After a decision was made by Shakiah Tungai to sit out the 2025 NRLW season due to personal reasons, the Canberra Raiders have added Isabella Waterman to their roster.
Waterman, who has previously played for the Newcastle Knights, was a part of the club’s state premiership team that made the 2024 Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership grand final.
Waterman, a talented footballer, also has a background in rugby union, having played the last three seasons for Hurricanes Poua and a season for Matat? previously.
Raiders coach Darren Borthwick admits that replacing a player like Tungai was not easy but that he was pleased to add Waterman to the roster in her place.
“Shak’s a really hard player to replace, she plays off a lot of footy instinct,” Borthwick said.
“I went straight to work trying to find someone that is similar to Shak and I think Izzy will fill the void for us quite well.
“One thing we have in our squad this year is a lot of competition for spots, which is great.”
Borthwick believes Waterman’s height and Super Rugby experience will aid the club and says opportunities are there to be taken.
“Very similar to Shak, Izzy runs hard, she’s very tall and will be good in the air for us, she’ll add a little bit of a different element to our game,” Borthwick continued.
“I’m happy to get her here, she’s played Super Rugby and got an opportunity at the Knights last year. I think she’s very hungry, some of the opportunities she didn’t get last year. I think we are getting her at a good time.”
Waterman admits that she was looking for a way back into the NRL and is grateful for this opportunity with the Raiders.
“I was looking to get back into the NRLW, I wasn’t sure how,” Waterman said.
I was looking to play Harvey’s (Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership) but I’m excited to have this opportunity come along to come to Canberra, I just want to make the most of it.
“It’s been pretty hectic to be honest, I’ve had to move pretty quickly but it’s an opportunity I just couldn’t pass on.
“I’m just excited to learn off heaps of the girls, there’s some experienced players here so I’m excited to learn off them and just grow my knowledge of footy.”