Ashby, Paki return to league as latest cross code recruits

Australian sevens co-captain Madison Ashby and dual Olympian Sariah Paki are set to return to rugby league for the upcoming NRLW season.

The pair helped Australia claim the 2025-26 World Championship by beating New Zealand earlier this month and Ashby has now signed with the Sharks, while Paki is poised to join the Roosters.

The Australian sevens team also included Titans-bound star Teagan Levi.

Ashby and Paki grew up playing league and were team-mates in Cronulla's 2018 premiership winning Tarsha Gale Cup side before moving to rugby sevens.

Ashby, who was the NSWRL's Tarsha Gale Cup Player of the Year, played in the halves, while Paki was a mobile frontrower.

Team-mates included fellow Australian sevens star Faith Nathan, current Sharks pair Quincy Dodd and Talei Holmes, and Eels back Zali Fay.

“It’s amazing to be back. It was 2018 when I finished up here and we won the Tarsha Gale Cup so it’s exciting to come back to my home ground and restart again," Ashby said.

“I was playing with Quincy Dodd and Talei Holmes, and I played against a couple of the girls that are in this squad right now.

"I'm excited to come back to rugby league, to challenge myself in the different code again and to relearn it all and to play alongside and against world class athletes."  

Ashby, who is engaged to Canberra Raiders fullback Kaeo Weekes, will also get to play alongside his younger sister, Grace Weekes, at the Sharks.

“I’ve always wanted to come back home. League’s the first sport I ever played," Ashby said. "Honestly, I always knew I was going to come back.

"Cronulla’s always treated me well even as a junior and they were very supportive of me coming back here.” 

Ashby debuted for the Australian sevens team as a teenager in 2018 and was fast-tracked into the leadership program to learn under the likes of Charlotte Caslick.

However, a devastating knee injury ended her dream of a second Olympics in 2024.

After returning from a 484-day layoff due to the injury, Ashby was named co-captain of the Australian sevens team for the season that just ended with last week's win in Bordeaux.

“Couldn’t be prouder of this group and everything we’ve achieved together. So grateful for the memories and moments we’ve shared. Going to miss this team more than you know,” Ashby said via social media.

Meanwhile, Paki posted, "new colours same mindset", alongside photos of herself in a Sydney Roosters jersey.

Since leaving the Sharks, Paki has gone on to play in 44 events on the sevens circuit and was Australia's youngest debutant in 2018.

She represented Australia at the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Olympic Games, and is a 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist.

Ashby and Paki are set to join Levi, Black Ferns superstar Stacey Waaka - a two-times Olympic gold medallist - and Ashley Marsters, who is the most capped Wallaroos player with 45 Tests to her name.

Levi, who is one half of Australia's superstar sevens sister act with sibling Madison, has signed with the Titans, while Waaka returns to the NRLW with the Warriors after a 2024 stint at Brisbane and Marsters has joined the Cowboys.

In total, there are more than a dozen players switching to the NRLW, which begins on July 2 with the Sharks hosting the Knights at Ocean Protect Stadium.