NRLW off-season: Surprise weddings, Bali breaks and a post-twins return

One of the NRLW’s most popular players has surprised family and friends with a wedding to her long-term partner, under the guise of a 30th birthday celebration.

Pamela Whaley

@pamelawhaley

less than 2 min read

November 4, 2025 - 9:06AM

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The NRLW’s biggest names have been busy this off-season.

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The Pacific Championships are just rounding up, but for the women not on the international stage, surprise weddings, babies and getaways are filling up the NRLW off-season as rugby league takes a back seat.

We take a glimpse at what NRLW players are getting up to away from the field.

LOVE WINS

Broncos’ NRLW premiership winner Chelsea Lenarduzzi has polished off a wonderful 2025 with a surprise wedding to her long-term sweetheart, Tiana.

The pair surprised guests with nuptials over the weekend, luring their nearest and dearest to what they thought was a joint birthday party for the happy couple in Brisbane.

Instead, Lenarduzzi told guests they weren’t at a 30th birthday party, but a wedding.

The beautiful moment of surprise was then shared on social media with the padlock emoji, and was met with a stack of well-wishes and congratulatory messages from teammates and fellow NRLW players for the pair.

Brisbane Broncos star Chelsea Lenarduzzi and her long-term partner Tiana have tied the knot in a surprise ceremony. Picture: Instagram

Lenarduzzi adds a wedding ring after winning a premiership ring this season. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Current and former teammates Romy Teitzel, Jada Ferguson and Tarryn Aiken were among the guests, while close friends in the Australian team were representing the Jillaroos in the Pacific Championships in New Zealand.

It follows a huge season for the 29-year-old Lenarduzzi, who won her fourth NRLW title with the Broncos in October.

One of the most popular players in women’s rugby league, Lenarduzzi also celebrated 50 NRLW games with Brisbane earlier this year, as well as a two-year contract extension with the club and a recall into the Queensland State of Origin team.

ON THE COMEBACK

Wests Tigers star and former international Rikeya Horne has started her journey back onto the field in time for next season after giving birth to twins two months ago.

Wests Tigers star Rikeya Horne and Sydney Roosters centre Junior Pauga welcomed twins in August. Horne has since returned to training. Pic: Instagram

Wests Tigers star Rikeya Horne has returned to training after the birth of twins at the end of August.

Horne and partner, Sydney Roosters centre Junior Pauga, welcomed twins Azaria Atalina and Titus Fetalaiga into the world at the end of August.

The new mum missed all of the 2025 NRLW season while pregnant and after getting the all-clear to return to training is back in the club’s gym as she prepares for a return to the game next season.