{{short description|Australia and New Zealand international rugby union & league footballer (born 1992)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}} {{Use Australian English|date=March 2015}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Nita Maynard-Perrin |fullname = |image = nitamaynard.jpg |imagesize = 250px |caption = Maynard in 2022 |birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1992|7|7}} |birth_place = [[Gisborne, New Zealand]] |height = {{convert|157|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|60|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} |first = RU |position = {{rlp|HK}} |club1 = {{nowrap|[[Sydney Roosters Women|Sydney Roosters]]}} |year1start = 2018 |year1end = 20 |appearances1 = 11 |tries1 = 1 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 4 |club2 = {{nowrap|[[Parramatta Eels Women|Parramatta Eels]]}} |year2start = 2021 |year2end = |appearances2 = 4 |tries2 = 0 |goals2 = 0 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 0 |club3 = {{nowrap|[[Brisbane Broncos Women|Brisbane Broncos]]}} |year3start = 2022 |year3end = |appearances3 = 3 |tries3 = 0 |goals3 = 0 |fieldgoals3 = 0 |points3 = 0 |club4 = {{nowrap|[[Newcastle Knights Women|Newcastle Knights]]}} |year4start = 2023 |year4end = 24 |appearances4 = 19 |tries4 = 0 |goals4 = 0 |fieldgoals4 = 0 |points4 = 0 |club5 = {{nowrap|[[St. George Illawarra Dragons Women|St George Illawarra Dragons]]}} |year5start = 2025 |year5end = present |appearances5 = 8 |tries5 = 0 |goals5 = 0 |fieldgoals5 = 0 |points5 = 0 |teamA = [[Kiwi Ferns|New Zealand]] |yearAstart = 2017 |yearAend = 22 |appearancesA = 13 |triesA = 3 |goalsA = 0 |fieldgoalsA = 0 |pointsA = 12 |teamB = {{nowrap|[[New South Wales women's rugby league team|New South Wales]]}} |yearBstart = 2018 |yearBend = |appearancesB = 1 |triesB = 0 |goalsB = 0 |fieldgoalsB = 0 |pointsB = 0 |teamC = [[Kiwi Ferns|New Zealand 9s]] |yearCstart = 2019 |yearCend = |appearancesC = 4 |triesC = 2 |goalsC = 0 |fieldgoalsC = 0 |pointsC = 8 |teamD = [[New Zealand Māori women's rugby league team|Māori All Stars]] |yearDstart = 2021 |yearDend = |appearancesD = 1 |triesD = 0 |goalsD = 0 |fieldgoalsD = 0 |pointsD = 0 |ru_position = [[Scrum-half (rugby union)|Scrum-half]] |ru_teamA = [[Australia women's national rugby union team|Australia]] |ru_yearAstart = 2014 |ru_yearAend = |ru_appearancesA = 6 |ru_triesA = 0 |ru_goalsA = 0 |ru_fieldgoalsA = 0 |ru_pointsA = 0 |ru_teamB = [[Australia women's national rugby sevens team|Australia 7s]] |ru_yearBstart = 2016 |ru_yearBend = |ru_appearancesB = |ru_triesB = |ru_goalsB = |ru_fieldgoalsB = |ru_pointsB = |retired = |source = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/nita-maynard/summary.html|title=Nita Maynard - Playing Career - RLP}}</ref> |updated = 13 October 2024 }}
'''Nita Maynard-Perrin''' (born 7 July 1992) is a New Zealand professional [[rugby league]] footballer for the St George Illawarra Dragons in the NRLW.
Primarily a {{rlp|hk}}, she is a [[Kiwi Ferns|New Zealand]] and [[New South Wales women's rugby league team|New South Wales]] representative. Before switching to rugby league, she represented [[Australia women's national rugby union team|Australia]] in [[rugby union]] and [[rugby sevens]]. She previously played for the [[Sydney Roosters Women|Sydney Roosters]], [[Parramatta Eels Women|Parramatta Eels]], [[Brisbane Broncos Women|Brisbane Broncos]] and [[Newcastle Knights Women|Newcastle Knights]] in the [[NRL Women's Premiership]].
==Background== Born in [[Gisborne, New Zealand]], Maynard moved to [[Australia]] in 2011.{{cn|date=July 2025}}
==Playing career==
===Rugby union=== In 2014, she represented the [[Australia women's national rugby union team|Australian Wallaroos]] and in 2016, represented the [[Australia women's national rugby sevens team|Australia 7s]] team. She played for the [[Parramatta Two Blues]] before switching to [[rugby league]] in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rugby.com.au/players/nita%20maynard|title=Nita Maynard|website=rugby.com.au}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/local-sport/20171116/whirlwind-learning-curve-for-rugby-league-rookie/|title=Whirlwind learning curve for rugby league rookie|date=16 November 2017|website=Gisborne Herald}}</ref>
===Rugby league===
In 2017, Maynard joined the [[Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks]] team in the [[NSWRL Women's Premiership]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/09/30/sydney-roosters-hooker-nita-maynard-has-gone-straight-to-the-top/|title=Maynard has gone straight to the top|date=30 September 2018|website=NRL}}</ref> In October 2017, she was selected in the [[Kiwi Ferns|New Zealand]] [[2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup]] squad.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sharks.com.au/news/2017/10/25/maynards-dreams-come-true/|title=Maynard's dreams come true|date=25 October 2017|website=Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks}}</ref> On 2 December 2017, she came off the bench in New Zealand's 16–23 [[2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup final|final]] loss to [[Australian Jillaroos|Australia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2017/11/17/ferns-stand-tall-in-maynards-backyard/|title=Ferns Stand Tall In Maynard's Backyard|date=17 November 2017|website=NSWRL}}</ref>
In May 2018, she represented NSW City at the Women's National Championships.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/05/29/womens-national-championships-the-perfect-origin-appetiser/|title=Women's Nationals the perfect Origin appetiser|date=29 May 2018|website=NRL}}</ref> On 22 June 2018, she represented [[New South Wales women's rugby league team|New South Wales]] in their 16–10 win over [[Queensland women's rugby league team|Queensland]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/womens-sport/nsw-v-queensland-117-player-profiles/news-story/6e6573f1295a844c6c67e6f0f3053f74|title=Women's State of Origin 2018 player profiles, team lists|date=22 June 2018|website=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref> This would be Maynard's lone appearance for the Blues, as in April 2019, revised eligibility laws were introduced which ruled her ineligible to represent New South Wales.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewomensgame.com/news/no-more-kiwis-in-womens-state-of-origin-525693|title=No more Kiwis in Women's State of Origin|date=24 May 2019|website=The Women's Game}}</ref>
On 16 June 2018, she signed with the [[Sydney Roosters]] [[NRL Women's Premiership]] team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2018/06/17/roosters-announce-nrlw-marquee-signings/|title=Roosters Announce NRLW Marquee Signings|date=17 June 2018|website=Sydney Roosters}}</ref> In Round 1 of the [[2018 NRL Women's season]], she made her debut for the Roosters in their 4–10 loss to the [[New Zealand Warriors]]. On 30 September 2018, she started at {{rlp|hk}} in the Roosters' 12–34 Grand Final loss to the [[Brisbane Broncos]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2018/09/30/nrlw-late-mail--grand-final/|title=NRLW Late Mail - Grand Final|date=30 September 2018|website=Sydney Roosters}}</ref>
On 19 October 2019, Maynard scored the winning try for New Zealand in the final of the [[2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s]] against Australia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/world-nines-world-9s-2019-women-australia-vs-new-zealand-jillaroos-lose-to-kiwi-ferns/news-story/7ca3df0eb440aaf5c2f8a1f28cf663ae|title=Jillaroos lose first game since 2017 as Kiwi Ferns win women's World Nines final|date=19 October 2019|website=Fox Sports Australia}}</ref>
On 25 October 2020, she started at {{Rlp|hk}} in the Roosters' 20–10 [[2020 NRL Grand Final|NRLW Grand Final]] loss to the Broncos.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/10/23/nrlw-grand-final-where-it-will-be-won-and-lost/|title=NRLW grand final: Where it will be won and lost|date=23 October 2020|website=NRL}}</ref>
On 20 February 2021, she represented the [[New Zealand Māori rugby league team|Māori All Stars]] in their 24–0 win over the [[Indigenous All Stars (rugby league)|Indigenous All Stars]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>
In October 2022 she was selected for the [[New Zealand women's national rugby league team|New Zealand squad]] at the delayed [[2021 Women's Rugby League World Cup]] in England.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Priest |first=Craig |date=2022-10-02 |title=Kiwi Ferns name 24-strong World Cup squad |url=https://nzrl.co.nz/kiwi-ferns-name-24-strong-world-cup-squad/ |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=New Zealand Rugby League |language=en-NZ}}</ref>
In May 2023, she signed with the [[Newcastle Knights Women|Newcastle Knights]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2023/05/19/two-more-signings-for-knights-in-nrlw/|title=Two More Signings for Knights in NRLW|date=19 May 2023|website=Newcastle Knights}}</ref> In round 1 of the [[2023 NRL Women's season|2023 NRLW season]], she made her Knights debut against the [[St. George Illawarra Dragons Women|St. George Illawarra Dragons]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2023/07/18/knights-v-dragons-round-1-nrlw-team-list/|title=Knights v Dragons Round 1 NRLW Team List|date=18 July 2023|website=Newcastle Knights}}</ref>
In October 2023, Maynard played off the bench in the Knights' 24-18 Grand Final win over the [[Gold Coast Titans Women|Gold Coast Titans]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrlw-2023/grand-final/newcastle-knights--w--vs-gold-coast-titans--w-/summary.html|title=2023 Telstra Women's Premiership - Grand Final - Newcastle Knights (W) 24 def. Gold Coast Titans (W) 18 - RLP|website=www.rugbyleagueproject.org}}</ref>
After 19 games with the Knights, Maynard parted ways with the club at the end of the [[2024 NRL Women's season|2024 season]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/nrlknights/p/DA4yRseS6Qy/|title=Instagram|website=www.instagram.com}}</ref>
In May 2025, Maynard-Perrin signed a two year deal with the St George Illawarra Dragons. Maynard-Perrin went on to play eight games in her debut season in the Red V.{{citation needed|date=November 2025}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.dragons.com.au/teams/womens-premiership/st-george-illawarra-dragons-women/nita-maynard/ St George Illawarra Dragons profile] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20240927000235/https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/teams/womens-premiership/newcastle-knights-women/nita-maynard/ Newcastle Knights profile] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20230519110423/https://www.broncos.com.au/teams/womens-premiership/brisbane-broncos-women/nita-maynard/ Brisbane Broncos profile] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20201017071034/https://www.roosters.com.au/teams/womens-premiership/sydney-roosters-women/nita-maynard/ Sydney Roosters profile]
{{St George Illawarra Dragons women's squad}} {{Newcastle Knights squad - 2023 NRLW premiers}} {{New Zealand 2021 Women's Rugby League World Cup Squad}} {{New Zealand 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup Squad}} {{Australian 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup squad|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maynard, Nita}} [[Category:1992 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:21st-century New Zealand sportswomen]] [[Category:Australia international rugby sevens players]] [[Category:Australia international rugby union players]] [[Category:Australia women's international rugby union players]] [[Category:Australian people of New Zealand descent]] [[Category:Brisbane Broncos (NRLW) players]] [[Category:New South Wales Rugby League State of Origin Women players]] [[Category:New Zealand Māori rugby league players]] [[Category:New Zealand Māori women's rugby league team players]] [[Category:New Zealand female rugby league players]] [[Category:New Zealand female rugby union players]] [[Category:New Zealand women's national rugby league team players]] [[Category:Parramatta Eels (NRLW) players]] [[Category:Rugby league hookers]] [[Category:Newcastle Knights (NRLW) players]] [[Category:Rugby league players from Gisborne, New Zealand]] [[Category:Rugby union players from Gisborne, New Zealand]] [[Category:Rugby union scrum-halves]] [[Category:St. George Illawarra Dragons (NRLW) players]] [[Category:Sydney Roosters (NRLW) players]]