Aboriginal & Torres Strait Women (Gummas)

From the oldest continuing culture on Earth come the daughters of the Dreaming—Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, connected to Country, ancestors, and spirit. They are storytellers. Land protectors. Community leaders. Their footsteps trace 65,000 years of wisdom, resistance, and healing. Despite facing systemic inequalities, racial discrimination, and intergenerational trauma, they rise. Always, they rise. In the NRLW, they carry more than just a ball. They carry the hopes of their mobs. The pride of Country. The legacy of women who fought for voice and visibility. Each tackle, each sprint, each try is an act of reclamation. Every time they play, they rewrite history—a history too long written without them.

They embody cultural strength: the spiritual connection to land, the resilience of kinship, the fire of justice. And in this arena, they are unstoppable. As athletes, they blaze trails. As women, they hold cultural power. As leaders, they create safe space for the next generation of Black women to shine—on and off the field. •

Polynesian (Nesian) Women

From the blue heart of the Pacific rise women whose strength flows like ocean tides-unseen but unstable. Polynesian women—of Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, and Aotearoa—stand woven into rich cultural legacies. They are matriarchs, nurturers, guardians of language, dance, and sacred tradition. Their voices carry the stories of generations.

Their hands pass down knowledge in song, in food, in tattoo. In villages and homes, they have long been pillars. But in modern society, their power is often misread—quiet dignity mistaken for silence, humility mistaken for invisibility. Yet through the fire and thunder of the rugby field, Polynesian women rise. Here, in the Women’s National Rugby League (NRLW), they claim new ground while carrying ancient strength. Their bodies, sculpted by generations of island resilience, move with grace and force. On the field, they speak a universal language—one of skill, strategy, and unbreakable sisterhood.

They are more than athletes. They are cultural warriors. In jerseys marked by pride, they push back against gender stereotypes, societal constraints, and the false narratives that attempt to define them. They inspire younger generations to take up space, to be strong, to be proud. Through sport, Polynesian women prove they are not bound by borders or expectations. • Nesian Gummas-Strength through Unity.

Though oceans and deserts may separate them, Polynesian and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women share a sacred thread—culture. And through rugby league, that thread becomes a lifeline. A bridge. A banner of unity. Together, they redefine what it means to be strong. Not just physically—but emotionally, spiritually, and culturally. In unity, they break the silence imposed by history. In sisterhood, they challenge systems. In culture, they find their power. Through the NRLW, they do not just play. They lead. They heal. They empower. Because when women rise together, they do not just change the game. They change the world. “Culture is not just where we come from. It’s how we move forward-together.”

Different Cultures, Same Heart

While our foundation is rooted in Indigenous and Pasifika pride, our vision is inclusive. We honour the sisters who stand beside us—those from European, Asian, African, and all cultural backgrounds—who bring their heart, grit, and commitment to the team. They show up with open minds, open arms, and shared purpose. They don’t just play alongside us—they believe in what we’re building. These women, too, are part of this movement. Their presence reminds us that unity is not about being the same, but about standing together with mutual respect and shared goals. In this jersey, every woman—regardless of heritage—represents something bigger than herself: a future shaped by solidarity, strength, and sisterhood.