LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
The South Sydney Rabbitohs and New Zealand Warriors are about to create a significant milestone in NRLW history.
Both teams have forged a groundbreaking NRLW pathways partnership that will commence in the 2026 season.
This collaboration will enable Rabbitohs-contracted players to transition directly into the NRLW via the Warriors, while providing Warriors-contracted NRLW players the opportunity to gain crucial match experience in Australia through South Sydney's Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership program.
As part of the agreement, Rabbitohs players will have the chance to train and try out with the Warriors in preparation for the 2026 NRLW season. Additionally, Warriors players who are not selected for weekly NRLW matches will be able to compete for South Sydney in the NSW Women's Premiership season.
Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly stated that this partnership would greatly enhance the club's female pathways and bolster both recruitment and retention efforts.
"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 the players have not had in the past," Solly remarked.
He also emphasized that this agreement aligns with the club's larger commitment to women's rugby league at every level.