Gayle Broughton is on top of the world right now.
The past nine months have brought a string of highs – helping the Brisbane Broncos win the NRLW premiership, earning selection for her second All Stars appearance for the Māori side in Hamilton next month, and signing a two-year deal with the New Zealand Warriors.
But none compare to the moment she welcomed her son, Eastyn Broughton-Lawrence, into the world and became a mother for the first time.
Broughton describes motherhood as a powerful and rewarding experience – one that played a decisive role in her decision to return home and join the Warriors, allowing her and partner Tahlia Lawrence to raise their son close to family.
Speaking to the Herald, Broughton said becoming a parent has completely reshaped her outlook on life, making the move back to New Zealand a “no-brainer”.
“Since my son came into the world, I’ve found a new passion and purpose around life,” Broughton said. “I used to think I understood motivation and drive, but becoming a parent changes that completely.
“My son teaches me something new every day. It’s definitely a learning curve – it’s the type of role where you have to roll with the punches.
“From the moment I knew my son was coming home to his whenua [country], it was a no-brainer. To have him back around his cousins, his people and his culture – once I knew that, the decision was made.”
While many will know Broughton from her days with the Black Ferns Sevens – claiming silver and gold at the Rio and Tokyo Olympics respectively – rugby league is in her blood, having played the sport at a young age before switching codes due to the lack of pathways for girls.
Being part of the Warriors is something Broughton is excited about. She is likely to partner Patricia Maliepo in the halves, and her experience will be vital as the Auckland side push for a maiden trip to the NRLW finals.
The Warriors were one of the NRLW’s four foundation clubs when the competition launched in 2018, taking part in the competition’s first three seasons before the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic forced them to withdraw.
They returned last year as part of a 12-team competition, finishing eighth, and will be expected to improve in 2026. Prop Annetta Nu’uausala and centre Mele Hufanga have also made the switch from the Broncos, while Stacey Waaka – a former Black Ferns Sevens teammate of Broughton – has also signed with the club.
“To watch them come back the way they did and not only make a statement in their first year back, I was really proud of the girls,” Broughton said.
“You’ve got Payton [Takimoana], the reigning Dally M winger on one side and Stacey on the other, it’s a scary thought. Their middles were amazing and they are hard to tackle, so I can only imagine what this year’s going to be like.
“I think us coming into play will just add to the flavour they already have. I’m so excited to be part of the crew and be back home.”
Before that, Broughton will feature in her second All Stars match next month, having also played in the 2023 edition in Rotorua, where she claimed the Trish Hina Medal as player of the match in the Māori side’s 16-12 win.
She is coming off her “favourite year” across her entire footy career and easily her best NRLW season to date, having been named five-eighth in the Dally M Team of the Year. For Broughton, representing her culture – as a member of Ngāti Ruahine and Ngāti Ruanui – remains central to her identity.
“It’s such a strong, culturally immersed weekend – everyone just getting around our people and our culture,” Broughton said.
“A lot of the girls who represent the team didn’t grow up in New Zealand. They didn’t get the honour of living and breathing te reo Māori in Aotearoa.
“It’s a profound honour for myself, but I feel so proud and happy for the girls who didn’t grow up around the culture and now get to fully learn about their identity. The more you know about your culture, the more you know about who you are.”
Another goal Broughton has set for 2026 is selection for the Kiwi Ferns at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup. She played three tests for New Zealand in 2024, but says the chance to play at the sport’s pinnacle event would cap a special period in her life.
“That was a huge honour – representing my culture, my last name, my whānau, my friends, but most of all my country,” Broughton said.
“We’ve got a game in Christchurch, which will be amazing, and games in Newcastle and the Gold Coast as well.
“I’ve had the honour of playing in some pretty big moments in my life, but to play in a Rugby League World Cup specifically would definitely be the end goal.”
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.