From taking physical culture lessons to paving a career in rugby league, Wests Tigers hooker Salma Nour’s story is one of redemption and more.
At just 23, Nour is in her fourth season of playing in the best women’s sporting competition in Australia, the NRLW.
It’s been a slow and progressive journey for Nour, who has had to overcome injuries and setbacks at different stages.
With her playing future undecided when pre-season training for 2026 season started, Nour got an unexpected call from new Wests Tigers NRLW Coach Craig Sandercock.
Following some team movements, Sandercock was in sudden need of a number nine, and after some internal consultation about her talent and skills, he offered Nour a train and trial deal to return to the Tigers.
Nour wasted little time, focusing her energy on getting fit and pushing hard for a position in the team.
She was rewarded with selection in Round 1 against the Eels and has been in the starting team for all five games.
“It’s a credit to Salma and her strong work ethic for where she is now,” Sandercock said.
She has made every post a winner. Salma has worked very hard on her game, and the rewards are starting to come through
Coach Craig Sandercock
“Each week, she is the first player to book a meeting with me to review her game. She wants feedback on ways she can improve. She is growing in confidence every week.”
Outside of selection against the Eels, the game meant even more to Nour.
“I had never won an NRLW game until then. It was good to finally get that win,” Nour said, with a wide smile.
“I only played a couple of minutes because I split my head open. Just the feeling of victory was amazing.”
One win has now developed into three victories from five games for the Wests Tigers, with the only defeats coming at the hands of last year's grand finalists, Brisbane and the Sydney Roosters.
Nour is thriving playing in such a talented spine and learning from the experience of new recruit in outstanding half-back Raecene McGregor.
“Raecene’s just phenomenal. She's clutch,’’ Nour said.
“The victories have been enjoyable, and we knew we had to bounce back hard after losing to Brisbane and the Roosters.
“One of our team values is being relentless. Sure, we lost two in a row but that doesn't mean anything.
“We know how we can play and that showed against the Sharks on the weekend. Everyone in this team is really playing for each other.”
Wests Tigers captain and Jillaroos star Kezie Apps described Nour as the ‘ultimate athlete’.
“Salma is a true professional. Her position of hooker is one of the hardest positions to play in terms of having to make the right decisions at the right time,” Apps said.
“She wants to improve each week. 'Sandy' is obviously great at providing feedback to all of us, and she’s constantly asking for it.
“For her to take all that on board and keep showing up and wanting to improve for herself and for the team, speaks volumes about her as a person.
“Salma is still growing and finding her voice on the field. She is an amazing dummy half. I know the more we play together and the more confident she gets, she will find that voice. It just takes time.”
It’s a voice that could have been lost to rugby league altogether had it not been for her love of rugby league, watching the NRL on television and her older brothers play.
“I'd watch my brothers play on the weekend, and I was like I want to play, I want to play,” Nour said.
“My Mum put me into Physical Culture dancing for a year, and I absolutely hated it, so I asked my dad one day if I could play rugby league.
“But the next year, I ended up playing rugby league. I’ve been playing the game ever since I was seven.”
And as for how she would have gone as a physical culture dancer, Nour was bluntly straightforward.
“I was a bit unco to be honest. I had two left feet,” she said, laughing.
Safe to say, Nour is now dancing to a different beat of life in the NRLW.
