The Wests Tigers are pleased to confirm the Club has secured the signatures of Namoe Gesa, Shaniece Monschau and Leah Ollerton, with the trio to call Concord home until the end of the 2027 NRLW season.
Namoe Gesa joins the Wests Tigers following a 2025 to remember. The dynamic centre was a member of the Brisbane Tigers Harvey Norman U19 Grand Final winning side, with Gesa’s performances across the season also earning her selection in the 2025 BMD Premiership squad.
Starting in all 12 matches, the 18-year-old amassed 1,416 run metres and scored 10 tries, with the Tigers defeating the Burleigh Bears in the BMD Premiership Grand Final.
During the season, Gesa was also selected in the Queensland U18 Emerging Squad.
Gesa said she was thrilled to have signed her first NRLW contract.
“I’m so excited to have signed my first NRLW contract, it’s something I’ve worked really hard to achieve. I’m looking forward to joining the Wests Tigers and continuing my development alongside some of the best players in the game.”
Auckland-born second-rower, Shaniece Monschau joins the Wests Tigers from the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. The 23-year-old was promoted to the NRLW squad in 2025 after impressing in the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership.
Monschau would go on to feature in every game of the Bulldogs maiden NRLW campaign, averaging 23 tackles and 48 run metres and playing every minute in four of their last five fixtures. Monschau capped off 2025 with a Kiwi Ferns call-up for the Pacific Championships, making two appearances off the bench against the Jillaroos.
Monschau said she was grateful for the opportunity to join the Wests Tigers.
“It’s been a big season for me and the goal now is to keep building on that. I think the Wests Tigers is a great fit in helping me achieve that. I’m excited to be a part of this group and play alongside some really experienced girls.
“It’s a great time to be involved with the Club with everything that’s happening around the NRLW squad and I’m looking forward to working with Sandy again.”
Leah Ollerton is a product of the Newcastle Knights pathway and comes to the Wests Tigers with an impressive roll call of achievements.
In 2023, Ollerton was the captain of the Knights Tarsha Gale Cup side that secured a place in the semi finals, eventually earning selection for NSW Country for the National Championships and the NSW Women’s U19s for a standalone State of Origin match.
The crafty dummy-half was a member of the Knights NRLW squad for the 2024 and 2025 seasons, where the now 21-year-old was a key figure for their Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership side, finishing runners-up on both occasions.
Ollerton said she was looking forward to a new challenge and environment in 2026.
“There’s a lot of positive things happening at the Tigers, I’m looking forward to contributing to that and taking my game to another level. I can’t wait to get started in pre-season and show what I can bring to the squad.”
Wests Tigers NRLW Head Coach, Craig Sandercock said fans should be excited by the level of young talent at the Club for season 2026 and beyond.
“Leah, Shaniece and Namoe are some of the best emerging talent in women’s rugby league and players we’re really excited to welcome to the Club,” Craig Sandercock said.
“We’re looking to build a balanced squad in terms of experience with depth across all positions, these girls are an important part of that. Their arrival complements the great work that’s going on within our Women’s Pathway as we continue to foster and develop talent across our catchments for the years ahead,” Sandercock concluded.
Gesa, Monschau and Ollerton join Emily Bass, Portia Bourke, Harmony Crichton, Tara Reinke, Pihuka Berryman-Duff, Terina Te Tamaki and Caitlin Turnbull who have all re-signed with the West Tigers during the off-season.
In addition to these ten players, the West Tigers squad for 2026 will also feature Jillaroos captain Kezie Apps and Kiwi Ferns captain, Raecene McGregor.
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