Exciting Wests Tigers full-back Caitlin Turnbull is used to crunching numbers, be it on the field or on a laptop.
In a memorable NRLW debut season for Wests Tigers in 2025, Turnbull claimed two major club awards, represented the Prime Minister’s XIII team in PNG, and inked a four-year deal with the Tigers.
The 25-year-old crossed for eight tries in 10 games after starting on the wing for the Tigers before moving to full-back, a position she grew up playing back home in Canberra.
A former NSW and Australian OzTag player, Turnbull switched to rugby league in 2023.
The following season, she scored 13 tries in 11 games for Wentworthville Magpies in the NSW Women’s Premiership to earn herself a contract with Wests Tigers.
A player with speed, strength, and a strong work ethic, Turnbull continues to shine in the number one jersey.
With the Tigers recruiting several experienced players, including representative stars Raecene McGregor, Jillaroo Shaylee Bent, and Holli Wheeler, adding to the side’s attacking power, Turnbull has been able to play a different role in the backline.
“It’s been great to be able to learn from someone like ‘Rae’. Playing off her, you learn how she runs the game and how she wants everyone to get to certain points,’’ Turnbull said.
“Naturally, learning at an elite level like the NRLW has been a challenge in terms of counting numbers in defence. I really want to help the girls in the middle by cutting down their kilometres.
“The hardest part in attack for me has been just running off different people. When you play with new people, you need to learn how they play, how fast they are, and what they are going to do.
“Shaylee is an absolute powerhouse. On the field, she has that mongrel in her, and I think that's exactly what we need in our team.
“She's always the one that wants to go forward; she'll always put her hand up to take that run, and I’m looking forward to developing a combination with her.
“We obviously have so many great players now spread right across the team. I think everyone's competitive and everyone can score, so I don't mind…I just want to be there for the team and get better myself.
“Everyone is so connected. It really shows, and although we haven’t played the best footy that we could have, we know we have so much more to offer.
“I think what we can achieve together in the long run is going to be amazing and everyone's driving off that.”
As for life and work balance off the field, Turnbull is enjoying her full-time role as a contract manager for Home Affairs.
“I'm in the IT sector. I run four different contracts, so basically making sure our people hit their targets, in between sending invoices, setting up meetings and working closely with our stakeholders,’’ Turnbull said.
“The work keeps me on my toes. I think it's good to have something outside of footy to focus on.”
Just like the defensive patterns she sets each week at the back for the Tigers, an area Coach Craig Sandercock has been working hard on with Turnbull.
“Caitlin is learning every day, especially the defensive part of it,’’ Sandercock said.
“One of the biggest things is learning how to defend at full-back, getting numbers right and getting splits right.
“Caitlin is a good listener. She is always keen to do a video or a review. In the pre-season, we spent a lot of time on the computer looking at how to play full-back.”
Bent said Turnbull is doing a fine job at full-back and will only get better with every game she plays there.
“With Caitlin at full-back, you just know she’s always going to show up, especially when our backs are doing our yardage; she always steps up to get us that quick play the ball, that go forward,’’ Bent said.
“She is a strong communicator. When we’re going back into the defensive line, we look for Caitlin because she's the one that gives us that direction and counts our numbers, and we trust her.
“Caitlin is a tough player for her size, and it might not look like she's running fast, but she is quick. I hope we get to see her in open space soon.
“I think she is also feeling a lot more comfortable now with more senior players around her.
“She doesn’t need to create every moment for the team. She’s got other girls in the team that she can lean on.
“What she is doing now in getting us out of yardage, taking those carries when we need her, and being that talk in defence, is what we need.”
And as for what Turnbull is like off the field, Bent described her team-mate known as ‘Cbull’ as one full of energy.
“Caitlin is a silent assassin. Anytime music comes on, she'll be dancing in the background, and she's good at it. She loves R&B, and she's so funny,’’ Bent added.
“Every time I turn around in the change room, she's dancing. She’s so relaxed and just full of energy.”
Turnbull will also be looking to grab her second try of the season when the Tigers take on the Warriors at CommBank Stadium on Sunday as part of the club's Indigenous Round double-header.
Whatever comes her way, one thing is certain: her response will be calculated.
