The Canberra Raiders are proud to announce Simaima Taufa and Zahara Temara as the club’s inaugural NRLW co-captains.
NRLW coach Darrin Borthwick made the announcement to the playing group before the team’s training session on Monday, also announcing Apii Nicholls as vice-captain.
Taufa and Temara have been stalwarts of the NRLW competition since its inception in 2018, both playing all five seasons to date.
Taufa has been a captain of both the Roosters and Eels in previous NRLW seasons, while Temara was the vice-captain of the successful Queensland Maroons Women’s Origin team this year.
Taufa and Temara also captained their state competition teams, Mounties and Burleigh Bears respectively, to Premierships earlier in 2023.
Borthwick said he is looking forward to working with his co-captains in the club’s inaugural NRLW season, which kicks off in just over two week’s time.
“I think for us it was about finding a good leader and we just happened to have two really good ones here that both captained their state teams to Premierships – Simaima with Mounties in the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s comp and obviously Zahara with the Burleigh Bears in the BMD comp,” Borthwick said.
“It was about bringing two really good leaders together to lead us forward in this new campaign here at the Raiders for the NRLW.
“Both Simaima and Zahara stood out to me and I’m really happy we’ve made the decision now, we can move forward with what we are doing and rest assured we’ve got two really good leaders steering the ship for us.”
Taufa and Temara named inaugural NRLW co-captains
Temara said she is grateful for the opportunity and can’t wait to share the captaincy role with Taufa.
“It’s a huge honour for me, especially being the inaugural captain with Maims,” Temara said.
“I’m forever grateful for the club and team to trust us with the opportunity to lead and represent Canberra and this great club.
“It’s a very proud moment for me and my family.”
Taufa is also looking forward to leading the side with Temara and making the club and community proud in the team’s inaugural season.
“It is incredibly humbling and such an honour and privilege to co-captain the inaugural NRLW Canberra Raiders team alongside Zahara Temara,” Taufa said.
“This is a very exciting moment for me and my family.”
“We look forward to walking this journey together with our team, our staff and the support of the Canberra Raiders organisation, the Canberra community and our fans.”
“I am incredibly proud to lead our team and I cannot wait to see the community and the fans get to know them along this journey when we continue to build a legacy for the future generation of players and administration support staff.
“I would like to make a special mention to the past and current players and volunteers who have played a significant part in women’s rugby league in Canberra and the reason why we are able to be here today. Through your sacrifice and contributions to women’s rugby league we now have the opportunity that we have today and young girls can aspire to be a Raider now.
“Thank you again and I cannot wait to walk this journey with you all.”
