The Brisbane Broncos have added five more elite players to their NRLW squad for the 2019 season.

Centres Meg Ward and Amber Pilley as well as lock Rona Peters all return after starring in the Broncos’ 2018 Premiership victory, while exciting talents Tarryn Aiken and Amber Hall will be given their first taste of NRLW.

Aiken is a skilful and speedy young half from Tweed Heads who played for South East Queensland at the recent National Championships played, as well as being a former Australian Touch Football representative.

Hall is a blockbusting and creative front or back rower who has represented the Kiwi Ferns.

Ward, Pilley and Peters were last week named in the Queensland squad for the Women’s State Of Origin to be played at North Sydney Oval on June 21.

Tough-as-teak Ward said re-signing with the Broncos had capped off a huge week, after she had fought her way back to fitness in the wake of surgery to repair a ruptured and slipped disc in her back at the end of last year.

“I’m stoked and really excited – there’s no other club I’d rather play for and really grateful that I got this opportunity” said Ward.

“It was a challenging injury for me but I think anyone who plays contact sport faces injuries through their careers so that was just my challenge … I’ve bounced back and played five or six games now and had no issues.

“So I’m just ready to get back out there and put on the Broncos colours and play footy again.

“It only feels like yesterday (that we won the grand final), I think every morning you wake up and pinch yourself that we were fortunate enough to get the win on the day.

“To be a part of that group last year was really special and I’m really looking forward to taking off from where we left off.

“A lot of people saw last year how strong women’s football is and got really excited about what’s to come, so I think that we’ll get some new fans this year jump on board.”

The Broncos have now announced nine of their 22-player squad for 2019, after last week’s news that Captain and halfback Ali Brigginshaw, fullback Chelsea Baker, and props Heather Ballinger and Steph Hancock had all re-committed to the Club.

All those four have also been named in the Queensland squad for the Women’s State Of Origin later this month.

Expect more player signing announcements over the coming weeks, ahead of the Broncos beginning their NRLW pre-season in August, and the competition kick-off in the second week of September.

Broncos 2019 NRLW Squad

Tarryn Aiken

Chelsea Baker

Heather Ballinger

Ali Brigginshaw

Amber Hall

Steph Hancock

Rona Peters

Amber Pilley

Meg Ward