In a huge coup the NRLW Sharks have signed Australia Rugby 7s co-captain and former Tarsha Gale Cup star Madison Ashby.
The 25-year-old, fresh from winning the world championships in the 7-a-side game, is back to where it all began in the black, white and blue.
“Yeah, it’s amazing to be back. I think it was 2018 when I finished up here and we won the Tarsha Gale Cup so it’s exciting to come back to my home ground and restart again," Ashby said.
“I was playing with Quincy Dodd and Talei Holmes, and I played against a couple of the girls that are in this squad right now.
"I'm excited to come back to rugby league, to challenge myself in the different code again and to relearn it all and to play alongside and against world class athletes."
Ashby moved to Rugby 7s after helping steer the Tarsha Sharks to a premiership in 2018, making her national team debut the following year, before taking on the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 and winning the triple crown in 2022 (Commonwealth Games, World Cup and World Series).
A knee injury kept Ashby out of the 2024 Paris Olympics, before she returned to lead the Aussie women back to the top of the Rugby 7s world.
Ashby previously played in the halves in the 13-a-side game, but NRLW coach Tony Herman said with her skillset, she could play almost any position.
“Really happy to have her here. Great player. Really excited for what she’ll bring to the team. She’s a good leader with great skills and they’ll transfer across really well to rugby league so we’re looking forward to watching what she can do,” Herman said.
“She’s fit in really well so far, she’s only done one or two sessions with us, but she’s connected with the group really well and knows some players from Sevens.”
One of the playing group is her future sister-in-law too.
Ashby is engaged to Raiders’ fullback Kaeo Weekes, and will get to play alongside his younger sister, Grace Weekes, at the Sharks.
But it wasn’t just watching them play rugby league that drew her back.
“I’ve always wanted to come back home. League’s the first sport I ever played. Honestly, I always knew I was going to come back. Cronulla’s always treated me well even as a junior and they were very supportive of me coming back here,” Ashby said.
The Sharks NRLW side kick off their season against the Knights on the 2nd of July at Ocean Protect Stadium.
