With the 2026 NRLW preseason campaign fast approaching the One New Zealand Warriors have confirmed development contracts for three young players.
One of the trio is 17-year-old Asha Taumoepeau-Williams, regarded by many judges as the most exciting prospect in New Zealand rugby league and rugby union.
The other two are Gezreyal Maiu’u, sister of former Warriors NRL forward Zyon, and Patricia Heihei, both 18 and also boasting rugby league and rugby union backgrounds.
Howick College student Taumoepeau-Williams – who doesn’t turn 18 until September – has been signed on a development deal this year before being upgraded to a top 24 NRLW contract next season.
The outside back’s career has been nothing short of remarkable so far.
She was exceptional for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the New South Wales Rugby League’s Lisa Fiola Cup (under-17) competition in both 2024 and 2025.
She scored 17 tries in 10 games for the all-conquering Bulldogs in 2024 including four tries in their 36-0 grand final win over the Wests Tigers; she added 11 tries in eight outings last year.
Taumoepeau-Williams made six appearances for the Auckland Storm in rugby union’s Farah Palmer Cup provincial competition last year and also excelled at the 2025 Global Youth Sevens when she was named MVP.
Match: Warriors v Bulldogs
Round 1 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Bulldogs
Venue: FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
“Asha is a prodigious talent, equally adept at centre or fullback,” said One New Zealand Warriors NRLW head coach Ron Griffiths.
“With the continued right attitude, she has the potential to have an enormous future in the NRLW. Asha’s signature was a great coup for the One New Zealand Warriors.”
Maiu’u has also been signed as a development player this season then moving up to the full NRLW squad in 2027.
The Mount Albert Grammar School product is not only a dual rugby league-rugby union player but also an accomplished track and field athlete in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 300m hurdles as well as the triple jump.
An edge player for Mount Albert Grammar in both rugby codes, she was used as a second rower for the St George Dragons in the NSWRL’s Tarsha Gale Cup (under-19) competition last year when she won the players’ player of the year award.
“A local junior returning home after a stint with St George, Gez is a powerful back rower who runs great lines and is also a great defender,” said Griffiths.
“We are excited to have her onboard at the Warriors.”
Signed as a development player for 2026 and 2027, Heihei attended Manukura School in Palmerston North representing the school in rugby union as well as the Manawatu Cyclones in the Farah Palmer Cup.
She was used at loose forward and standoff for the Penrith Panthers in the NSWRL’s Lisa Fiola Cup last year, finishing the season with 10 tries.
“A tough as teak ball-playing lock with an impressive kicking game. Patricia has impeccable timing in defence,” said Griffiths.
“We are thrilled to have her joining us for the next two years at least.”
Of the Warriors’ four development players last year, teenaged forwards Ivana Lauitiiti and Ashlee Matapo quickly became fully-fledged NRLW players.
Matapo made her debut in the round one match against the Roosters with Lauitiiti following in round five against the Cowboys. They also both made their Test debuts in the Pacific Championships, Lauitiiti with the Kiwi Ferns and Matapo with the Cook Islands Moana.
