Final camp for Harvey Norman programme

After a series of eight camps throughout New Zealand, the inaugural 2025-2026 Harvey Norman Heartland Female Athlete programme culminates with a special experience for 16 young players in Auckland this week.

Two athletes chosen from each of the events will gather for a two-day final selection camp built around the One New Zealand Warriors’ NRLW home game against North Queensland at Go Media Stadium on Saturday, July 18.

The selected 16 were identified from camps held in Nelson, Wellington, Hastings, Christchurch, Hamilton, Dunedin, Whangārei and Auckland.

“Our partnership with Harvey Norman has had a significant impact on the rugby league community,” said One New Zealand Warriors recruitment and partnerships strategy manager Liam Turner.

“The Harvey Norman Heartland Female Athlete Programme has undoubtedly been a huge success. We’ve been excited with the ability of the girls we’ve seen and their enthusiasm and interest in what the camps have been about.

“To bring 16 athletes together from up and down the country for this weekend will be a real highlight not only for them but also for us as a club. This programme is a vital part of our pathways structure.”

The programme on the first day of the final camp on Friday, July 17 will include:

• A tour of the One New Zealand Warriors’ facilities at Go Media Stadium.
• Insights from Sky New Zealand CEO Sophie Moloney, voted the chief executive of the year at the 2025 Deloitte Top 200 Awards.
• A field session on the NRLW team’s training pitch.
• Watch the One New Zealand Warriors’ captain’s run ahead of their round three NRLW match against North Queensland.
• Dinner with the NRLW squad.

On the second day of the camp on July 18, the schedule will feature:

• A field session with the NRLW squad members not playing in the match against the Cowboys.
• A gym session at the club’s pathways facility.
• A Harvey Norman Q & A session.
• A walk through the NRLW team’s game day dressing room.
• Insights from rugby league legend and Sky presenter Honey Hireme-Smiler.
• Watch NRLW team’s warm-up.
• Form guard of honour for Warriors’ runout.
• Watch Warriors v Cowboys NRLW and Warriors v Dragons NRL games.

The Harvey Norman Hearland Female Athlete camps brought together players aged between 15 and 18 where they gained insights into high-performance environments, including sessions on mental health and wellbeing, nutrition, strength and skill development plus player agent and management advice.

The participants for the final event are:

Camp | Nelson
Denyce Pousima (Blenheim)
Sienna Todd (Nelson)
Camp | Wellington
Malina Leatherby-Millar (Palmerston North)
Nevaeh Harris (Palmerston North)
Camp | Hastings
Addison Henry (Hastings)
Kaiarihi Puku (Rotorua)
Camp | Christchurch
Tayla Eckersley (Christchurch)
Amaleila Tiatia (Christchurch)
Camp | Hamilton
Ella Leauga (New Plymouth)
Tiarna Hill (Hamilton)
Camp | Dunedin
Jayda Waitere (Invercargill)
Makelesi Naitoga (Geraldine)
Camp | Whangarei
Chrisena Nathan (Whangarei)
Kaea Jay Abraham (Whangarei)
Camp | Auckland
Akeliana Faith Leauga (Auckland)
Betsy Fifita (Auckland)