13-Year-Old Photographer Chawisa Harper to Capture NRLW State of Origin Opener

Key facts

• Chawisa Harper, 13, is an aspiring NRLW player, sports physiotherapist, and action photographer.
• She and her step-father Grant Harper won the Nikon Sideline Experience.
• They will photograph the opening State of Origin match at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle tonight.
• Chawisa plays for the Magpies in Under 14 Tackle and League Tag in Wagga Wagga.
• The NRLW Magic Round will be held in Wagga Wagga in August.
• Former Origin teammates Zac Lomax and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii have dismissed speculation of joining the PNG Chiefs in 2028.
• Jarome Luai is the inaugural signing for the PNG Chiefs and could attract other players.
• Lomax and Suaalii are off contract at the end of the 2027 season.

A Dream Realised on the Sideline

Thirteen-year-old Chawisa Harper will tonight live out a dream as she captures the action of the opening State of Origin match in Newcastle. Selected alongside her step-father Grant Harper as winners of the Nikon Sideline Experience, the pair will be on the spot at McDonald Jones Stadium to photograph the brightest stars of the women’s game. “I’m really excited to take photos and have the opportunity to photograph something that I really love doing and playing, and I think that it will be just amazing to be so close to the field,” Chawisa said. For Grant, the chance to share such an elite event with his step-daughter is special.

From Wagga Wagga to the Big Stage

Hailing from Wagga Wagga, Chawisa plays for the Magpies in Under 14 Tackle and League Tag. The duo are also looking forward to the upcoming NRLW Magic Round, which will bring the action to their hometown in August. “With the Magic Round coming to Wagga, we're going to get to see them all again within a couple of weeks,” Grant said. The Nikon Sideline Experience provides access to the best equipment and the chance to learn from professionals. “We're both keen photographers and we've got access to the best equipment you can get, which is Nikon, so we're very excited,” Grant added.

PNG Chiefs Speculation Dismissed by Lomax and Suaalii

Meanwhile, former State of Origin teammates Zac Lomax and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii have distanced themselves from a potential return to rugby league with the PNG Chiefs in 2028. Both men are off contract at the end of the 2027 season following the home World Cup, leading to speculation about their futures. “I’ve seen it, but I haven’t really thought about it, to be fair,” Suaalii said in Double Bay on Thursday afternoon. “I’m enjoying it, I’m loving where I’m at. I’m loving the Waratahs, I’m loving every day, enjoying living in Sydney.” Lomax gave a similar response after his bid to play for the Melbourne Storm this year was blocked in court, prompting his move west.

Luai’s Influence Could Trigger Player Exodus

But Suaalii says inaugural signing Jarome Luai “has an energy that’s contagious” as fears spread among rival clubs that the Samoan superstar could help attract other big name players to the Chiefs. Chiefs general manager of football Michael Chammas joked that Luai could serve as their recruitment officer in Australia over the next 18 months, with theories already spreading that Panthers stars like Nathan Cleary could follow his lead. Suaalii played his lone Origin game alongside Luai, while the pair also helped Samoa reach the World Cup final four years ago. Luai is one of the most influential figures in the game, and Suaalii can see other Pasifika players wanting to play with him in PNG.

Rugby Union Focus for Lomax and Suaalii

The two rugby converts will lock horns on Friday night when Lomax runs out for the Western Force, with Suaalii making his return from a hamstring injury for the Waratahs. “I’m worrying about a game at a time at the moment and Western Force and Rugby Australia have been really good for me,” Lomax said. “It’s exciting times moving forward with rugby union and I’m really looking forward to it.” Both players are committed to their current codes for now, but the looming contract negotiations and the allure of playing alongside Luai in PNG could reshape the rugby landscape in the coming years.

A Night of Opportunity for Women’s Rugby League

Back in Newcastle, the State of Origin match represents a significant moment for the NRLW. “We're expecting a big crowd, and it's a great opportunity for the NRLW to attract a big crowd in Newcastle,” Grant said. The Nikon Sideline Experience winners will be right beside the NRL photographers, observing the angles, settings, and techniques used by professionals. For Chawisa, the night is more than just photography; it is a step toward her own sporting ambitions. As an aspiring NRLW player, being so close to the elite athletes she admires is both inspirational and educational.

The bottom line

• Chawisa Harper, 13, will photograph the NRLW State of Origin opener in Newcastle after winning the Nikon Sideline Experience with her step-father.
• The duo are from Wagga Wagga, where Chawisa plays for the Magpies and where the NRLW Magic Round will be held in August.
• Zac Lomax and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii have denied plans to join the PNG Chiefs in 2028, but Jarome Luai’s influence could attract other players.
• Lomax and Suaalii are focused on their rugby union careers for now, but both are off contract after the 2027 season.
• The PNG Chiefs, with Luai as inaugural signing, pose a potential threat to rival clubs as they build their roster.