WITH EVERY success comes more pressure and expectation and that is something York Valkyrie will need to be on their guard over in 2025.
Lindsay Anfield’s side beat all the odds last season to overcome adversity and become the first side in the competition’s history to win back-to-back titles.
Already without captain Sinead Peach for the full season, York also faced significant spells without a number of leading players including Tara Jane Stanley, Kelsey Gentles and Liv Gale.
All this meant players had to play out of position and Anfield was barely able to play the same line up in consecutive games.
But with Peach back in the crucial hooker role and plans made to be without those same key players for much of the year, 2025 already appears much more settled for the team.
New half-back Ellie Williamson adds some knowledge of the NRLW to the side and she will play a vital role guiding the side on the field.
If they can avoid another run of injuries, it would take a brave person to bet against York completing the three-peat of Grand Final trophies.
Watch out for… The return of former Woman of Steel winner and captain Sinead Peach. The influential hooker missed all of 2024 due to pregnancy and just months after giving birth to her son, Peach is back and ready to lead from the front once again. She may not get straight into playing the full 80 minutes like she did pre-motherhood, but having her voice back on the pitch could prove vital for York. She stayed involved on the coaching side last year, so won’t have too much catching up to do in that respect, but being on the field is perhaps where she’ll have the biggest impact.
Ellie Williamson says… I grew up playing rugby union, then when I got a bit older went to rugby league and it just felt more comfortable to me. I played a game in the NRLW with St George two years ago, then I went to the Bulldogs but didn’t get a run there. Lindsay (Anfield) reached out to me, she told me how she plays footy, how she wants me playing and the type of football player she wants here. She said ‘do you want to give it a crack?’ and I said yes. I wanted to try something different so I got over here as quickly as I could. I’m loving the club and loving my teammates. Clint (Goodchild, chairman) and Lindsay are doing amazing things with the club. They’re very driven and always talking footy – I like that. I’ll be a starting half and I want to bring a positive attitude, good energy, and hopefully get us some wins.
2025 squad: 1 Georgie Dagger, 2 Eboni Partington, 3 Tamzin Renouf, 4 Manuqalo Komaitai, 5 Emma Kershaw, 6 Sade Rihari, 7 Ellie Williamson, 8 Liv Wood, 9 Sinead Peach, 10 Jas Bell, 11 Rhiannion Marshall, 12 Savannah Andrade, 13 Megan Pakulis, 14 Izzy Bibby, 15 Jess Sharp, 16 Lisa Parker, 17 Izzy Brennan, 18 Alex Stimpson, 19 Lauren Exley, 20 Evie Sexton, 21 Tara Moxon, 22 Agnes Wood, 23 Jaz Rampton, 24 Demi Fisher, – Tara Jane Stanley*, – Ashleigh Hyde*, – Kelsey Gentles*, – Liv Gale* (*Not given squad numbers yet due to long-term injury.)
Rugby League World predicts: 1st
First published in Rugby League World magazine, Issue 508 (May 2025)
