Impressive One New Zealand Warriors back row forward Kaiyah Atai has been secured on an extended contract to the end of the 2027 NRLW season.
The 23-year-old will make her seventh consecutive start in the Warriors’ historic Indigenous Round clash against the Canberra Raiders at FMG Stadium Waikato/Home of the Tainui People in Hamilton/Kirikiriroa on Saturday (7.15pm kick-off).
Signed straight out of Auckland football, NRLW rookie Atai has been one of the Warriors’ success stories across the first six rounds impressing with her endurance and work rate.
On the back of her form the club has taken up an option in her contract for next season and extended it by another year.
Head coach Ron Griffiths was immediately impressed by what he saw of Atai playing in the Auckland club competition and for the Akarana Falcons last year.
Match: Warriors v Raiders
Round 7 -
home Team
Warriors
6th Position
away Team
Raiders
12th Position
Venue: FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
“We are pleased to have Kaiyah recommit to the club,” said Griffiths.
“A local Richmond Roses product, her contract extension has come through her effort and her exemplary attitude.”
Atai has played the full 70 minutes in each of the Warriors’ six games so far, standing out as the team’s busiest defender with 147 tackles, an average of 24.5 a game.
“Kaiyah impressed us so much with the way she had prepared herself for the preseason,” said One New Zealand Warriors NRLW manager Nadene Conlon.
“She richly deserves this contract extension while she’s also an inspiration for local players, showing what can be achieved coming through the game at domestic level.”
A member of the national championship-winning Akarana Falcons last year, Atai was named the New Zealand Rugby League’s 2024 domestic women’s player of the year and went on to again represent the Cook Islands in the Pacific Championships.
Profile | Kaiyah Atai
Born: October 10, 2001
Birthplace: Auckland, NZ
Clubs: Richmond Roses
Position: Second row
Height: 173cm
Weight: 69kg
Warriors NRLW No: 61
NRLW debut: One New Zealand Warriors v Sydney Roosters, Allianz Stadium, July 6, 2025 (Rd 1)
NRLW appearances: 6 games for Warriors, 2025
Representative honours: Cook Islands Vaine Moana, Akarana Falcons
