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Sevens greats Michaela Blyde and Sarah Hirini eye Warriors switch in NRLW
By Finn Morton
Two-time Olympic gold medallists Michaela Blyde and Sarah Hirini have expressed an interest in jumping codes from rugby sevens to play for the New Zealand Warriors when the club makes its highly-anticipated return to NRLW after five years.
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Earlier this year, the Australian Rugby League Commission revealed the Warriors would return to the competition as an expansion side. The ‘Wahs’ were granted one of four licenses for the inaugural season in 2018 before leaving the competition a few years later.
But with the NRLW making that popular decision to welcome the Warriors back in 2025, some of New Zealand’s best rugby union talent have hinted at a potential code switch. Portia Woodman-Wickliffe has been linked with a move and the Black Ferns legend isn’t alone.
Fresh off Team New Zealand’s triumphant run to gold medal glory at the Paris Olympic Games last month, Blyde and Hirini have made it clear they’re open to a move. The two SVNS Series sensations could, theoretically, play for the Warriors during the sevens off-season.
2023 World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year, Tyla King, played for the St George Illawarra Dragons before returning to the SVNS Series in January for the rest of the season. Stacey Waaka is currently playing for the Brisbane Broncos but will return to sevens after the NRLW campaign.
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While Blyde and Hirini have both proved themselves genuine legends in rugby union and pioneers of the women’s game, the opportunity to potentially make their rugby league dreams come true with the Warriors is definitely on the cards.
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“It’s obviously incredible what the NRLW is doing over in Australia for us women players so look, show me the numbers, show me the paper, and we’ll have some discussions for sure,” Blyde said, as seen on the Warriors’ social media pages.
Hirini added: “My husband’s been trying to get me to sign… he’d be pretty happy if I walked out of this room tonight signing a contract for next year so just putting it out there.”
Both Blyde and Hirini can take some confidence and inspiration out of what Waaka has done in a Broncos jersey so far this season. Waaka has two years left to run on her contract with New Zealand Rugby so the two-time Olympic champion doesn’t appear lost to league.
But, what the 28-year-old from Papakura has done in the 13-player game is certainly impressive and worthy of praise. On debut in the round three clash with Queensland rivals the Gold Coast Titans, Waaka ran for more than 145 metres and broke seven tackles.
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Waaka took things to an all-new level the following week against the Canberra Raiders with the code hopper scoring a double, running for 172 metres and breaking six tackles during the 28-22 win in the fourth round.
In the Broncos’ most recent match which was a 30-point win over the Wests Tigers in Sydney, the New Zealand sevens ace was a bit quieter but still managed to make a significant impact with more than 100 meters as a winger.
“I’m scared. I am scared as heck,” Waaka recently said on The Breakdown. “I’m nervous, I’m still trying to learn the rules!
“I’m trying to watch as much as I can, but I’m excited too. I’m excited to go out there and do something new.
“Yes, I have been to a lot of pinnacle events: Commonwealth Games, World Cups, Olympics, but the next goal on the list is potentially play for the Kiwi Ferns (New Zealand’s women’s rugby league side).
“I’m probably going to put my hand up and trial this season, just to see where it goes. Obviously, I’m back with sevens for the next two years so you can’t get rid of me just yet, but maybe a potential code switch after I finish playing rugby, who knows. Maybe a league World Cup, we’ll see where life takes me!”
Waaka and Blyde were among six Black Ferns Sevens players who recently re-signed with the New Zealand Sevens program for 2025 and beyond. Last season’s stand-in captain Risi Pouri-Lane and two-time Olympic gold medallist Theresa Setefano were among the others.
