The Canberra Raiders are pleased to announce the signing of Isabella Waterman to the club’s NRLW squad for the 2025 season.
Waterman joins the club’s Top 24 squad after Shakiah Tungai’s decision to sit out the 2025 season.
The 25-year-old joins the Raiders following a year at the Newcastle Knights last season, where she played two games. She was also part of the Knights Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership team that made the 2024 grand final.
Waterman comes from a rugby background, having played the last three seasons for Hurricanes Poua in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition, as well as playing a season for Matatū.
Raiders NRLW coach Darrin Borthwick said he’s excited for Isabella to join the squad for the 2025 NRLW season.
“Shak’s a really hard player to replace, she plays off a lot of footy instinct,” Borthwick said.
“I went straight to work trying to find someone that is similar to Shak and I think Izzy will fill the void for us quite well. One thing we have in our squad this year is a lot of competition for spots, which is great.
“Very similar to Shak, Izzy runs hard, she’s very tall and will be good in the air for us, she’ll add a little bit of a different element to our game.
“I’m happy to get her here, she’s played Super Rugby and got an opportunity at the Knights last year. I think she’s very hungry, some of the opportunities she didn’t get last year. I think we are getting her at a good time.
“It’s almost a trend for us, we tend to get a player a week or two out and give them the news they’ve got to be here quickly. She’s very excited and I know she can’t wait. I’m happy and excited to have her here and I’m sure she’ll fit in well.”
Waterman said she’s excited to be joining the Raiders squad for the 2025 NRLW season.
“I was looking to get back into the NRLW, I wasn’t sure how. I was looking to play Harvey’s (Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership) but I’m excited to have this opportunity come along to come to Canberra, I just want to make the most of it,” Waterman said.
“It’s been pretty hectic to be honest, I’ve had to move pretty quickly but it’s an opportunity I just couldn’t pass on.
“I’m just excited to learn off heaps of the girls, there’s some experienced players here so I’m excited to learn off them and just grow my knowledge of footy.”
