Kathleen Wharton

Kathleen Wharton (née Keremete; 26 August 1983 – 21 November 2024) was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who played as for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL Women's Premiership.

A New Zealand international, she represented her country at the 2008 and 2013 Women's Rugby League World Cups.

Playing career In 2008, Wharton was a member of New Zealand's 2008 Women's Rugby League World Cup-winning squad. In 2013, she started at in New Zealand's 2013 Women's Rugby League World Cup final loss to Australia.

Following the World Cup, Wharton retired to focus on her career and raise her family.

In 2019, Wharton returned to rugby league, representing the Māori All Stars in their 8–4 win over the Indigenous All Stars. On 22 June 2019, she represented New Zealand for the first time in six years, scoring a try in their 46–8 win over Samoa in Auckland.

On 10 July 2019, she signed with the New Zealand Warriors NRL Women's Premiership team. In Round 1 of the 2019 NRL Women's season, she made her debut for the Warriors in a 16–12 win over the Sydney Roosters.

On 22 February 2020, she started at for the Maori All Stars in their 4–10 loss to the Indigenous All Stars.

Death Wharton died on 21 November 2024, at the age of 41.