Taleena Simon

{{Infobox rugby league biography

|name = Taleena Simon

|fullname =

|nickname =

|image =

|imagesize =

|caption =

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1992|12|18}}

|birth_place = Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia

|height = {{convert|167|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}

|weight = {{convert|67|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}

|position = {{rlp|WG|CE|FB}}

|club1 = {{nowrap|Sydney Roosters}}

|year1start = 2018

|year1end = present

|appearances1 = 5

|tries1 = 5

|goals1 = 0

|fieldgoals1 = 0

|points1 = 20

|teamA = New South Wales

|yearAstart = 2018

|yearAend =

|appearancesA = 1

|triesA = 0

|goalsA = 0

|fieldgoalsA = 0

|pointsA = 0

|teamB = Indigenous All Stars

|yearBstart = 2012

|yearBend = 21

|appearancesB = 2

|triesB = 0

|goalsB = 0

|fieldgoalsB = 0

|pointsB = 0

|source = {{cite web |url=https://www.roosters.com.au/teams/holden-womens-premiership/sydney-roosters-women/taleena-simon |title=Official Holden Women's Premiership profile of Taleena Simon for Sydney Roosters Women |website=Sydney Roosters |access-date=11 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911044650/https://www.roosters.com.au/teams/holden-womens-premiership/sydney-roosters-women/taleena-simon |archive-date=11 September 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

|updated = 11 September 2018

|medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry|{{AUS}}}}

}}

Taleena Simon (born 18 December 1992) is an Australian rugby league footballer who plays for the Sydney Roosters in the NRL Women's Premiership and the Glebe Dirty Reds in the NSWRL Women's Premiership.{{cite web |url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/ward-engineering-sign-on-exclusively-with-roosters-womens-team/news-story/699d5c62be98b0df68b72cee98502294 |title=Roosters women land unique sponsor |access-date=11 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911044901/https://www.news.com.au/sport/ward-engineering-sign-on-exclusively-with-roosters-womens-team/news-story/699d5c62be98b0df68b72cee98502294 |archive-date=11 September 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

Playing career

A Redfern All Blacks junior, Simon made her senior debut for the Guildford Owls in 2010.{{cite web |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/swoop/taleena-simon-can-see-a-pathway-to-success-in-rugby-league-now/news-story/978eeceba353773a9bc6da7f03d1d8eb |title=We're for Sydney |publisher=Daily Telegraph |date= |accessdate=2018-09-11}}

Following a shoulder injury, Simon switched codes to rugby union and joined the Australia women's national rugby sevens team in 2014, becoming the first Aboriginal woman to sign a full time professional contract with the program.{{cite web |url=http://www.rugby.com.au/news/2016/02/12/taleena-simon-becomes-first-aboriginal-woman-to-sign-professional-sevens-contract |title=Taleena Simon becomes first Aboriginal woman to sign professional Sevens contract |website=www.rugby.com.au |access-date=11 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911044926/http://www.rugby.com.au/news/2016/02/12/taleena-simon-becomes-first-aboriginal-woman-to-sign-professional-sevens-contract |archive-date=11 September 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}{{cite web |url=http://www.rugby.com.au/players/taleena-simon |title=Taleena Simon |website=www.rugby.com.au |access-date=11 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911044741/http://www.rugby.com.au/players/taleena-simon |archive-date=11 September 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

In 2017, she returned to Rugby League, playing for the Redfern All Blacks in the Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership. In 2018, she played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership, taking out leading try-scorer for the season. She has also represented NSW City at the National Women's Championships on the Gold Coast.{{cite web |url=https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2018/06/01/nsw-city-women-start-championships-in-style/ |title=NSW City Women Start Championships in Style |date=1 June 2018 |access-date=11 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911081618/https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2018/06/01/nsw-city-women-start-championships-in-style/ |archive-date=11 September 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

On 17 June 2018, Simon signed for the Sydney Roosters as one of their 15 marquee signings.{{cite web |url=https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2018/06/17/roosters-announce-nrlw-marquee-signings/ |title=Roosters Announce NRLW Marquee Signings |date=16 June 2018 |access-date=11 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617142209/https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2018/06/17/roosters-announce-nrlw-marquee-signings/ |archive-date=17 June 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

On 22 June 2018, Simon made her Origin debut for New South Wales in their 16–10 win over Queensland.

In Round 1 of the 2018 NRL Women's Premiership, Simon made her debut for the Sydney Roosters, starting on the wing in their 10–4 loss to the New Zealand Warriors.{{cite web |url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/09/04/roosters-v-warriors-nrlw-round-1-preview/ |title=Roosters v Warriors: NRLW Round 1 preview |date=8 September 2018 |access-date=11 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910164949/https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/09/04/roosters-v-warriors-nrlw-round-1-preview/ |archive-date=10 September 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

On 20 February 2021, Simon represented the Indigenous All Stars in their 24–0 loss to the Māori All Stars.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/02/14/womens-all-stars-preview-new-look-teams-have-plenty-of-talent/|title=McGregor, Harden to lead talented teams|date=20 February 2021|website=NRL}} In 2021, she joined the Glebe Dirty Reds for their inaugural season in the NSWRL Women's Premiership.