The Canberra Raiders are pleased to announce the signing of forward Chloe Saunders until the end of the 2027 NRLW season.
Saunders played 18 games for the Cronulla Sharks over the past two seasons, helping them get to their first grand final appearance this year.
The 25-year-old has a background in rugby sevens and cricket, making the switch to rugby league in the lead up to the 2023 NRLW season.
Saunders said she’s excited to join the Raiders and start the next chapter of her career.
“I felt like from what I’d heard from Bortho and from some of the girls that I’d played with in past years, for me it was just a club that felt very warm and it felt very inviting,” Saunders said.
“There’s a lot of players that are re-signing and staying on board which for me indicates a club that has strong culture and connection and I really wanted to be a part of that.
“Then in talks with Bortho, he was talking to me about the expectations and the things that he likes to drive through the club and his players. Those were all of the attributes I align with as a player both on and off the field.
“Canberra is such a lovely place to be, I’ve got some family down there as well so it’s nice to be able to connect back to my family.
“I’m really keen to open this chapter. I’m someone who likes to step outside my comfort zone as scary as it is and as nerve wracking as it is. I always find that for me, I grow 10 times more than being in a comfortable state.
“I’m really keen, I think it’s going to be great.”
Raiders NRLW coach Darrin Borthwick said that he’s excited to work with Saunders and looks forward to what she’ll bring to the team.
“Chloe is a great signing for us, what she did at Cronulla and the way she performed for the Sharks. She’s someone that I’d kept an eye on and I’m very happy to have her coming down to the Raiders,” Borthwick said.
“I obviously kept an eye on what she was doing on the field but when I actually spoke to her, what was impressive was the way she carried herself. Her mentality on wanting to work hard and coming to a club that she was comfortable with that she’d be able to do that.
“I’m just really excited that she’s chosen to come here and she’ll add to our culture that’s building in our third season in.”