Warriors unveil multi-national NRLW squad

Five Kiwi Ferns have been named in a multi-national Warriors women's side to contest the National Rugby League Womens (NRLW) competition.

The squad also features Australian rugby league internationals and two Australian Olympic gold medal-winning rugby union sevens players.

New Zealand based Madison Bartlett, Georgia Hale, Hilda Peters, Crystal Tamarua and Kanyon Paul are nearing the end of their fortnight's quarantine stay ahead of the start of the abbreviated four-team NRLW Premiership due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

They have been staying at the sport and recreation centre on Milson Island near Sydney.

"I'm thrilled about the talent we've been able to secure to build around our five core Warriors players who have such made huge sacrifices to be involved in this year," said new Warriors coach Brad Donald.

"It has been hectic pulling the squad together in such limited time but we have a strong group we can build here," he said.

Bartlett, Hale, Paul, Peters and Tamarua are set to finish their quarantine tomorrow before the whole squad assembles in Sydney on Sunday.

The Australian internationals are Jillaroos Kirra Dibb, Karina Brown, Tazmin Gray and Simone Smith along with sevens rugby union stars Ellia Green and Evania Pelite.

"Bringing in Ellia and Evania from their sevens rugby union background is going to add a special dimension and we're able to draw on a good base of players who know what the NRLW premiership is all about."

Donald stressed the New Zealand-based contingent are critical to the culture he would be striving to create for the camp.

Also included is Tokoroa-born Shontelle Stowers, who represented the Warriors at the NRL Nines in Perth in February.

Stowers has played rugby union for the Wallaroos and for the Australian sevens side as well as doubling in rugby league for the Roosters and New South Wales.

The squad includes also includes Fiji international Teaghan Hartigan and Indigenous All-Stars player Shaniah Power.

-RNZ