Tayla Preston's NRLW Bulldogs dream decades in the making

When Tayla Preston became Canterbury's inaugural NRLW signing, her mother went out to the garage and rummaged around for a specific family treasure from more than 20 years earlier.

The last time the club won the NRL premiership in 2004, the Preston family — Canterbury supporters living in Bulldogs heartland — had framed a signed poster of the team.

NRL legends Sonny Bill Williams, Johnathan Thurston, Hazem El Masri and Willie Mason were in the squad that pipped the Sydney Roosters 16-13 in the grand final.

Two decades on, the Prestons hung the photo frame back up in the family home as a reminder of what Tayla could achieve, blazing a trail with the club's first NRLW team.

"We kind of said, 'We'll have to put that up around the house to set a goal,'" said Preston, ahead Friday night's round-one match against Newcastle at Stadium Australia.

"It's pretty cool to be able to look at that. I'd love to be able to lift the trophy up for the Bulldogs one day."

Along with the Warriors, Canterbury are one of two NRLW additions in 2025, pushing the competition to 12 teams this season.

The Warriors re-join the NRLW, having last played in the competition in 2020.

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For playmaker Preston — who is a co-captain alongside Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa — representing the Bulldogs is an opportunity many years in the making.

She grew up playing touch football and idolising the likes of Josh Reynolds, Trent Hodkinson and Josh Morris as they wore the famous blue-and-white jersey.

Preston played halfback for Cronulla in last year's NRLW grand final, which the Sharks lost 32-28 to the Sydney Roosters, and has previously appeared for Parramatta.

She insists a grand final appearance should not be off the cards for the youthful Bulldogs roster coached by ex-NRL player Brayden Wiliame.

Veteran prop Holli Wheeler and Kiwi Ferns trio Alexis Tauaneai, Teakaraanga-Katoa and Ashleigh Quinlan will be essential to helping Canterbury realise that goal.

"There's no reason why we can't be there on grand final day. We believe we've got the squad to do so," Preston said.

"For us it's just about building that legacy and holding those standards really high for the young girls to be able to see there's a proper pathway now and they can play for the club that they idolise too."

AAP/ABC

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