Tallisha Harden (born 21 July 1992) is an Australian rugby league footballer who captains the North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL Women's Premiership.

Tallisha Harden
Personal information
Born (1992-07-21) 21 July 1992 (age 31)
Logan, Queensland, Australia
Height178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight84 kg (13 st 3 lb)
Playing information
PositionSecond-row, Lock, Prop
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2018 Brisbane Broncos 1 0 0 0 0
2019 Sydney Roosters 3 0 0 0 0
2020–22 Brisbane Broncos 14 2 0 0 8
2023– Nth Qld Cowboys 9 0 0 0 0
Total 27 2 0 0 8
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2014–21 Indigenous All Stars 6 0 0 0 0
2015–22 Queensland 5 0 0 0 0
2015–22 Australia 4 3 0 0 12
2019 Australia 9s 3 0 0 0 0
Source: RLP
As of 16 September 2023

Primarily a second-rower, she is an Australian and Queensland representative and previously played for the Brisbane Broncos and Sydney Roosters.

Playing career edit

Rugby union edit

A former Australian representative indoor volleyball player, Harden began playing rugby union at age 19.[1] She played for Sunnybank and Queensland before switching full-time to rugby league in 2018.[2][3]

Rugby league edit

In 2013, Harden began playing rugby league.[4] In 2014, she represented the Indigenous All Stars.[5] In 2015, 2016 and 2020, she captained the side.[6][7]

On 3 May 2015, she made her Test debut for Australia, coming off the bench in a 22–14 win over New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium.[8] On 27 June 2015, she made her debut for Queensland in a 4–all draw with New South Wales at 1300SMILES Stadium.[9]

In June 2018, Harden represented South East Queensland at the inaugural Women's National Championships.[10] On 14 June 2018, she joined the Brisbane Broncos NRL Women's Premiership team.[11] In Round 3 of the 2018 NRL Women's season, she made her debut for the Broncos in a 32–10 win over the New Zealand Warriors.[12]

In May 2019, she represented South East Queensland at the Women's National Championships.[13] On 29 June 2019, she signed with the Sydney Roosters NRLW team and was named their Player of the Year at the end of the season.[14][15]

In October 2019, Harden represented Australia at the 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s and earned a recall to the Jillaroos Test side after a four-year absence, coming off the bench and scoring a try in a 28–8 win over New Zealand at WIN Stadium.[16][17]

In September 2020, Harden re-joined the Brisbane Broncos NRLW side.[18] On 25 October 2020, she started at second-row and scored a try in the Broncos' 20–10 Grand Final win over the Roosters.[19]

On 20 February 2021, she captained the Indigenous All Stars in their 24–0 loss to the Māori All Stars.[20]

On 11 May 2023, Harden signed for the North Queensland Cowboys on a one-year contract.[21] On 28 June, she was named as the inaugural co-captain of the Cowboys, alongside Kirra Dibb.[22]

In Round 1 of the 2023 NRL Women's season, she made her debut for the Cowboys, starting at prop in a 16–6 loss to the Gold Coast Titans.[23]

Achievements and accolades edit

Individual edit

Team edit

References edit

  1. ^ "World Series prep hotting up in Oceania". Scrum Queens.
  2. ^ "Broncos sign four more players for inaugural NRL women's premiership". The Courier Mail. 14 June 2018.
  3. ^ "Tallisha Harden using dual code success to inspire indigenous youngsters". The Courier Mail. 5 June 2015.
  4. ^ "Harden Riding with the Roosters for 2019". Burleigh Bears. 26 June 2019.
  5. ^ "Bears women on international stage". QRL. 1 May 2015.
  6. ^ "Women's Indigenous v Maori: Harden, McGregor, Rota named captains". NRL. 22 February 2020.
  7. ^ "Tallisha Harden". NRL.
  8. ^ "Tallisha Harden fights back to win Jillaroos recall". The Courier Mail. 18 February 2018.
  9. ^ "Queensland Women's Team". QRL. 10 June 2015.
  10. ^ "Women's Nationals the perfect Origin appetiser". NRL. 29 May 2018.
  11. ^ "Broncos Add More Elite Talent to NRLW". Brisbane Broncos. 14 June 2018.
  12. ^ "Broncos v Warriors: NRLW Round 3 preview". NRL. 21 September 2018.
  13. ^ "Line-ups named for Women's National Championships". NRL. 22 May 2019.
  14. ^ "Harden & Smith added to Roosters 2019 NRLW Squad". Sydney Roosters. 26 June 2019.
  15. ^ "Tedesco claims second consecutive Jack Gibson Medal". Sydney Roosters. 8 October 2019.
  16. ^ "Dragons dozen named for Australia". St George Illawarra Dragons. 7 October 2019.
  17. ^ "Australia's Jillaroos beat New Zealand's Kiwi Ferns 28-8 in Wollongong". ABC. 25 October 2019.
  18. ^ "Aussie Sevens Star Among Latest NRLW Signings". Brisbane Broncos. 23 September 2020.
  19. ^ "Dominant Brisbane claim third straight NRLW premiership". The Guardian. 25 October 2020.
  20. ^ "McGregor, Harden to lead talented teams". NRL. 20 February 2021.
  21. ^ "Cowboys sign Jillaroos and Maroons star Tallisha Harden". NQ Cowboys. 11 May 2023.
  22. ^ "Cowboys announce NRLW captains". NQ Cowboys. 28 June 2023.
  23. ^ "Final team list: Eight Cowboys named to make NRLW debuts". NQ Cowboys. 22 July 2023.

External links edit