's still early days when it comes to the women's game.
There have been successful examples already though with Black Ferns Sevens stars Niall Guthrie-Williams and Tyla King playing full seasons at the Titans and Dragons, respectively. In fact, King last month signed an extension with the Red V to stay with them until the end of 2025 after appearing in all nine games for them in her debut season last year.
Conlon said the Warriors could also feature sevens talent next year.
"I know a lot of the girls are waiting on sevens contracts and Olympics inclusions so that may play a part in what they do long term but a lot of those girls have showed that they're quite keen to explore an option with the Warriors."
On top of that, there's also those already in the the NRLW with Australian franchises who have opt-out clauses in their contracts for a potential return home to play at Mt Smart.
"I was pleasantly surprised actually at just how many girls did that," Conlon said of the clauses.
"It's always exciting when people want to be part of the club so we're definitely looking at those girls and you can't go past girls who have established themselves in the system and proven themselves along the way.
"But we're still leaving the door open as well though."
The Warriors were forced to withdraw from the currently-running postponed 2021 season due to Covid-19. (David Neilson/David Neilson / www.,photosport.nz)
But Conlon added the club is also thinking about the future and the rugby league talent at their disposal too.
"What we're doing is looking not only at how we build our NRLW team for next year but also what we do in our pathways space and building training groups and academies," she said.
"There's huge talent between the grades ... we're a little bit spoilt for choice on the talent coming through there but then we're also going to need girls who are ready to step straight into NRLW if need be.
"So it's trying to bridge every gap at the moment but it's very exciting."
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