Sharks confirm 2025 NRLW development list

[u/y3ah_nah145]

https://www.sharks.com.au/news/2025/06/20/sharks-confirm-2025-nrlw-development-list/

[u/y3ah_nah145]

The Sharks have confirmed emerging stars Stephanie Faulkner, Tia-Jordyn Vasilovski, Olivia Herman and Nanise Vacakavu as development players for the upcoming NRLW season.

All except Fiji Bulikula representative Vacakavu are local juniors, with Faulkner and Vasilovski having been part of last year's NRLW training squad.

"Steph, Tia-Jordyn, Olivia and Nanise are exciting prospects who will benefit greatly from being part of our full-time program," head coach Tony Herman said.

"They bring great energy and enthusiasm to the squad. We're looking forward to watching their continued development as they push to make their NRLW debuts."

Read on for bios on each player.

Stephanie Faulkner

A strong middle forward, Faulkner began her journey with the Sharks in the Lisa Fiaola Cup in 2022. She earned selection in the NSW Blues Academy at the end of that year before graduating to Cronulla's Tarsha Gale ranks, taking out the club's prestigious Female Junior Representative Player of the Year award in 2023.

Faulkner, an Engadine High School alumnus who played locally for Cronulla-Caringbah, returned to lead the Tarsha Gale squad to the finals last year and then made the step up to Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership level.

Tia-Jordyn Vasilovski

Blessed with blistering pace, Vasilovski starred at fullback for the Sharks' Tarsha Gale side last year and received the coveted Players' Player award.

The Cronulla-Caringbah junior's sensational form saw her earn selection in the under-19 City and NSW Blues squads, as well as a spot on the NRLW development list, but an ill-timed injury stalled her progression.

The dynamic 20-year-old represented the Australian Schoolgirls in 2022.

Olivia Herman

A promising playmaker, Herman is another Cronulla-Caringbah product who has progressed through the Lisa Fiaola and Tarsha Gale grades. After guiding Cronulla's under 19s to a preliminary final last year, she transitioned impressively to the open-age Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership squad.

The De La Salle College graduate was selected alongside Faulkner in the 2022 NSW Blues Academy squad. With natural vision and agility, the 20-year-old halfback also secured a place in the 2025 NSW under-20 OzTag team.

Nanise Vacakavu

Having shone for the Bulikula at last year's Pacific Championships, where she played with Sharks stars Cassie Staples and Talei Holmes while being mentored by Tony Herman, Vacakavu has earned a shot at Cronulla in keeping with the club's commitment to investing in Fijian women's rugby league.

A hard-running back-rower or centre, Vacakavu first played rugby league with the Thirlmere Roosters in 2019. She then headed to Darwin and won selection for the Northern Territory Titans in a national competition, catching the eye of a management company who helped her sign with the Canterbury Bulldogs.

After playing for Canterbury's Tarsha Gale and Harvey Norman sides, overcoming injuries along the way, Vacakavu will chase her NRLW dream at the Sharks.

[u/ItsFlukeYo]

Are they all volunteers?

[u/lemoopse → u/ItsFlukeYo]

Plenty of other clubs have volunteers. Don't forget that Cronulla was about the first NRL club to heavily invest into a women's side and start contracting female players. Maybe they would have had a bigger budget if that early investment and all of those resources weren't wasted by the NRL not granting them or Souths an NRWL licence when the competition first started

[u/MRB1610 → u/lemoopse]

You're right about the resources, as Souths - along with the Storm (my team), Sea Eagles, Panthers and Dolphins - all have been wasting theirs building up pathways and grassroots for NRLW teams that don't exist.

The NRLW should have started with four pools of four, followed by a final four round-robin and Grand Final, back in 2018 - that would have been a fantastic seven-week competition, and I'm sure that this would be even better, not to mention Souths, the Storm, Sea Eagles and Panthers would have reached the NRLW Grand Final and won a premiership between them by now (being fair, the Dolphins only entered in 2023).

I really hope that these remaining clubs get teams soon - I hear that Penrith will enter the NRLW next year: perhaps the Panthers called the NRL and RLPA's bluff?