The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys have agreed to contracts with Bree Chester, Mia Middleton, China Polata, Makenzie Weale, April Ngatupuna and Jetaya Faifua for the club’s inaugural NRLW season.
A 20-year-old second-rower, Chester has spent the previous two seasons as a development player for the Newcastle Knights. She made her Indigenous All Stars debut earlier this season under Cowboys NRLW Head Coach Ben Jeffries and alongside fellow Cowboys recruits Kirra Dibb and Tahlulah Tillett.
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Another 2023 Indigenous All Star, Middleton is a powerful centre from the NSW Hunter region. The 20-year-old had a stellar 2022 campaign which culminated in a NSW under 19s jersey.
A versatile fullback or centre, Polata has been in stunning form for the Mackay Cutters in the BMD Premiership in 2023. Polata came through the Queensland Under 18s pathway alongside fellow Cowboys recruits Jessikah Reeves, Jasmine Peters and Emma Manzelmann. She also recently earned her international debut for Tonga.
After coming through the junior grades as a back-rower or centre, Weale has moved to middle forward over the past year. The 20-year-old is another former Queensland under 19s representative and has appeared in seven games in the BMD Premiership for the Mackay Cutters this season.
Ngatupuna was a member of the North Queensland Gold Stars 2022 premiership team and represented the Cook Islands at the World Cup late in the year. The 20-year-old prop has appeared in six games over the course of two seasons for the Gold Coast Titans in the NRLW.
A 19-year-old utility with two seasons of NRLW experience, Faifua has spent the start of the 2023 season with the Tweed Seagulls in the BMD Premiership. Faifua has the ability to play fullback, halves and hooker.
“Our squad is coming together nicely and I expect all six of these girls to play significant roles this season and beyond,” Jeffries said.
“This group contains a good mix of on-field skillsets and just as importantly, off-field character, which are the traits we are looking to build around for our first ever NRLW season.”
