‘Unforgettable’ – Shaniah Power bids fond farewell to Wigan Warriors following Australia return
Shaniah Power has described her season in England with Wigan Warriors Women as ‘unforgettable’ as the former State of Origin makes a return to her Australian homeland.
The 28-year-old forward arrived at Wigan ahead of last season and played a key role in helping Denis Betts’ side complete a historic quadruple in 2025.
Power returned to Australia shortly after Wigan’s epic Grand Final win over St Helens, and she had nothing but good words to say about her time with the Warriors.
“It’s pretty surreal,” Power said when speaking to the Wigan Post after the Grand Final win, which sealed a clean sweep of all four trophies on offer.
“This is what we’ve been working for and working towards all year, so to see it all come to fruition is unreal, and to get a clean sweep on all four fronts – the Challenge Cup, the League Leaders, the Nines comp and now this just to top it all off before I go home – it’s put the cherry on top.
“(My time here has been) unforgettable. It wasn’t what I was expecting… I think coming to such a young team, I didn’t know what to expect really, but Wigan have raised a bunch of humble, smart, hard-working and determined young women.
“I think the way that they’re going, I think they are going to see more success in the future years to come.”
Power, who has represented New Zealand Warriors, Gold Coast Titans, Sydney Roosters and North Queensland Cowboys in the NRLW, added a wealth of experience to the Warriors and was a standout forward for the Warriors Women all season.
But what made her time in England even more special was that she got to spend the year living and playing with her younger sister Tiana, who initially arrived at Wigan on a trial but then went on to make her mark in the Women’s Super League.
“I’m grateful that she was able to come along because it would’ve been a lot harder, missing family and that, to do by myself,” Shaniah added.
“Just seeing her work hard for her spot and to see her work her way into the squad, because before coming over, nothing was guaranteed. They said she could come and try for the team, so she came, she worked hard and worked her way in.
"It was bittersweet, really, because she had gotten her way into the squad and then got injured in the York game in the backend of the regular season, but seeing her around here and her being able to experience all of this is good for her and good for me, and I’m glad that we got to do it together.”
Power’s next destination is yet to be confirmed, but she is looking forward to spending time with her family back in Bowen, Queensland.
“I’ve no idea (on what’s next),” she laughed.
“For the last six years, I’ve spent my rugby league life kind of just going where the wind blows me, seeing what opportunities present themselves and making a decision from that, so hopefully that kind of works out for me again.”