Teuila Fotu-Moala links with North Sydney Bears as NSW competition kicks off

New Zealand's Teuila Fotu-Moala in action against Papua New Guinea.

Author: Alicia Newton NRL Reporter
Timestamp: Fri 22 Mar 2019, 03:31 PM

New Zealand Kiwi Ferns powerhouse Teuila Fotu-Moala has joined the Roosters' feeder club North Sydney Bears as part of the NSW's Harvey Norman Women's Premiership in 2019.

Several NRLW stars will be in action for round one of the competition, which officially gets underway on Saturday.

Fotu-Moala, who made the move to Sydney from New Zealand in the off-season, represented the Brisbane Broncos in the inaugural NRLW competition last year.

Roosters centre Shontelle Stowers will captain the Bears, which also includes Kiwi Ferns hooker Nita Maynard.

The NSW club competition will run from March through to August in 2019, with breaks in between for key dates on the women's calendar including the National Championships in May and Holden women's State of Origin in June.

The state grand final, to be played on August 10, will allow players at least a month's preparation leading into round one of the NRLW competition.

Broncos player Teuila Fotu-Moala. ©Gregg Porteous/NRL Photos

Defending premiers Mounties will host an inaugural St Mary's side, one of two new clubs joining the competition this year, and will be guided by Jillaroos powerhouse Simaima Taufa.

The other inaugural club, Wests Tigers, will kick their season off in the Hunter against a strong CRL Newcastle outfit.

Coached by former NRL coach Rick Stone, the Hunter-based side assembles the likes of Jillaroos trio Isabelle Kelly, Hannah Southwell and Holli Wheeler, while former Australian prop Bec Young will lead from the front along with experienced Sydney Roosters representative Kylie Hilder.

Cronulla have recruited Roosters halfback Maddie Studdon for the competition with NSW centre Corban McGregor also back to play her first major game since shoulder surgery. Ruan Sims is also a key player for the Shire club.

Other movement in the competition includes Australia young gun Rikeya Horne joining Cabramatta, while Dragons prop Oneata Schwalger will link with St Marys.

Last year's grand finalists South Sydney have the bye.

Queensland clubs will kick off their major competitions next month.