Melanie Howard
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 10 May 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 68 kg (10 st 10 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Halfback, Five-eighth | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: RLP As of 24 May 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Melanie Howard (born 10 May 1993) is an Australian rugby league footballer who plays for Leeds Rhinos in the RFL Women's Super League.
Primarily a halfback, she is a New South Wales and Prime Minister's XIII representative.
Background
Born in Gosford, New South Wales, Howard played her junior rugby for the Northern Lakes Warriors.[1]
Playing career
St George Illawarra Dragons
In June 2018, Howard represented NSW Country at the inaugural Women's National Championships.[2]
On 31 July 2018, she signed with the St George Illawarra Dragons in the NSWRL Women's Premiership.[3]
In Round 1 of the 2018 NRL Women's season, she made her debut for the Dragons in a 4–30 loss to the Brisbane Broncos.[4]
Sydney Roosters
On 26 June 2019, she joined the Sydney Roosters NRLW team.[5]
On 25 October 2020, Howard started at five-eighth in the Roosters' 10–20 NRLW Grand Final loss to the Brisbane Broncos.[6]
Leeds Rhinos
On 17 March 2025 it was reported that she had signed for Leeds Rhinos in the RFL Women's Super League[7]
Representative
On 6 October 2018, she represented the Prime Minister's XIII in their 40–4 win over Papua New Guinea.[8]
In May 2019, she represented NSW Country at the Women's National Championships.[9]
On 13 November 2020, she made her State of Origin debut for New South Wales in their 18–24 loss to Queensland.[10]
References
- ↑ "Merewether's Mel Howard scores shot with St George Illawarra". Newcastle Herald. 8 August 2018.
- ↑ "Women's Nationals the perfect Origin appetiser". NRL. 29 May 2018.
- ↑ "Dragons finalise Women's Premiership squad with three signings". St George Illawarra Dragons. 31 July 2018.
- ↑ "Late mail: Women's Premiership Round 1". St George Illawarra Dragons. 9 September 2018.
- ↑ "Harden & Smith added to Roosters 2019 NRLW Squad". Sydney Roosters. 26 June 2019.
- ↑ "Hall returns for NRLW Grand Final". Brisbane Broncos. 20 October 2020.
- ↑ Lorraine Marsden (17 March 2025). "Leeds Rhinos sign former State of Origin player". Total RL.
- ↑ "13 Dragons named in Prime Minister's XIII squads". St George Illawarra Dragons. 26 September 2018.
- ↑ "Line-ups named for Women's National Championships". NRL. 22 May 2019.
- ↑ "Howard feeling the pressure". Sydney Morning Herald. 11 November 2020.
External links
- 1993 births
- Living people
- 21st-century Australian sportswomen
- Australian female rugby league players
- Leeds Rhinos Women players
- New South Wales Rugby League State of Origin Women players
- Prime Minister's XIII women players
- Rugby league halfbacks
- Rugby league five-eighths
- Rugby league players from Gosford
- Sportswomen from New South Wales
- St. George Illawarra Dragons (NRLW) players
- Sydney Roosters (NRLW) players