Christian's faith rewarded as reborn Tigers march into finals

The tries have been few and far between for Christian Pio but so have wins for her NRLW team Wests Tigers over the past four years. 

Thankfully both are on the up and up. 

Pio scored just her second try in 30 games for the club, since becoming a foundation player in 2023, as part of a commanding 44-14 over the Bulldogs at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.

“The white line just hasn’t been my friend but I’m grateful I got to show I can score a try,” Pio told NRL.com.

“It’s off the back of some hard work from my teammates so I’m so grateful for them too.” 

It was a history-making night all round as the seventh win this season ensured the Tigers would play finals for the first time.

The 44 points was also the most the club has scored in a match, topping the 36-8 win over the Eels back in 2023. 

Pio has been through plenty of lean times throughout the Tigers' four-year history - an eighth-place finish in a 10-team competition in 2023, then 10th in 2024 for the wooden spoon, and 12th in 2025 for the wooden spoon again as the NRLW expanded to 12 teams. 

“Honestly it’s been such a grind, not only this year but throughout the whole four years,” Pio said. 

We’ve made some great signings this year, we’ve all grown again as a team and look where we are now

Rep players like Raecene McGregor (from Dragons), Holli Wheeler (Sharks) and Shaylee Bent (Titans) joined the club in 2026 alongside new coach Craig Sandercock. 

Pio said younger players like centre Portia Bourke, wingers Lily Rogan and Harmony Crichton, and utility Faythe Manera had been like sponges in learning off the newcomers to the Concord-based club. 

“Last year they had little direction and guidance but now we have the right people and they’ve been teaching all of us a better way forward," she said.

Wests Tigers have now won five straight – another first for the club – and have the in-form Titans coming to Campbelltown this Sunday to give them a real gauge on their finals credentials. 

But Wests Tigers have shown already they can handle considerable pressure.

The commentary around the past two wins over the Knights and Bulldogs was how they club was close to securing a finals spot. 

Pio said Sandercock was able to pull the team into a circle and block out that noise. 

“He knew securing finals was on the line but he was so focused on what we each needed to do on the day, reducing our penalties, being relentless in attack and just playing our game,” she said. 

Pio is joined in the forward ranks by another two foundation club members in NSW Origin and Jillaroos stalwarts in Kezie Apps and Sarah Togatuki.  

“I am so lucky to have two of the greatest forwards not only on the field with me but off the field as well,” Pio said. “They do so much for all the girls with their encouragement and leadership. 

“It just goes to show what kind of culture they can bring to our club.” 

Pio can’t wipe the smile from her face that her beloved Wests Tigers are back in the business-end of a competition. 

She was part of the 2022 Wests Tigers team that won the NSWRL Women’s Premiership in extra-time with a nail-biting 21-20 win over the Sharks. 

“One hundred per cent, myself, Kezie and Losana (Lutu) were in that team and we saw the greatness in this club and that’s why we’ve stayed on," she said.

“Look where we are now... I’m so very grateful.”