Simaima Taufa is a leader, a legacy Jillaroo and iconic to women's rugby league in the modern era.
Witnessing Taufa in the luminescent green of the Canberra Raiders is a symbol of the NRLW's new dawn.
There are four new teams, a significant salary rise and last week, the gates flung open on a seven-week player signing period which will transform the 2023 NRLW season, kicking off in July.
The Tongan-born powerhouse has headlined the first official signings at the Raiders for the club's historic first year in the NRLW.
Taufa had a gilded 2022 where she reached three pinnacles in her sport in one calendar year.
She passionately skippered the Eels to the grand final and was instrumental in Australia's World Cup victory as well as the NSW Blues' win over the Maroons.
The 2017 Dally M Medallist has been a mainstay with the Australian Jillaroos and NSW Origin teams since 2014.
The Raiders unveiled the Taufa announcement on Monday, along with Roosters playmaker Zahara Temara and former Dragon Monalisa Soliola,
At the club announcement Taufa said is was an honour to be a part of the inaugural Raiders.
"To have an inaugural team that creates many opportunities and creates pathways for every young female player is pretty exciting."
The 28-year-old will now broaden her already significant legacy by forming the first team to demonstrate a rugby league pathway for Canberra girls and women — in their own back yard.
"I'm hoping we can leave a legacy where every Canberra girl who wants to play for this club can do this region proud," she said.
Currently there is a lot of player moment with a new batch of signing announcements every day.
The flurry is stimulated by the addition of four new clubs and more money on the table.
The Sharks, Cowboys, Raiders, and Wests Tigers are joining the existing six teams – Dragons, Roosters, Broncos, Eels, Knights and Titans – in a new-look 10-team league this year.
NRLW players will earn a minimum of $30,000 this season and more than $50,000 by 2027 in the historic $6 million collective bargaining agreement for the competition.
Last year Taufa was outspoken about the need for salaries to increase to allow NRLW players to be full-time athletes.
"Because we know where we could be if the code did that… what we could be capable of," she said.
"You look at those girls coming across to NRLW from the rugby sevens program, you can just tell they've been in the full-time system," she said.
$30,000 will still mean most players will have to find employment on top of their NRLW careers.
Taufa is also employed with the Raiders in a Football Operations role.
But this year’s minimum salary is an improvement and almost double 2022.
Last year the NRLW’s top athletes were earning only $16,000 for the season.
This year squads will consist of 24 NRLW contracts and four development list contracts.
The top 24 must be contracted by 5pm Wednesday, May 24 2023.
