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Another Paris Olympics gold medallist signs with Warriors in NRLW

Tysha Ikenasio #26 of New Zealand scores a try against Spain in the women's pool A match during day one of the HSBC SVNS Singapore at the National Stadium on May 03, 2024 in Singapore. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)

Black Ferns Sevens great Michaela Blyde isn’t the only Paris Olympic gold medallist joining the New Zealand Warriors with the club announcing on Thursday another four signings ahead of next year’s NRLW campaign. HSBC SVNS Series star Tysha Ikenasio is among that quartet.

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Two days after Blyde’s headline-grabbing decision to sign with the ‘Wahs’ was announced, it’s been revealed that Ikenasio has also decided to switch codes. Payton Takimoana, Kalyn Takitimu-Cook and Makayla Eli have also signed with the NRLW expansion side.

Ikenasio, 27, played five seasons of rugby sevens in Japan before returning home to New Zealand where the talented athlete lined up for rugby league side Richmond Roses in the Auckland premiership before debuting on the SVNS Series in 2022.

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As the Black Ferns Sevens battled it out against other world-class teams at some exciting destinations around the world, Ikenasio often played a role as a regular squad member. Ikenasio was included in Team New Zealand’s squad for this year’s Paris Olympics.

New Zealand got the better of a valiant Canada side in the gold medal match to secure their spot on the top of the Olympic podium at Stade de France. With the versatility to cover both centre and fullback in NRLW, the Warriors expect Ikenasio to make an impact in 2025.

“Tysha has a wonderful story, her career being built on resilience in taking the long route to becoming a Black Ferns Sevens play,” Warriors NRLW head coach Ronald Griffiths said.

“Included in her journey has been a stint in Japan, playing rugby league in Auckland and going through the enrolment process for the New Zealand Police before her opportunity finally came to join the sevens programme.

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“Although she speaks with ultimate pride about her time in rugby, it has been evident in working our way through the process to sign her how committed and ready she is for the next chapter in her life.

“Tysha exudes a club and team-first mentality. This coupled with her resilience and drive will no doubt see her have an immediate impact for the One New Zealand Warriors. We’re thrilled to have her on board.”

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Ikenasio joins Blyde at the Wahs, with the SVNS Series legend having been announced as a marquee recruit for the club earlier in the week. Blyde has enjoyed a legendary career in rugby union, with the New Zealand recently recognised as a nominee for Sevens Player of the Year.

Blyde has taken home World Rugby’s prestigious individual honour on two occasions, and with two Olympic gold medals as well, it’s not hard to see why the 28-year-old is regarded as one of the greatest athletes in the history of women’s rugby sevens.

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With Ikenasio joining Blude at the Warriors next season, the NRLW side have the makings of a star-studded roster that will pique the interest of sports fans in New Zealand. Ikenasio is looking forward to the opportunity ahead in rugby league with the Warriors.

“Honestly I’ve been watching the NRLW from afar for years. I’ve had mates who have played in it, had teammates who have made the switch to league and honestly been in awe of all the talent that has been shown,” Ikenasio explained.

“I actually had a season of league in Auckland after I returned home from being in Japan for five years playing sevens. I got to play for the Richmond Roses alongside some really amazing players like Laishon Albert-Jones and Charlotte Scanlan with coach Tash Davie.

“When Ron reached out to me I couldn’t believe it. I was nervous for the first phone call but it was instantly effortless. He hadn’t asked me one thing about league or sport, it was all about me as a person, my family, where I grew up and I knew from then that he was a genuine, good human being.

“… I know I have a lot to learn in league and I’m excited to learn alongside some really experienced players. I’m just thankful that Ron has given me this opportunity and I’m excited for not only next year but the next three years.”

Of the three other players that have signed with the club, 21-year-old Takimoana is one to watch after committing to the 2025 and 2026 seasons. Takimoana is in the Hurricanes Poua squad for next year’s Super Rugby Aupiki season.

Takimoana has scored 14 tries in 20 Farah Palmer Cup matches for Bay of Plenty.

Takitimu-Cook has played Farah Palmer for Manawatu Cyclones, Bay of Plenty Volcanix, and has played a few matches for Hurricanes Poua at Super Rugby level. The other signing, Eli, is a rugby union-league double international.

“After watching Payton’s highlights and her innate ability to turn up in the right spot in attack, it was evident she can sense the big moment in a game,” Griffiths added.

“However, it was her efforts in defence, the numerous times that she chased back to save tries, that she really caught our attention and, as well as this, her aggressive nature in defence was impressive.

“After meeting her family, we knew Payton would be a fantastic addition to the Warriors whanau. She’s someone who will be exciting to watch when the opportunity arises for her debut.”


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J
JW 4 hours ago
‘The problem with this year’s Champions Cup? Too many English clubs’

Like I've said before about your idea (actually it might have been something to do with mine, I can't remember), I like that teams will a small sustainable league focus can gain the reward of more consistent CC involvement. I'd really like the most consistent option available.


Thing is, I think rugby can do better than footballs version. I think for instance I wanted everyone in it to think they can win it, where you're talking about trying to make so the worst teams in it are not giving up when they are so far off the pace that we get really bad scorelines (when that and giving up to concentrate on the league is happening together). I know it's not realistic to think those same exact teams are going to be competitive with a different model but I am inclined to think more competitive teams make it in with another modem. It's a catch 22 of course, you want teams to fight to be there next year, but they don't want to be there next year when theres less interest in it because the results are less interesting than league ones. If you ensure the best 20 possible make it somehow (say currently) each year they quickly change focus when things aren't going well enough and again interest dies. Will you're approach gradually work overtime? With the approach of the French league were a top 6 mega rich Premier League type club system might develop, maybe it will? But what of a model like Englands were its fairly competitive top 8 but orders or performances can jump around quite easily one year to the next? If the England sides are strong comparatively to the rest do they still remain in EPCR despite not consistently dominating in their own league?


So I really like that you could have a way to remedy that, but personally I would want my model to not need that crutch. Some of this is the same problem that football has. I really like the landscape in both the URC and Prem, but Ireland with Leinster specifically, and France, are a problem IMO. In football this has turned CL pool stages in to simply cash cow fixtures for the also ran countries teams who just want to have a Real Madrid or ManC to lose to in their pool for that bumper revenue hit. It's always been a comp that had suffered for real interest until the knockouts as well (they might have changed it in recent years?).


You've got some great principles but I'm not sure it's going to deliver on that hard hitting impact right from the start without the best teams playing in it. I think you might need to think about the most minimal requirement/way/performance, a team needs to execute to stay in the Champions Cup as I was having some thougt about that earlier and had some theory I can't remember. First they could get entry by being a losing quarter finalist in the challenge, then putting all their eggs in the Champions pool play bucket in order to never finish last in their pool, all the while showing the same indifference to their league some show to EPCR rugby now, just to remain in champions. You extrapolate that out and is there ever likely to be more change to the champions cup that the bottom four sides rotate out each year for the 4 challenge teams? Are the leagues ever likely to have the sort of 'flux' required to see some variation? Even a good one like Englands.


I'd love to have a table at hand were you can see all the outcomes, and know how likely any of your top 12 teams are going break into Champions rubyg on th back it it are?

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