CQ Capras, North Qld Gold Stars in BMD Premiership grand final
The minor premiers will take on the North Queensland Gold Stars in the BMD Premiership grand final. Read what coach Amanda Ohl has to say and meet the players ready to do the region proud here.
Rockhampton
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The CQ Capras’ women have prepared well and are primed for their historic grand final appearance on Saturday, according to coach Amanda Ohl.
They will take on the North Queensland Gold Stars at 2pm at Redcliffe’s Moreton Daily Stadium.
The Capras finished the 2022 BMD Premiership season as minor premiers after losing just one of their seven round games.
They booked their place in the decider with a commanding 32-14 win over Wynnum Manly Seagulls last weekend.
The Gold Stars, which includes Yeppoon’s Sarah Field, beat the Burleigh Bears 30-16 in their semi.
The Capras flew on Friday to Brisbane, where they would have their captain’s run and team dinner.
Ohl said the excitement was starting to build within the group.
“I think they well and truly understand how big this is, the enormity of it,” she said at Rockhampton Airport.
“We had our last local session on Thursday night and there were almost tears thinking that it was coming to an end.
“That shows how tight this group of girls has become and just what it means to them.”
Ohl is confident about Saturday’s showdown, given her team has been the benchmark all season and beat their grand final opponents 16-8 in Round 5.
She said the big-game experience of captain Mariah Storch and fullback Tamika Upton, both of whom had won two NRLW grand finals, would be paramount.
“We’ve got to start well, we have to work for each other in defence, and we have to stick to our game plan,” Ohl said.
Tamika Upton
Nickname/s: Meeks
Current employment: Deadly Choices’ ambassador
Playing position: Fullback
Local league club: Yeppoon Seagulls
NRL team supported: South Sydney Rabbitohs
Superstitions: Have none
Career highlight: Debuting for Queensland Maroons
How did you get involved in rugby league? Played when I was younger
Other sports: Touch football, netball
Biggest pest in the team: Sharni Upton
Funniest person on the team: Gemma Brennan
Person in your team you wouldn’t run at: Hayley Maddick
Hobbies: Netflix and chocolate
If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you bought? A house
Favourite TV show right now: The Office
Bree Spreadborough
Nickname/s: Breeza
Current employment: Analyst at Rabobank
Playing position: Winger
Local league club: Rockhampton Brothers
NRL team supported: North Queensland Cowboys
Career highlight: Playing at Cowboys stadium
How did you get involved in rugby league? My brother
Other sports: Touch, CrossFit
Biggest pest in the team: Emma Paki or Mariah Storch
Funniest person on the team: Mackenzie Reid
Person in your team you wouldn’t run at: Gemma Brennan
Hobbies: Socialising
If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you bought? House most likely
Favourite TV show right now: The Office
Jessica Powell
Nickname/s: Jess, JP, The Better Powell
Current employment: Corporate affairs adviser for Stanwell Corporation
Playing position: Centre
Local league club: Brothers Rockhampton
NRL team supported: North Queensland Cowboys and St George Dragons
Superstitions: I have to brush my teeth before I play
Career highlight: I have two - winning local league grand final and playing in Townsville at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
How did you get involved in rugby league? Was looking for a new team sport, and followed a friend who played. Being a classic little sister, I dragged my big sister along to play too.
Other sports: Have come from a touch/TRL background… but will play anything
Biggest pest in the team: Emma Paki by a country mile.
Funniest person on the team: I laugh at Emily (Powell) a lot.
Hobbies: Showing people pictures of my dogs or trying new places to eat, travelling.
If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you bought? Trip to Europe
Favourite TV show right now: I’ve started Schitt’s Creek again.
Emmanita Paki
Nickname/s: Paki
Current employment: Capras
Playing position: Centre
Local league club: Yeppoon Seagulls
NRL team supported: Melbourne Storm
Superstitions: No double knots on my boots
Career highlight: Scoring the match-winning try in the dying minutes of the game for the Capras
How did you get involved in rugby league? School footy
Other sports: Touch and netball
Biggest pest in the team: Reeghyn Beardmore
Funniest person on the team: Emily Powell
Person in your team you wouldn’t run at: Jessica Powell
Hobbies: Eating lollies
If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you bought? A house in Agnes
Favourite TV show right now: MasterChef
Krystal Sulter
Nickname/s: Sultz
Current employment: Janforest Sawmilling
Playing position: Winger
Local league club: Tannum Seagulls
NRL team supported: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Penrith Panthers
Superstitions: None
Career highlight: 2018 and 2019 grand final wins
How did you get involved in rugby league? I got invited to play by some mates at my local club.
Other sports: Touch football, netball.
Biggest pest in the team: Emmanita Paki
Funniest person on the team: Not sure, there’s a few good ones
Person in your team you wouldn’t run at: Mariah Storch
Hobbies: Sport, motorbike riding, shooting/hunting
If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you bought? A house for my old man.
Favourite TV show right now? Fox League
Reeghyn Beardmore
Nickname/s: Reegz, Red
Current employment: Farm hand, NRL game developer
Playing position: Five-eighth
NRL team supported: Brisbane Broncos
Superstitions: None
Career highlight: New Zealand, England rugby league tours
How did you get involved in rugby league? Played since I was five because my older brothers played
Biggest pest in the team: Emma Paki
Funniest person on the team: Emily Powell
Person in your team you wouldn’t run at: Gemma Brennan
Hobbies: Water skiing
If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you bought? Stock, property
Favourite TV show right now? Yellowstone
Pani Rupapere
Nickname/s: Punz
Current employment: Tyre fitter
Playing position: Half
Local league club: Moranbah Miners
NRL team supported: Parramatta Eels
Superstitions: None
Career highlight: Queensland Maori 2021
How did you get involved in rugby league: It’s in the blood
Other sports: Outrigging, netball, touch, boxing
Biggest pest in the team: Emma Paki
Funniest person on the team: Emily Powell
Person in your team you wouldn’t run at: Tyla Mitchell
Hobbies: Been starting this whole camping thing
If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you bought? Family members homes
Favourite TV show right now? Anything true crime
Gemma Brennan
Nickname/s: Gem Bren
Current employment: Ergon Energy
Playing position: Prop
Local league club: Rockhampton Brothers
NRL team supported: Gold Coast Titans
Superstitions: Got to play with braids
Career highlight: BMD minor premiers 2022.
How did you get involved in rugby league? Started with mates playing in a nines comp
Other sports: None at the moment
Biggest pest in the team: Emma Paki
Funniest person on the team: Kenz Reid
Person in your team you wouldn’t run at: Anyone in the engine room
Hobbies: Restoring my project car
If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you bought? A remote island and two new knees
Favourite TV show right now: Seal Team
Mackenzie Reid
Nicknames: Kenz
Current employment: Apprentice electrician
Playing position: Hooker
Local league club: Rockhampton Brothers
NRL team supported: Melbourne Storm
Superstitions: Hair braided and fake tan
Career highlight: First round of BHP Premiership in 2020
How did you get involved in rugby league? Got asked to play under-17s Rocky Rustlers
Other sports: Touch, gym
Biggest pest in the team: Emma Paki
Funniest person on the team: Gemma Brennan
Person in your team you wouldn’t run at: Gemma Brennan
Hobbies: Gym, going to the beach
If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you bought? Plane ticket to Disneyland
Favourite TV show right now: Normal People
Kristine Vaalepu
Nickname/s: Krissy
Current employment: Miner
Playing position: Front Row
Local league club: Moranbah Miners
NRL team supported: Brisbane Broncos
Superstitions: Don’t have one - just always be grateful
Career highlight: Playing PM 13s in Fiji.
How did you get involved in rugby league? My brothers always played so I did back in school then I stopped but decided to come back just for exercise and to make some friends besides my kids.
Other sports: Netball, anything besides volleyball
Biggest pest in the team: Reeghyn Beardmore
Funniest person on the team: Reeghyn Beardmore after a few bevvies
Person in your team you wouldn’t run at: ‘Shoulders’, aka Gemma Brennan
Hobbies: Playing sport
If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you bought? Something for my parents and kids.
Favourite TV show right now: Don’t watch much TV, but love the old-school Criminal Minds and Law and Order SVU.
Mariah Storch (captain)
Nickname/s: Mariah
Current employment: Diesel fitter
Playing position: Back row
Local league club: Blackwater Crushers
NRL team supported: Brisbane Broncos
Superstitions: Nil
Career highlight: Winning two NRLW premierships
How did you get involved in rugby league: Was asked to play for numbers in the first Blackwater Crushers’ women’s team
Other sports: Touch, netball, running
Biggest pest in the team: Emma Paki
Person in your team you wouldn’t run at: Gemma Brennan
Hobbies: Family, horse riding, running
If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you bought? I would just pay the house off
Favourite tv show right now: Ozark
Sharni Upton
Nickname/s: Sharns
Current employment: Advocate in the mental health sector
Playing position: Lock
Local league club: Yeppoon Seagulls
NRL team supported: North Queensland Cowboys
Superstitions: Being relaxed in the warm-up
Career highlight: Playing in a memorial team for my aunty.
How did you get involved in rugby league? Amanda Ohl asked me to convert from touch a very long time ago
Other sports: Touch, netball
Biggest pest in the team: Emmanita Paki/Reeghyn Beardmore
Funniest person on the team: Emily Powell/Jessica Powell
Person in your team you wouldn’t run at: Kristine Vaalepu
Hobbies: Chilling with my kids
If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you bought? Coca-Cola and Mars bar
Favourite TV show right now: Yellowstone
Kailah Kinsey
Nickname/s: Rogers, K-Roge
Current employment: Office manager Civil Construction
Playing position: Back row, lock - where the coach tells me to go
Local league club: Emerald Brothers
NRL team supported: North Queensland Cowboys
Superstitions: Same sports bra on game day
Career highlight: Grand final win, 47th Battalion win
How did you get involved in rugby league? Dad, been playing since I was six.
Other sports: Touch football, waterskiing, motorbike riding
Biggest pest in the team: Emma Paki
Funniest person on the team: Emily Powell
Person in your team you wouldn’t run at: Krissy Vaalepu
Hobbies: Socialising, any sport
If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you bought? Pay home loan out. Pay parents’ home loan.
Favourite tv show right now: Yellowstone
Tylah Phillips
Current employment: Apprentice painter
Playing position: Utility
Local league club: Yeppoon Seagulls
NRL team supported: Melbourne Storm
Superstitions: Have none
How did you get involved in rugby league? Wanted to play since I was young
Other sports: Rugby union, Oztag
Biggest pest in the team: Emma Paki
Funniest person on the team: Emily Powell
Person in your team you wouldn’t run at: Gemma Brennan
Hobbies: Gym
If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you bought? Go on holidays
Favourite TV show right now: Matty Johns Show
Ta’ Steere
Current employment: Diesel fitter
Playing position: Lock
Local league club: Yeppoon Seagulls
NRL team supported: Brisbane Broncos
Superstitions: Braids on game day
How did you get involved in rugby league:? My older brother played
Other sports: Rugby union
Biggest pest in the team: Emma Paki
Funniest person on the team:: Emily Powell
Person in your team you wouldn’t run at: Tyla Mitchell
Hobbies: Motorbike riding and going on adventures
If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you bought? A holiday overseas
Favourite TV show right now: Anatomy of a Scandal
Tyla Mitchell
Nickname/s: Mitchy, T
Current employment: High school teacher
Playing position: Front row
Local league club: Kawana Dolphins
NRL team supported: Penrith Panthers
Superstitions: Same game day attire
Career highlight: Playing every game so far in my first QRLW season
How did you get involved in rugby league? Family has always been involved and I finally decided to give it a go
Other sports: Netball and oztag
Biggest pest in the team: Emma Paki
Funniest person on the team: Reeghyn Beardmore, Emma Paki or Tá Steere
Person in your team you wouldn’t run at: I’d probably have a crack at everyone
Hobbies: Reading, surfing
If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you bought? Carton of Gold to celebrate
Favourite TV show right now? The Office
Mikayla Roe
Nickname/s: MK
Current employment: Heavy machine operator
Playing position: Front row
Local league club: Fitzroy Gracemere Sharks
NRL team supported: Brisbane Broncos
Superstitions: Shave on game day
Career highlight: Minor premiers 2022 season with Capras
Other sports: Nil
Biggest pest in the team: Emma Paki
Funniest person on the team: Me
Person in your team you wouldn’t run at: Krissy Vaalepu
Hobbies: Gym
If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you bought? A house
Favourite TV show right now: How To Catch a Smuggler
Emily Powell (Raguse)
Nickname/s: Em, Jessica’s pretty sister
Current employment: Stakeholder engagement manager at Stanwell Corp (Jessica’s manager)
Playing position: TBC but I liked lock the best
Local league club: Rockhampton Brothers
NRL team supported: Nil
Superstitions: Dirty socks are good
Career highlight: Getting a run for the Capras.
How did you get involved in rugby league? Copied my little sister
Other sports: Touch - about 20 years ago when everyone had Nokia 3310s
Biggest pest in the team: Big Red
Funniest person on the team: Probably me
Person in your team you wouldn’t run at: Krissy Vaalepu
Hobbies: Hobby farm stuff
If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you bought? Training shirts and Icy Poles for the Capras, then an island.
Favourite TV show right now? ABC news. Love me some news.
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