LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Payton Takimoana and Patricia Maliepo, two rookies from the New Zealand Warriors, have quickly risen to prominence in the NRLW, securing spots in the peer-voted 2025 Players' Dream Team.
Takimoana has been selected as one of the wingers, while Maliepo has earned a position at standoff, as voted by players from the league's 12 clubs.
Both athletes previously competed in rugby union and made a notable impact for the Warriors during their return to the NRLW after a five-year hiatus.
Takimoana emerged as a standout in the regular season, leading the league in tries until being surpassed by Brisbane's Tamika Upton. Upton finished with 18 tries, while Takimoana concluded the season with an impressive 15 tries, surpassing the previous record of 11 tries set by Teagan Berry in 2023.
At just 22 years old and hailing from Tauranga, Takimoana scored her touchdowns over 11 matches, with only two games without a score. She recorded two hat-tricks and two doubles throughout the season.
Maliepo, also 22 and a former Black Fern, made a memorable debut by scoring the Warriors' first try in the opening match of the season. Although she missed two games due to concussion and injury, Maliepo still showcased her talents in nine games with four tries and 17 successful goals, accumulating a total of 50 points. Her performance included an average of 86 running metres, 44 tackles, 137 kicking metres per match, and 32 tackle breaks.