Lanie Hazeltine to fly the flag for the Whitsundays at the National Youth Championships

She’s only 12 years of age, but she’s already announced herself as the most promising touch footy prospect in the Whitsundays. Discover the story behind the NQ Tropical Cyclones select.

Lanie Hazeltine is the only Whitsunday player selected for the North Queensland Tropical Cyclones. Picture: Supplied.

It’s not often the Whitsundays produces representative players when it comes to touch footy.

It’s through no fault of its own, rather a by-product of its remoteness. But it means when it does, it’s memorable.

And in Lanie Hazeltine, Whitsunday Touch has its next potential star, with the 12-year-old selected to represent the North Queensland Tropical Cyclones at the upcoming National Youth Championships - one of the biggest touch tournaments in Australia, if not the world.

“We’re a very, very small association,” said local coach and Whitsunday Touch treasurer Justin Butler.

“We might only get one (player) up to that level once a decade… it has been a while.

He estimates it’s been at least eight years since the Whitsundays were represented at national championships.

So what set Lanie apart?

“She wasn’t afraid to have a go,” Butler said.

“A lot of younger kids might see a gap and try to jog through it. Lanie took the ball and ran with it and was prepared to run flat out.

“She’s fast, she’s certainly got pace, she can read the game.

Lanie Hazeltine will feature for the North Queensland Tropical Cyclones in the National Youth Championships, which kick off from September 27. Picture: Supplied.

“A lot of people are just following the ball, she’s got a fair idea of where it’s going to go and can get herself in the right position.”

Lanie started out playing alongside her mum and two sisters in the family grade, before graduating to Raiders’ A-grade side.

At just 12 years of age she’s the youngest A-grade player in the Whitsundays.

Mum Christie is understandably thrilled with what her daughter’s been able to achieve in her formative years in the sport.

“It’s amazing, me and her dad are super proud,” Christie said.

“I just love seeing my kids in sport being able to achieve things, especially from a small place like Airlie where it’s not a massive comp.

“To see a kid from a small town be able to be selected at the very top level is pretty incredible.”

The National Youth Championships won’t be Lanie’s first foray into representative touch footy either, given she represented the North Queensland under-12s at the schools Touch State Championships in Cairns earlier this year.

While she’s been successful on the field, Butler revealed Lanie also has an eye to growing the game in the Whitsunday region, and wouldn’t understate her overall influence.

“She’s prepared to help out and referee and develop kids which is really good to see,” he said.

“It’s huge for the Whitsundays.”