One New Zealand Warriors rookies Payton Takimoana and Patricia Maliepo have gone from tyros to winning places alongside some of the NRLW’s biggest names in the peer-voted 2025 Players’ Dream Team.
Players across the competition’s 12 clubs have given Takimoana a spot as one of the wingers with Maliepo chosen at standoff.
Signed from rugby union, the pair were outstanding performers for the Warriors in their return to the NRLW after a five-year absence.
Coming out of provincial rugby union, Takimoana led all try scorers late in the regular season before being headed by Brisbane’s Tamika Upton, Upton finishing with 18 tries and Takimoana with 15, well clear of the previous best for a season of 11 by Teagan Berry in 2023.
The 22-year-old Tauranga-born Takimoana amassed her tries in 11 matches failing to score just twice in a run including two hat-tricks and two doubles.
Former Black Fern Maliepo (22) announced her arrival on the NRLW stage on debut, scoring the Warriors’ first try in their opening match of the season.
While concussion and injury kept her out of two games, Maliepo was exceptional in her nine appearances scoring four tries and kicking 17 goals for a total of 50 points. Averaging 86 running metres, 44 tackles and 137 kicking metres a game, she also had 32 tackle breaks.
2025 NRLW Players' Dream Team
Fullback: Tamika Upton (Broncos)
Wingers: Taina Naividi (Roosters), Payton Takimoana (One New Zealand Warriors)
Centres: Isabelle Kelly (Roosters), Julia Robinson (Broncos)
Five-Eighth: Patricia Maliepo (One New Zealand Warriors)
Halfback: Tarryn Aiken (Roosters)
Props: Rima Butler (Roosters), Otesa Pule (Roosters)
Hooker: Emma Manzelmann (Cowboys)
Second Rowers: Yasmin Clydsdale (Knights), Kezie Apps (Wests Tigers)
Lock: Olivia Kernick (Roosters)
Impact: Shalom Sauaso (Broncos)
