The South Sydney Rabbitohs have entered a ground-breaking NRLW pathways partnership with the Warriors, starting with the 2026 season, which will see a direct pathway for Rabbitohs-contracted players to enter the NRLW competition with the New Zealand-based team.
South Sydney Rabbitohs players will have the opportunity to train and trial with the Warriors ahead of the next NRLW season for an opportunity to play for the Warriors in 2026. Warriors-contracted NRLW players will also be able to come to Australia to play for South Sydney in the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership competition when not selected for the Warriors NRLW team during the season.
This pathways partnership will not only strengthen the Rabbitohs’ Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership squad, it will also give the Warriors players a stronger competition and professional club environment to play and train in to push for selection at the NRLW level with the Warriors.
Rabbitohs CEO, Blake Solly, welcomed the partnership with the Warriors.“We have been talking with (Warriors CEO) Cameron George about this opportunity for a few months and I’m delighted that we have been able to forge this partnership,” Mr Solly said. “The partnership will strengthen our playing squad and will provide the Warriors with an option for their non-playing NRLW players each week throughout the season.
“This will help us with recruitment and retention as players contracted to South Sydney will have a clear pathway to the NRLW through the partnership with the Warriors, something our players have not had in the past.
“Combining this partnership with our commitment to the NSWRL Women’s premiership; Tarsha Gale Cup; Lisa Fiaola Cup; Souths Juniors’ girls competitions in Rugby League, League Tag and Touch; as well as Souths Cares’ successful Play Her Way programs; our Rabbitohs family’s commitment to women’s Rugby League now stretches from under sixes right through to the NRLW level. At some stage we will have our own NRLW team, but until then it is important that every player in our system can see a pathway to the elite level.
“We thank the Warriors for their partnership and we look forward to success at both the NSWRL and NRLW levels for both clubs this season and beyond.”
Warriors CEO, Cameron George, said: “It’s a fantastic outcome for the Rabbitohs and for us, a huge boost for the women’s programmes at both clubs. “We’ve been looking for ways to improve our women’s pathways and this is ideal.
“It will be a huge help for Ron (NRLW head coach Ron Griffiths), his football staff and the squad.
“It’s also tremendous to see two clubs working together like this for the mutual benefit of both organisations.
“We’re so grateful to (CEO) Blake (Solly) and the Rabbitohs for their support and look forward to building our relationship.”
The next NRLW season will commence in July 2026, with the Harvey Norman NSW Premiership being played alongside the NRLW season. The Tarsha Gale Cup and Lisa Fiaola Cup competitions will commence in February 2026.
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