The Dragons are thrilled to announce that Kiwi Ferns star Alexis Tauaneai has agreed to a deal which will see her return to the club in 2027.
The deal sees the 21-year-old return to the club she debuted at until at least the end of the 2028 season.
The move will also see Tauaneai reunite with younger sisters Trinity – who last year took home the club’s NRLW Emerging Talent Award – and Paige – who again finds herself on a development deal.
A native of Wainuiomata – a suburb of Lower Hutt on New Zealand’s North Island – Tauaneai made her NRLW debut for the Dragons in Round 1, 2023 and spent two seasons with the club taking home the side’s NRLW Player of the Year Award in 2024.
She made her international debut for New Zealand in their Pacific Championships campaign at the end of 2024 and has grown into a mainstay of the side having appeared in six Tests over the past two years.
She linked up with the Bulldogs for their inaugural season in 2025 and continued her ascension as one of the sport’s best forwards averaging 170 run metres and making 235 total tackles at close to 92 per cent efficiency in eight matches.
“We’re ecstatic to be bringing Lex back to the club,” Head Coach Nathan Cross said.
“She has developed into one of the best forwards in the competition and has so much footy still in front of her. She adds a different dynamic to our team with her athleticism, work-rate, and leadership qualities. She fits the mould of what we are looking in for a player. She’s as good a person off the field as she is a player on it and we’re so excited to be welcoming her back to the Dragons.”
