NRLW 2026, Injuries, suspension, return dates, casualty ward and key information for the 2026 NRL Telstra Women's Premiership season

NRLW Casualty Ward: Broncos dealt blow as rising star tears ACL

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Tue 17 Mar 2026, 05:58 PM

The Broncos premiership defence has been dealt a major blow with rising star Shalom Sauaso tearing her ACL during the off-season.

Last year's Dally M Rookie of the Year has undergone surgery and is facing a 9-12 month recovery period. As a result, the 18-year-old is set to sit out the entirety of the 2026 NRLW campaign.

"The Brisbane Broncos can confirm that 2025 NRLW Rookie of the Year, Shalom Sauaso, has sustained an Anterior Crucial Ligament (ACL) injury during off-season," the Broncos said in a statement.

"The 18-year-old underwent surgery last week and will begin rehabilitation with a typical recovery timeframe of 9 and 12 months."

The injury will have major ramifications that go far beyond the Broncos. Sauaso was pushing for a Queensland State of Origin debut, denting the Maroons' hopes of winning back the shield.

Sauaso is also a key member of the Fetu Samoa side, but she is now set to miss the World Cup at the end of the season.

Wests Tigers forward Jade Fonua will be unavailable for the 2026 season after sharing news of her pregnancy.

While Fonua awaits the arrival of the newest member of her family, she will be unavailable for the upcoming NRLW season and will work closely with the Club to ensure she is supported throughout that time.

Meanwhile, Roosters star Olivia Kernick missed February's All Stars campaign after underdoing a procedure on her shoulder.

The Jillaroos second rower is eligible for both the Indigenous Women's All Stars and the Māori Women's All Stars teams and has previously represented both sides of her heritage.

Māori Women's All Stars coach John Strange said he enquired about having the 2024 Dally M winner return to represent her Māori culture in the fixture at Hamilton, having last played for the side in 2022 and 2023.

“There are a few players who are unavailable through injury like Olivia Kernick, who was going to play for us but she has had a bit of a tidy up for a shoulder,” Strange said.

“That’s a bit of a shame for us but it will still be a pretty good squad and I am happy with the players we have got."

A number of players who were struck with injury during the Pacific Championships are on track to be fit and firing for when the NRLW season launches on July 2 when the Sharks host the Knights.

Jillaroos and Roosters hooker Keeley Davis injured her shoulder in Australia's match against the Kiwi Ferns at Eden Park, forcing her to miss the Pacific Championships final.

Second-rower Kezie Apps left the field late in the final with a lower back problem, while Kiwi Ferns and Cronulla Sharks back-rower Annessa Biddle suffered a head knock.

Gold Coast star Sienna Lofipo was also ruled out of Samoa's game against the Jillaroos in the second week of the tournament with concussion but also suffered a leg injury. Having achieved plenty in 2025 with her international and Queensland Origin call-ups, Titans coach Karyn Murphy will be hoping the versatile forward won't miss the start of the season.

A number of players who have switched clubs over the off-season are also working towards being good to go for their new clubs, including Raiders signing Bobbi Law and Tegan Dymock, who is returning to the Sharks.