Dragons make four significant Women's Premiership signings

Author: Dragons.com.au dragons.com.au
Timestamp: Wed 26 Jun 2019, 04:45 PM

St George Illawarra have announced a further four significant signings ahead of the 2019 NRL Holden Women's Premiership.

Star Jillaroos hooker Brittany Breayley and New Zealand Kiwi Ferns trio, playmaker Kimiora Nati and back-rowers Maitua Feterika and Teuila Fotu-Moala, will all join the Dragons' upcoming Women's Premiership campaign.

All four players were instrumental in the Brisbane Broncos' inaugural Women's Premiership grand final win last year.

"It's massive day for the St George Illawarra Dragons to be able to announce these signings. This plays into our vision with what we want to achieve as a club in the Women's Premiership," Dragons Women's Premiership coach Daniel Lacey said.

"These signings will also add to our local juniors' development as well as an overall improvement and experience to our squad."

Breayley is one of the most significant NRL Holden Women's Premiership signings in the short history of the competition.

The reigning Dally M Female Player of the Year Breayley will bring significant experience to the Dragons' spine, having represented the Jillaroos and Queensland Origin teams for the past five years.

"Brittany is the best hooker in the game. She will bring plenty of hype to this team and push the entire squad in the right direction. Her record and achievements speak for themselves," Lacey said.

"There's no doubting she'll add several strings to our bow and change the way we approach games. We are very excited by what she'll bring to the team and I think she can get even better, which is a scary thought for opposition teams."

Experienced playmaker Nati was also significant in the Broncos' premiership success, her inspiring hat-trick performance saw her awarded the Karyn Murphy Medal for best on ground.

The dual Cook Islands and New Zealand international will prove the perfect foil for fellow Women's Premiership signing Maddie Studdon in the halves.

"With Kimiora's signing, we now have two experienced playmakers with fantastic kicking and running games," Lacey said.

"Players like Kimiora are only going to benefit our game management. Her performance in last year's Women's Premiership grand final proved to me what she is capable of producing no matter the circumstances."

Long-term Tongan and New Zealand dual international Fotu-Moala's recent move to Sydney has paid dividends for the Red V considering her standing in the game.

Upon her introduction to the international game in 2014, Fotu-Moala was dubbed 'The Jukebox' by rugby league legend Darren Lockyer because "the hits keep coming" in defence.

"Through her presence, her commitment, her tackle technique and everything in between, Teuila is a player everyone wants to play with and not against," Lacey said.

"She'll bring size and intimidation to our pack, and is coming to the Dragons to become even better than what she already is despite being one of the more recognisable players in the game already."

Feterika has the distinct honour of not only being a New Zealand Kiwi Ferns and Samoan dual international but also a Queensland State of Origin representative.

Capable of playing in numerous positions, Feterika is chomping at the bit to run out in a Red V jersey for the first time, according to Lacey.

"Maitua has already expressed to me she wants to win another Women's Premiership grand final," Lacey said.

"I know when Maitua plays and trains at her best, she brings a whole different level of energy and commitment which in turn only helps her team's game.

"She's played a number positions over her career already also which is something I'm keen to further explore."

The Dragons' four latest Women's Premiership signings for 2019 leaves the club with five spots to be announced ahead of September's competition.

The Dragons' Women's Premiership team is the pinnacle of the female rugby league pathway across the club's region – from Earlwood in Sydney to Bateman's Bay on the South Coast – with more than 15,000 girls and women from Under-6s to opens currently competing in our region across tackle, tag and touch football.

St George Illawarra's NRL Holden Women's Premiership squad (so far):