Southwell joins new-look Dragons NRLW squad for 2025

Hannah Southwell has signed on with the Dragons for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, with the new-look squad almost completely filled for the upcoming 2025 season.

The 26-year-old was a part of the Dragons’ and the NRLW’s inaugural 2018 season. She re-joins the Dragons with a resume now boasting 35 NRLW matches for the Dragons, Roosters and Knights including three grand final appearances with premierships at both the Roosters in 2022 and Knights in 2023.

Southwell has also made five State of Origin appearances for NSW.

There is now just one spot available in the Dragons’ top 24 with new faces Grace Hamilton, Ahlivia Ingram, Jayme Millard and Pia Tapsell all agreeing to one-year contracts with the club.

Hamilton has enjoyed a decorated dual-code career having captained the Wallaroos and represented the NSW Waratahs and Sydney Roosters.

The 32-year-old played in the 2017 and 2021 Women's Rugby World Cups as well as the 2020 NRLW Grand Final.

Ingram, a one-time Indigenous All Star, played her juniors with the Tuggeranong Bushrangers in the ACT and made her NRLW debut for Canberra playing in 2023 three games.

Millard, a South Coast local, moves into the NRLW squad having impressed at Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership season over the past several seasons with Illawarra and Cronulla.

Tapsell meanwhile has made a name for herself in rugby union having represented the Black Ferns and proven a mainstay in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition.

The 26-year-old spent the 2024 NRLW season with Cronulla, but did not play a game.

The club can also confirm that Charlotte Basham, Keele Browne, Alice Gregory, Madison Mulhall and Bronte Wilson have inked contract extensions that see them return in 2025.

Tyla King will not be returning however after the club opted against taking up her option.

Kaarla Cowan, Tayla Curtis, Maatuleio Fotu-Moala, Steph Hancock, Kimberley Hunt, Alexis Tauaneai and Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa are the other players who will not be returning from last season's squad.

Indie Bostock and Trinity Tauaneai will make the transition into the club's NRLW squad having spent the 2024 season on development contracts.

Maria Paseka, who made her NRLW debut a season ago, and Seriah Palepale have signed development deals for 2025.

Sara Sautia and Margot Vella are set to be healthy for the start of preseason having had their 2024 campaigns cut short due to injury.

10 of the 22 players currently signed to top 24 deals have progressed through the club's system which is a testament to the club's commitment to pathways.

Head of Female Football Samantha Bremner and Head Coach Nathan Cross have been hard at work throughout the offseason crafting the club's squad list.

“We have a shared vision as to what we want to accomplish this season and in the future,” Bremner said.

“It’s important that our girls feel supported in everything they do, so that they can be the best athletes and people possible. That’s our goal here at the Dragons.

"We want our NRLW players to come to work and be in an environment that encourages their growth on and off the field. A lot of work has been put in behind the scenes to ensure that everybody is aligned and has the necessary resources at their disposal to be the best versions of themselves.”

Cross echoed Bremner’s sentiment whilst also noting the strength of the squad which he has inherited and the exciting talent coming through the pathways system.

“We’re really fortunate here at the Dragons to have a strong pool of juniors in our own backyard and a pathways system which has delivered many of them into the NRLW,” Cross said.

“One of our jobs is to make sure they come into a competitive team with accomplished players who they can learn off as they make the jump. I’m really confident in the strength of the roster which we’ve built.”

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