Developing the Next Generation: How the Harvey Norman Rising Talent Invitational is Growing Women’s Rugby League
For more than a decade, Harvey Norman has proudly supported the growth of women’s rugby league, helping create opportunities for players at every stage of their journey. As naming rights partner of the Harvey Norman Rising Talent Invitational, Harvey Norman continues to invest in the future of the game through one of rugby league’s most important talent identification and development programs.
Held alongside NRLW Magic Round in Wagga Wagga, the 2026 Harvey Norman Rising Talent Invitational brought together 70 emerging athletes and 26 coaches and performance staff from pathways across Australia and the Pacific. More than just a showcase of talent, the Invitational provides athletes with access to elite coaching, high-performance environments, mentorship and invaluable development opportunities that can help shape the next stage of their careers.
For coach Renee Targett, the program’s purpose is simple but powerful.
“The whole purpose of this program is to give rising talent an opportunity to be seen by multiple clubs and also challenge their way of thinking in such a short amount of time.”
That rapid learning environment is one of the defining features of the Invitational. Athletes arrive from different clubs, regions and development programs before being challenged to quickly build connections, learn new systems and perform under pressure. The result is an experience that accelerates both personal and athletic growth.
The quality of talent on display is also a reflection of the evolution of the women’s game. Targett said she was impressed by the depth and diversity of athletes coming through the pathways system.
“The improvement in developing players has been incredible,” she said. “It’s really amazing to see how diversified the talent is becoming and where it’s coming from.”
Today’s athletes now have access to development pathways designed to prepare them for the demands of representative football and the NRLW, while also providing exposure to professional support networks that can help throughout their careers.
“When they leave here, they have not only built connections with NRLW clubs and high-performance spaces like the Jillaroos and coaches, they’ve got a network of people to lean on for support throughout their career,” Skinner said.
With NRLW recruitment managers, coaches and club representatives attending throughout the weekend, players are given a platform to showcase their abilities in a high-performance environment.
Some participants arrive with established pathways behind them, while others are being identified for the first time.
“Some of these girls are grassroots and have never been seen before, so when they come in here, they’re getting a high-performance environment with high-performance staff, they’re getting elite coaching, and they’re learning in a really short, compressed and intense environment,” Skinner said.
Skinner said the level of interest from clubs demonstrates the strength of the players participating.
“The quality of football was amazing, and the interest shown by all the NRLW clubs has been phenomenal.”
She added that the impact of the event may continue well beyond the current season.
“It might not be for 2026, but we could be seeing 2027 signings for the girls. That’s what this is about, unearthing new talent that hasn’t been seen by our recruiting managers and coaches.”
Another significant development in 2026 was the continued expansion of opportunities across the Pacific, with athletes and staff from Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Tonga participating as part of the NRL’s Pacific female pathways strategy.
“This is the first activation of the Pacific strategy for female pathways for growing in-country talent,” Skinner said. “It’s so important that we grow the Pacific, and that just grows our game.”
The impact of the Invitational extends well beyond the weekend itself. Participants return home with new knowledge, experiences and expectations that can be shared with teammates, clubs and communities.
“These girls have an accountability and responsibility to take that back to their clubs and communities and share the knowledge they’ve learned to help elevate the other girls around them,” Skinner said.
For Harvey Norman, supporting programs like the Rising Talent Invitational is about more than identifying future NRLW players. It is about investing in pathways, developing leaders and helping create opportunities for athletes who may otherwise go unnoticed.
As Targett reflected:
“The impact Harvey Norman’s support has gone far beyond the playing group or the coaching staff. The more exposure these girls get, the further the women’s game will grow.”
As women’s rugby league continues to evolve, the Harvey Norman Rising Talent Invitational remains a vital platform for emerging athletes to be seen, supported and inspired. More than a showcase of talent, it is helping build the next generation of players, coaches and leaders who will shape the future of the game.