On Sunday, Taneisha Gray became the latest player of the Roosters’ female development pathway program to step onto the NRLW stage.
Coming off the bench in Round 1 to make her debut in front of more than 50 proud family members at Allianz Stadium, It was a special moment for the 19-year-old forward, and a clear example of the club’s female pathways program continuing to deliver first-grade-ready talent.
Gray’s promotion to the top 24 squad in 2025 followed a standout season with the Central Coast Roosters in the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership, where she quickly made an impression with her defence, energy and professionalism. But her debut was the moment her hard work became visible to the wider game.
“She’s certainly earned her position in the squad,” Roosters NRLW Head Coach John Strange said. “She came in as a development player last year and never stopped asking questions, never stopped learning.”
That drive is at the heart of both Gray’s rise and the Roosters’ junior system, one designed to give young women the time, tools and exposure to thrive in the elite space.
Gray’s path reflects the strength of that system. A former St George Dragons Tarsha Gale Cup player, she moved to the Roosters in 2024, joined the Central Coast Roosters program, and was selected for the City U19S. Earlier this year, Gray earned her first senior representative jersey when she was named in the Māori All Stars side for the 2025 All Stars competition, among many other fellow Roosters.
“Footy was always there growing up,” Gray said. “My brother had a huge role in it. He and my dad were always sporty, and we were always playing touch footy or backyard footy as a family. I just loved getting amongst it.”
The Roosters made a point of keeping her development rolling across this off-season.
“She trained hard with us in Harvey Norman, then jumped into our Tasha Gale program just to keep her strength and conditioning up,” Strange explained.
Now contracted through to the end of 2026, Gray has time to grow even more. Gray herself is the first to acknowledge the support that’s surrounded her.
“When I came here, I had a lot to work on,” she admitted. “The coaches and girls here have put so much time into helping me, even outside of training.” That collaborative environment has helped sharpen Gray’s game.
“She’s a great teammate, a great learner,” Strange said. “The girls love her because of who she is.”
Gray’s journey, while still in its early stages, is already a glowing example of what the Roosters system can produce. With more talent coming through the Club’s female pathways each year, her debut is less a full stop and more a signpost of what’s to come.
