David Middleton's top 5 NRLW players of 2025

Now in its 39th year, the Official Rugby League Annual provides a complete rundown of an extraordinary 2025 season.

Compiled by the game's most respected historian David Middleton it covers every game of the NRL season, the NRLW Premiership and full descriptions of State of Origin and Pacific Championships.

To celebrate the release of the 2025 Official Rugby League Annual, Middleton has picked his top five NRLW players of the year.

Order your copy of the 2025 Official Rugby League Annual HERE

Top 5 NRLW players of 2025

Abbi Church

The Parramatta fullback enhanced her standing as one of the most popular players in the women’s game in 2025 through her class and courage at club and representative level. The 27-year-old, who debuted for the Eels in their inaugural NRLW game in 2022, experienced a breakthrough year in 2025, playing all three State of Origin matches for New South Wales and making her Test debut in a Pacific Cup Test in November. Church won recognition as the Eels’ Player of the Year and received the 2025 NSW Blues Women’s Award at the Brad Fittler Medal in recognition of her outstanding Origin campaign. 

Olivia Kernick

Roosters lock Olivia Kernick delivered a standout year at all levels in 2025. An integral member of her club’s unbeaten drive to the minor premiership title, Kernick went on to take out the Nellie Doherty Medal as player of the State of Origin series and starred for the Jillaroos as they captured the Pacific Cup for the second year running. Shifting from a wide-running back-row role to that of a ball-distributing lock, Kernick’s game continued to flourish. She was named Roosters player of the year for the second time and selected in the Dally M NRLW Team of the Year. 

Julia Robinson

Robinson’s popularity reached new levels in 2025 especially when her incredible Superwoman try for the Jillaroos against Samoa in October went viral. Robinson’s strength and tackle-breaking ability was a major weapon for the Broncos in their premiership success, and she carried her outstanding club form into the representative arena for the Maroons and Jillaroos. Robinson finished a narrow second to Tamika Upton in Dally M voting and won high acclaim as player of the match in the Pacific Cup final against the Kiwi Ferns. Robinson scored four tries in the Pacific Cup to become the Jillaroos’ greatest tryscorer. 

Jesse Southwell

Southwell took major steps in her career in 2025, steering the Blues to an Origin series victory and breaking into the Jillaroos’ line-up for the first time. The 20-year-old was named in the Dally Team of the Year, took out the Knights’ players’ player award after steering the club to a preliminary final and went on to feature in all three Pacific Cup Tests for the Jillaroos. Southwell struck a remarkable kicking purple patch early in the NRLW season, landing her first 22 goals without a miss. Her career will head in a new direction in 2026 when she joins premiers Brisbane. 

Tamika Upton

Upton was unchallenged as the number one player in the women’s game in 2025 following her extraordinary performances for club and country. Although kept relatively quiet in the State of Origin series, Upton was all action for the Broncos and the Jillaroos. Across 18 games at club and representative level in 2025, the tall No.1 scored 29 tries, including five in the early season Test against England in Las Vegas. Upton won her second Dally M NRLW Player of the Year award and became the first player to win five NRLW premierships when the Broncos triumphed in October.