Queensland Origin representative Emmanita Paki, double international Lavinia Tauhalaliku and New Zealand-born Gold Coast Titans forward Matekino Gray have today been confirmed as the One New Zealand Warriors’ latest signings for their NRLW comeback in 2025.
Paki (21) has been secured for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, Tauhalaliku (25) for 2025 and 2026 with a club option for 2027 and 19-year-old Gray for the first two years with a mutual option for 2027.
That boosts the number of signings to eight following announcements in the past week confirming fullback Apii Nicholls, props Mya Hill-Moana and Harata Butler, hooker Capri Paekau and second rower Laishon Albert-Jones.
One New Zealand Warriors NRLW head coach Ronald Griffiths had centre-winger Paki in the first of the Newcastle sides he guided to consecutive premierships in 2022 and 2023, Paki scoring a try in the 32-12 win over Parramatta in the 2022 grand final.
She suffered an ACL knee injury in the decider sidelining her last season but, despite being without an NRLW contract this year, she was called into the Queensland side for the last two matches of the State of Origin series as the Maroons came back from a game one loss to take the crown.
“My first contact with Emmanita (about signing for the Warriors) was a text message asking her: ‘Do you want a holiday in New Zealand?’, said Griffiths.
“Enticing the calibre of a player like her to the Warriors was imperative to our success on and off the field. Her warm nature and team-first mentality are a perfect fit for the Warriors.
“Furthermore, the magnitude of Emmanita’s achievements thus far cannot be understated. Moving by herself as a 19-year-old from Rockhampton to Newcastle and not making her debut until late in the season, Emmanita played a pivotal role in winning a premiership at the Knights.
“Then to come into the Queensland squad in 2024 and play in the decider to win an Origin further highlights Emmanita’s strengths as an adaptable team-first player.”
Nuku’alofa-born Tauhalaliku, able to play fullback, wing or centre, has combined rugby league and rugby union.
In union she has played for Manurewa, Counties Manukau and Tonga while in rugby league the Southern Cross Campus product has come through the Mangere East Hawks and then City – the combined Ponsonby Ponies-Point Chevalier side – in the Auckland women’s premiership. Scoring 15 tries in 13 matches she was the winner of the Auckland Rugby League’s 2023 Cathy Friend women’s player of the year award.
A Kiwi Fern in 2020, she represented Mate Ma’a Tonga in 2022 and 2023 before playing in the New South Wales premiership this season.
Scoring five tries in Manly Warringah’s 28-4 win over South Sydney in August, she was subsequently signed by the North Queensland Cowboys. Since making her NRLW debut against Brisbane earlier this month she has averaged 141 metres in her first three appearances.
“Lavinia made the commitment to move to Australia to play in the Harvey Norman NSW premiership Manly this year,” said One New Zealand Warriors NRLW head coach Ronald Griffiths.
“This ultimately led to her being signed to finish the 2024 NRLW season with the Cowboys.
