NRLW Team Update: Broughton makes return

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Sat 25 Jul 2026, 12:00 PM

Gayle Broughton has been confirmed to return from a two-game injury absence for the One New Zealand Warriors’ round four NRLW clash against the Parramatta Eels at Eric Tweedale Stadium in Sydney tomorrow (12.00pm kick-off local time; 2.00pm NZT).

After her player of the match display in her club debut against the Bulldogs, Broughton missed the two matches against the Raiders and Cowboys with a quad injury.

She comes into the lineup at halfback for tomorrow’s contest, paired in the halves with Emmanita Paki who remains at standoff.

Patricia Maliepo, used at halfback in the first three matches, moves to the interchange replacing hooker Capri Paekau (19th player) while Maarire Puketapu is the 18th player.

Broughton is one of three first-choice players returning from injury.

Also back are winger Payton Takimoana and back rower Kaiyah Atai.

Round 4 - Round 4 - Sunday 26 Jul

2:00 am

Eels

Warriors

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Eels is number 1 Abbi Church

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Apii Nicholls
Winger for Eels is number 2 Zali Fay

Winger for Warriors is number 2 Payton Takimoana
Centre for Eels is number 3 Rory Owen

Centre for Warriors is number 3 Tysha Ikenasio
Centre for Eels is number 4 Lindsay Tui

Centre for Warriors is number 4 Stacey Waaka
Winger for Eels is number 5 Martha Mataele

Winger for Warriors is number 5 Ocean Tierney
Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Rosemarie Beckett

Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Emmanita Paki
Halfback for Eels is number 7 Rachael Pearson

Halfback for Warriors is number 20 Gayle Broughton

Forwards

Prop for Eels is number 8 Elsie Albert

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Mya Hill-Moana
Hooker for Eels is number 9 Taneka Todhunter

Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Jasmin Huriwai
Prop for Eels is number 10 Ryvrr-Lee Alo

Prop for Warriors is number 10 Metanoia Fetalaiga
2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Fontayne Tufuga

2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Christabelle Onesemo-Tuilaepa
2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Mahalia Murphy

2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Shakira Baker
Lock for Eels is number 13 Keilee Joseph

Lock for Warriors is number 13 Kaiyah Atai

Interchange

Interchange for Eels is number 14 Rueben Cherrington

Interchange for Warriors is number 7 Patricia Maliepo
Interchange for Eels is number 15 Tess McWilliams

Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Harata Butler
Interchange for Eels is number 16 Boss Kapua

Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Ivana Lauitiiti
Interchange for Eels is number 17 Khyliah Gray

Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Annetta Nuuausala

Reserves

Replacement for Eels is number 18 Jasmin Morrissey

Replacement for Warriors is number 22 Maarire Puketapu
Reserve for Eels is number 19 Jayde Herdegen

Reserve for Warriors is number 14 Capri Paekau

Boss Kapua
Jayde Herdegen
Keilee Joseph

Gayle Broughton
Kaiyah Atai
Payton Takimoana

Cassey Tohi-Hiku
Rysh'e Fa'amausili

Ashlee Matapo
Lavinia Tauhalaliku

Match Officials

Senior Review Official: Adam Gee

Last updated: 7/25/2026 2:14:10 AM

The 22-year-old Takimoana, who scored 15 tries in 11 games in her rookie season, returns after being forced to leave the field with a shoulder injury in the Warriors’ season-opening win over the Bulldogs.

Atai, the 2025 players’ player of the year, has been selected at loose forward for her first match of the season after recovering from surgery following a broken thumb suffered in the Warriors’ preseason trial against the Broncos in Christchurch.

Apart from Takimoana replacing Lavinia Tauhalaliku (suspended) and Broughton in for Maliepo the rest of the backline named is unchanged from the combination used in the club record-equalling 42-4 victory over North Queensland last Saturday.

There are two changes to the starting pack selected with prop Annetta Nuuausala named on the interchange and Mya Hill-Moana replacing her after starting at loose forward last week.

The match against the Eels is the first of back-to-back road trips followed by their Magic Round game against the Titans in Wagga Wagga on August 2.

The Warriors are sixth on the ladder heading into the fourth round, one of five teams on four points two behind the unbeaten Roosters and Broncos.

The Eels are coming off a 12-50 loss to the Titans following defeats in the first two rounds by the Wests Tigers and St George Illawarra.