TCC in good form heading into first girls comp at Confro

Coach Scott Peters: ‘They’ve got the want. I’ve got a lot of faith in the girls.’

The Cathedral College open girls rugby league team (back row, from left) Seini Tonga, Brianna Mauger, Brodie Peacock, Kiarah Tull, Prue Peters, Jessica Olsson, Imogen Hiscox, Kyah Szepanowski, Martine David, Tylin Guthrie; and (front row) Ruby Frost, Taleisha Munns, Shauna Bailey, Ruby Robertson, Isabella Anwyl, Mykennzie Rowley, Yagany Cox-Hatfield and Poppy Sandilands. Absent: Lalekua Songoro.

The Cathedral College open girls are taking some impressive form into next week’s Confraternity Carnival.

They went through undefeated to win the Rockhampton region leg of the keenly contested Karyn Murphy Cup earlier this month.

They also won six games straight in the Rockhampton District Secondary Schools Rugby League Year 11/12 competition only to be edged 4-nil by Emmaus College in a hard-fought grand final.

TCC and Emmaus are now preparing to make rugby league history, two of nine teams to take part in the first girls competition at Confraternity.

Forty-eight boys teams will also compete at the carnival, which starts on Monday at Brisbane’s Iona College.

TCC girls coach Scott Peters said it would be a memorable occasion for the team.

“We’re all very excited and we’re looking forward to it,” he said.

“This is something they will be able to remember for the rest of their lives and it will be even better if they can come home with the win.

“Across the board, every team is going to be tough. I think it will just come down to who turns up on the day.”

Peters said TCC’s greatest strength was their talent across the park.

Prue Peters, who played with the CQ Capras under-19 team this year, will co-captain TCC.

He said the team boasted a fast-improving forward pack and had speed to burn in the backline.

They are co-captained by skillful five-eighth Jessica Olsson and halfback Prue Peters, who gained invaluable experience playing with the Capras in the inaugural season of the Harvey Norman under-19 statewide competition.

Coach Peters said that hooker Shauna Bailey was playing fantastic football and front rower Kiarah Tull would be instrumental in the team’s go-forward.

He said the girls were ready and raring to go and could not wait to get on the plane on Sunday.

“We’ve had a good lead-up and our last few training sessions have been absolutely awesome,” he said.

“They’ve got the want, and the loss in the grand final will put a bit of fire in their belly.

“I’m confident, I’ve got a lot of faith in the girls.

“I’m really keen to watch them grow and develop as the carnival goes on.

“I’ll be telling the girls to believe in themselves, to dig deep, to look after the teammate beside them and to have fun.”

TCC opens their campaign against Joseph’s College at 8.40am Monday.

Pool games continue on Tuesday, with the finals on Thursday.