Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School rugby league star Relna Hosea wins spot at Gold Coast Titans Academy

A teen from the Torres Strait is making a name for herself in rugby league as one of Ipswich’s rookies-on-the-rise and will complete a dream season at the prestigious Gold Coast Titans Academy.

Queensland Schoolgirls with Ali Briggenshaw.

Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School (IGGS) year 11 boarder Relna Hosea has reached a new high in an already dream year for the rugby league young gun.

The electric wing is making inroads on the rugby league scene and carving a name for herself as one of Ipswich’s bright rookies-on-the-rise.

Hosea, from Badu Island in the Torres Straits, played for the Queensland Schoolgirls under 16-18 team and the under-17 Queensland City team in representative matches this year.

Her development as an up-and-coming league star will continue over the summer as the 17-year-old joins the Gold Coast Titans training academy, alongside five of her Queensland Schoolgirls teammates.

Australian Schoolgirls Ebony Rafstrand-Smith, Tiresa Elika, Tavarna Papalii, and talents Malaela Su’a and Ariana Henderson, will accompany her before the squad plays a trial match against the Newcastle Knights on January 21 in Coffs Harbour.

Members of the Queensland Secondary Schools team, including aces Tiresa Elika, back left, and Malaela Su'a, front middle and Relna Hosea, bottom left.

Hosea said she was shocked when she found out they’d invited her to join the academy, and that it was even cooler hearing that there would be a team that travelled to face the Knights in a trial game.

“I am very excited but also nervous. I’ve never been invited to anything like this and I didn’t think I would get it. Now I know the girls (Tiresa, Ariana, Ebony, Tavarna and Malaela) are there it’ll be much better and a lot more comfortable.”

Hosea joked about the fact that she and her Queensland Schoolgirls teammates were not excited about the fitness training.

But all said they were eager to prove themselves when selectors would be looking at recruiting girls for the Titans NRLW team.

The Queensland Schoolgirls under 16-18 team with Ali Briggenshaw.

“I was expecting to get invited by the Broncos, actually,” Hosea said.

“When I met Ali Brigginshaw playing for Brothers Ipswich, she talked about how, with a lot of effort, she got into the Broncos from Brothers.

“That was years ago and when I saw her at Schoolgirls she was so happy that I had gotten to that next level.”

Brigginshaw, who coached the Schoolgirls with Veronica White, is Hosea’s idol and has motivated her to reach greater heights.

“From when we (Ali and Relna) met, to three years later at the Schoolgirls, she asked if I still went to IGGS, although I thought she’d forget me.

“Ms White has been really good for my growth as well. I look up to her and she gives me plenty of advice,” Hosea said about her role models.

Relna and principal Dr Peter Britton.

IGGS principal Dr Peter Britton and the entire school community have added fuel to the fire for Hosea, who has a blistering 13.45pb for the 100m.

“After the Schoolgirls game (played as the curtainraiser to the State of Origin game at Suncorp Stadium) and the City v Country game, Dr Britton was so supportive.

“Last year, he made the effort to watch our club games. He’s so proud. Most of the staff in the school would walk past and ask questions about footy and congratulate me.

“On game day, they had a big projector at school and the girls watched on. It gives me so much confidence when they ask when my next game is or make an effort to watch even on the live stream,” Hosea said about her support network at IGGS.

Along with her coaches, her family back home has also motivated her.

“I’m doing this especially for my mum,” she said.

“I’m doing this for my family and hometown. Some of the girls up there don’t get the same opportunity and they choose to stay up there. They don’t get to explore other options.

“I’m trying to show what’s possible and set an example for the younger girls at home and what you can make out of yourself by putting in effort.”