Tahlia O’Brien is a tough, skilful and fast‑rising forward who has progressed rapidly through the Illawarra and Dragons pathways to earn her place in the NRLW. A proud Western Suburbs Red Devils junior, O’Brien climbed the system quickly in 2024, stepping from the Lisa Fiaola Cup into the Tarsha Gale Cup, where she became a key figure in the Steelers finals campaign and showcased her versatility across both the back row and the halves.

Her strong form at junior level earned her selection for NSW Country Under‑19s and a place in the NSW Under‑19s Origin squad, highlighting her growing reputation as one of the state’s most promising young forwards. O’Brien’s consistent performances and coachability led to a 2025 NRLW development contract with the St George Illawarra Dragons, where she continued to impress during preseason.

O’Brien made her NRLW debut in Round 6 of the 2025 season against the Sharks, delivering a calm and defensively sound performance with 25 tackles at 92.6% efficiency, immediately showing she belonged at the elite level. She went on to make three appearances in her rookie season, providing stability off the bench and demonstrating the physicality and reliability that define her playing style.

In addition to league, O’Brien broadened her athletic development by playing rugby in December, further rounding out her contact skills, agility and decision‑making.