Up-and-coming players Tavarna Papalii, Aliyah Nasio and Imogen Hei will continue their young careers with the Sydney Roosters, with the trio signing contract extensions.
One of the game’s leading junior halfbacks, Papalii, who ruptured her ACL and MCL at the 2023 Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League 18 Years National Championships, has signed a three-year extension (2024-2026).
She has progressed via the Club’s Tarsha Gale Cup team and was named Player of the Match in the 2023 decider after guiding her team to the Premiership and also captained the Australian Schoolgirls side in 2022.
17-year-old Aliyah Nasio has also extended for two years (2024-2025), ensuring she continues her progression with the Tricolours.
After being awarded Best Forward for the Central Coast Roosters Harvey Norman Women's Premiership team earlier this year, Nasio broke her humerus during the same 2023 Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League 18 Years National Championships which ruled her out for the 2023 NRLW season.
Imogen Hei, another product of the Roosters pathway, has signed a two-year extension through to the end of 2025. The young hooker has progressed via the Club’s Queensland Academy and played for the Club’s Tarsha Gale Cup side in 2023.
“In their own right, Tavarna, Aliyah and Imogen are really exciting prospects and it’s great to welcome them into our NRLW squad after watching them progress via the lower grades,” said Roosters NRLW Head Coach, John Strange.
“It was really disappointing for Tavarna and Aliyah to sustain injuries which meant a decent stint on the sideline but they have remained in our system during their rehabilitation and it will be great to have them back out on the footy field next year.
“Imogen is one of the game’s up-and-coming rakes and it’s terrific news for the Roosters that she will continue her development here at the Club,” he added.
