David Middleton's top 5 NRLW players of 2025

The Official Rugby League Annual, now in its 39th year, offers a comprehensive overview of an exciting 2025 NRL season.

Authored by distinguished historian David Middleton, the annual details every match of the NRL season, the NRLW Premiership, and includes in-depth accounts of the State of Origin and Pacific Championships.

In 2025, Parramatta fullback showcased her talents and solidified her popularity in women's rugby league through her exceptional skills and bravery at both club and representative levels. Now 27, she made her debut for the Eels during their first NRLW match in 2022. The year 2025 was a pivotal one for her, as she participated in all three State of Origin matches for New South Wales and marked her Test debut in a Pacific Cup match in November. Her stellar performance earned her the Eels' Player of the Year and the 2025 NSW Blues Women's Award at the Brad Fittler Medal, recognizing her remarkable Origin campaign.

Roosters lock Olivia Kernick had an outstanding year in 2025, playing a vital role in her club's unbeaten journey to the minor premiership title. Kernick was awarded the Nellie Doherty Medal as the best player of the State of Origin series and was instrumental for the Jillaroos in winning the Pacific Cup for the second consecutive year. Transitioning from a wide-running back-row position to a playmaking lock, Kernick's performance evolved significantly. She received the Roosters player of the year award for the second time and was named in the Dally M NRLW Team of the Year.