The Western Force’s squad continues to take shape for the 2026 Swyftx Super Rugby Women’s season with the re-signings of Grace Freeman, Brooklyn Teki Joyce and Ngamihi Monk fresh from participating in last week’s Wallaroos camp.
The exciting backline trio were all involved with the Wallaroos for the first time last week in a sign of their potential and emerging reputations.
Long-kicking fly-half Freeman won the Force’s 2025 Rising Star award following a breakout campaign, before last month earning her first-ever Wallaroos contract and joining the camp last week.
Freeman, 25, kicked nine conversions and one penalty from three starts before an untimely foot injury prematurely ended her season. Prior to that, Freeman had some Super W experience with the Melbourne Rebels and lifted the NSW Jack Scott Cup premiership with Sydney University where she won the side’s best and fairest.
Force head coach Dylan Parsons said: “Grace had a breakout year and unfortunately missed the back-end of that season through injury meaning she wasn’t able to put her hand up for Wallaroos selection ahead of the World Cup.
“The way she performed prior to that in Super W put her in a position to be nationally recognized, make her first camp and earning a Wallaroos contract.
“Her kicking game is her point of difference. She’s got a long kick, a variety of kicks and a great goal kick as well. It’s a big asset of hers, which the national program have recognized and seen it as a skill set they’d like in their program as well.
“Her rise is really exciting for our program because when she came across she was only breaking into Super W, so it shows how quick the progression can be when players come into our program with the resources and support we provide.”
Wests Scarborough utility Teki Joyce, 23, last month earned her first Wallaroos contract and spent last week in camp following a strong 2025 including recent exposure to the Aussie 7s.
The Aranmore College graduate has played 10 games for the Force after debuting in Round 1 2024, playing for Australia A last year against Samoa where she scored two tries. She impressed in the 2025 Super W season with her speed, physicality and dynamism with capacity to play a variety of roles, settling on the wing.
Parsons said: “Brooklyn has been recognized nationally and rewarded with a national contract through performances in Super W and also getting some exposure at Aussie 7s.
“A big point of difference for her is her physicality, her speed and ability to influence key moments in the game. We see her as a potential centre as we keep developing her.
“At the moment, she’s a game-breaking winger who’s had some experience in the forwards and the back row, so she brings that physicality and that breakdown pressure in the wider channels.
“She’s another local product that we’ve been able to develop and reward through her performances which is another good sign for the Force women’s program.”
Teenage centre Monk continues her linear rise after initially coming into the Force set-up for last year’s Japan Tour shortly after helping Wanneroo win the Fortescue Women’s Premier Grade title.
Monk has met the mark every step along her journey, debuting in Super W in Round 2 2025 away to the NSW Waratahs, before making her run-on debut in the semi-finals.
The 19-year-old helped Wanneroo to back-to-back Premier Grade titles in August, before displaying her leadership qualities and maturity as co-captain for North in the North vs South Women’s Series. Last week she was called into the Wallaroos camp for the first time too.
Parsons said: “Ngamihi is a great story. She hasn’t been playing rugby for a long time but it shows the rapid progress you can make when you get players at a younger age and expose them to a program early.
“She was able to perform in the Japan Tour last year and then was rewarded with a Super W contract and earned her selections. She was a leader in the North vs South series recently and got her first experience in Wallaroos camp last week. It shows it can happen pretty quick when you work hard and learn fast.
“She’s a great story coming out of Wanneroo and a highlight of the pathways working with RugbyWA.
“She’s one of those consistent performers. She’s really good at all her core skills. She never gets overwhelmed by any scenario which you don’t always see with young players. She’s a fast learner and a great person with a team-first focus.”
