LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Wests Tigers NRLW star Rikeya Horne will be sitting out the entire 2025 NRLW season due to her pregnancy with twins, fathered by Sydney Roosters outside back Junior Pauga.
Horne, who was one of the Tigers' initial signings in 2023, has been a valuable player in the team's outside backs, contributing significantly in various areas on the field.
Last season, she scored two tries, assisted in two more, made 22 tackle busts, two line breaks, and ran over 1000 meters in eight matches.
The news of Horne's pregnancy leaves a gap in the Tigers' Top 24 squad, with uncertainty surrounding who will fill her position.
The team is already facing challenges with significant departures from their roster, including Ebony Prior, Bo Vette-Welsh, Leianne Tufuga, Najvada George, Emily Curtain, and Pauline Piliae-Rasabale.
This loss adds to the Tigers' already inexperienced lineup, putting pressure on the team to find suitable replacements to maintain competitiveness in the NRLW.
Horne's absence will undoubtedly be felt by the Tigers, as she has been a consistent performer and a key player for the team since its inception into the NRLW competition.
Her on-field contributions and experience from previous stints with the St George Illawarra Dragons and Parramatta Eels NRLW have been instrumental in shaping the Tigers' playing style and performance.
While Horne focuses on her pregnancy and preparing for the arrival of her twins, the Tigers will need to regroup and identify ways to adapt to her absence and the other departures from their squad.
Despite the challenges ahead, the team will need to come together, make strategic decisions on recruitment, and work towards maintaining their competitive edge in the upcoming NRLW season.