The 2025 Milleen Group Women’s Premiership was the competition’s most complete season yet — faster, tougher and more tactically advanced than anything we’ve seen before.
Across the six clubs, we witnessed the emergence of genuine stars, the return of seasoned leaders and a noticeable lift in professionalism from top to bottom.
The gap between the best and the rest narrowed, forcing every side to evolve or get found out.
What unfolded was a season defined by resilience, ambition and individual brilliance in key moments.
With the regular rounds now behind us, it’s time to recognise the players who shaped the competition.
The Newcastle Weekly Team of the Year is not simply a list of names — it’s a reflection of impact, consistency and the standard-setting performances that moved the premiership forward.
These are the athletes who carried their clubs, shifted momentum and stamped themselves as the elite of 2025.
FULLBACK
1. Anika Butler — Maitland Pickers
One of the most professional players in the competition, but to date to ensure her inclusion she is the custodian at fullback. Anika cemented her reputation as one of the game’s elite tackle busters and is a competent defender off each shoulder as well.
WING
2. Danielle Buttsworth — Central Newcastle
Speed personified. Danielle remains one of the fastest athletes in the premier competition and is near unstoppable in broken field play. She is also one of the most aggressive players in the outside backs but has tempered her aggression in comparison to 2024. Her defence has also improved significantly in what was a stellar year for the Central flyer.
CENTRE
3. Brandy Simpson — Central Newcastle
Larger bodied centre for the Butcher Birds and remained a difficult assignment one-on-one. One of a few newcomers to the Central outfit that helped deliver a more consistent final series performance. A big off season would see her challenge for higher honours.
CENTRE
4. Leticia Haas Quinlan — Maitland Pickers
The classiest centre in the competition. A consistent high-quality performer that goes somewhat unnoticed by many in a team full of star players. Plays her best football with early ball before the line. No fuss, no panic, just performance.
WING
5. Lilly McNamara — Lakes United
The competition’s highest pointscorer. While still developing her game, the young Group 21 product remains one of the best finishers in the game with a radar boot to match and is safe on the edge both in defence and kick defusal. Still somewhat plays within herself and is set for an improved performance in 2026.
FIVE-EIGHTH
6. Brandi Davis-Welsh — Northern Hawks
Absolute freakish talent and is a run threat in good-ball. Her pass selection continues to evolve and she is finding the balance between ad-lib and structured football to complement her ability. A driving force behind her Hawks fairytale run to the grand final.
HALFBACK
7. Brooke Carter — Maitland Pickers
Heartbeat of the Maitland club. Possibly the fittest athlete in the competition, which separates her from the rest of the pack. A natural leader who is critical to the Pickers chances of going three in a row.
PROP
8. Lacey Hickson — Maitland Pickers
You want your props to be aggressive, seek the collision and provide physical intimidation. Lacey ticks all these boxes. But, what separates her from her peers is that she takes each challenge personally and plays with a chip on her shoulder. A frightening assignment for any opposition.
HOOKER
9. Terri Van Wyk — Maitland Pickers
Athleticism, versatility and footy IQ combined. Terri’s ruck ID went through the roof in 2025 and was instrumental in the Pickers’ success at either nine or on the edge. The woman is destined for higher honours and if the Knights don’t pick her up, other clubs will.
PROP
10. Lexi Beagan — Northern Hawks
Softly-spoken off field. Warrior mode on field. Size and power combined and when Lexi takes a carry she leaves a dent in the defensive line. Impossible to bring down one on one. An evolving leader for the Hawks going forward.
SECOND-ROW
11. Ebony Ford — Maitland Pickers
Ebony has now reached veteran status despite the youthful appearance. Went up and down on the elevator this season covering front-row and back-row but was safe and consistent. Ebony makes the side on consistency. Every coach wants an Ebony Ford in their team. No fuss or fanfare and gets the job done eight out of ten every week.
SECOND-ROW
12. Ella Buteux — South Newcastle
A physical beast. Opportunities were limited this season, however Ella remained a consistent force for the up and down Lions. Under-utilised in the middle against bigger forwards with poor lateral movement. Did a great job with the limited opportunities presented and is the centrepiece for a Lions’ resurgence in 2026.
LOCK
13. Makaah Darcy — Northern Hawks
Physical, loves contact and always in the contest. A huge improvement on last season and this young lady has now exploded onto the scene as one of the game’s best. She will be in Lin felt a huge season in 2025 wherever the game takes her.
INTERCHANGE
14. Charley Lambert — Northern Hawks
Diminutive run threat out of hooker. Solid passing game and the energetic spark that every side needs. The perfect 14 to compliment this side.
15. Moana Teri-Fuimoana — Central Newcastle
Size, mobility, impact. The upfront grunt the birdies lacked in the middle in previous seasons. Plays big minutes as well and some say only just starting to reach her potential
16. Monica Morris — Central Newcastle
Presence, voice, leadership. And, one of the great comebacks from injury the women’s game has seen. Absolute competitor in every sense of the word. Succession planning will be difficult to fill her role one day when the Birdies’ queen calls time.
17. Addie Hagan — Northern Hawks
Hagan remains in her infancy in player development. But, she’s still miles ahead of others in her position in the competition. As the instinct develops so does the craft. NRLW beckons.
18. Sarah Stewart — Lakes United
Nobody plays deeper into the line than Sarah Stewart. Her defence has evolved and 2026 looms as the payoff season for the Lakes pivot. There is better deliverer of a spiral cut out pass then this woman in the competition. Lakes can formulate a resurgence around her.
19. Mercydes Metcalf — Maitland Pickers
Attempting a tackle on the Maitland middle in single contact is like trying to tackle a Toyota Hilux equipped with a bull bar. The trail of sheer destruction she left at Townson Oval was memorable and she is building a name for herself as an attacking force in the competition.
COACH: Brooke Roach – Northern Hawks
Russell Griggs won the gong at the NEWRL awards but you can’t overlook the effort of the towering Hawks coach. His side was pretty much dead and buried mid-season and were getting well beaten. The turnaround was night and day and even the Hawks’ ladies will tell you that the coach was the key ingredient.
INDIVIDUAL GONGS
THE NEWCASTLE WEEKLY HOT STREAK AWARD
Amber Stokes — South Newcastle
For a five-week stretch, Stokes was the hottest player in the competition. She led the premiership in line breaks for more than a month and averaged a try per game, many of them long-range efforts where she moved like a thoroughbred exploding at the 200-metre mark. A sternum injury halted her run, and she never quite regained that blistering form — but make no mistake, she’s one to watch in 2026.
THE NEWCASTLE WEEKLY MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
Madison Marmion — Maitland Pickers
You could see the early signs during her time at Central, but at Maitland she evolved into a phenomenon. A change of environment — and coach — proved exactly what the doctor ordered for the previously underrated winger. She flourished in the Pickers system, delivered consistently elite footy, and finished the season with a premiership medal. One of the great stories of 2025.
THE NEWCASTLE WEEKLY RISING STAR AWARD
Steph Holden — Maitland Pickers
Made her Milleen Group Women’s Premiership debut mid-season as the reigning premiers’ fullback — at just 17 years old. Her maturity, poise and positional discipline were remarkable for someone only just introduced to top-tier senior football. The sky is the limit for this young prodigy; her rise has only just begun.
THE NEWCASTLE WEEKLY DEVELOPMENT AWARD
Connie Donnelly — Lakes United
Size, strength and raw power — Donnelly began her journey in Community Rugby League and now looks poised to burst onto the premiership scene in 2026. Off the field she’s warm and measured; on the field she is pure Jekyll and Hyde. Still early in her football education, she may have the most upside of any forward heading into next season as her physicality and football IQ continue to develop.
THE NEWCASTLE WEEKLY MOST FEARED
Tia Cook — Maitland Pickers
One of the most talked-about players in the competition — and for good reason. Cook gives Maitland a psychological edge; if opponents focus too heavily on her, they leave themselves vulnerable to Carter, Butler and Van Wyk. She walks the red line like it’s a tightrope — fully prepared to confront, intimidate, and play security guard for the Pickers. A nightmare matchup and a tone-setter in every sense.
The 2025 Milleen Group Women’s Premiership delivered a standard of football that raised the bar for every club, player and coach involved.
This Team of the Year — along with the individual Newcastle Weekly awards — reflects the depth, resilience and evolving professionalism now embedded in the game across Newcastle.
From seasoned leaders to breakout teenagers, every name on this list shaped the narrative of the season and pushed the competition forward.
As the focus shifts toward 2026, one thing is clear: the women’s premiership is no longer a developing product — it’s a genuine high-performance arena producing standout athletes and compelling storylines.
If the progress of 2025 is any indication, the next chapter will be even faster, tougher and more unpredictable.
And, that’s exactly why this competition continues to thrive.
If you’re a player not playing premiership football and looking at rising up the ranks, season 2026 marks as the time you get involved.
For more sports stories:
- The concussion conversation (Part 1): We were never taught about the risks
- The concussion conversation (Part 2): From premierships to post-game reality
- The concussion conversation (Part 3): A sports trainer’s view from the sideline
Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
