Here the best of the best Queensland schoolgirls ahead of the 17-18 years championships
Queensland schoolgirls focus: Meet the mighty Maroons, the 17-18 years rugby league aces who will dive head first into the ASSRL national championships.
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The Queensland 17-18 years schoolgirls are in full training ahead of the ASSRL National Championships starting on July 13 in Coffs Harbour.
The best of the best young Maroons side has power upfront, guile and defensive grunt to go with a number of speed demons.
MEET THE 15-16 YEARS QLD SCHOOLGIRLS TEAM
MEET THE 14-15 YEARS QLD SCHOOLBOYS TEAMS
The Queensland side includes a number of outstanding Queensland country representatives like Mackay’s Cianna Faulkner and Townsville’s Jakaia-Lee Collett.
QUEENSLAND SQUAD
Janique Mili (Met East)
Fast, agile and courageous, the Marsden SHS No.1 will add zip to the Queensland campaign.
A big match player, her darting midfield runs in support of her big forwards will be one avenue of attack for the Maroons. She is also a state championship track and field sprinter.
Shar-Lene Liliana Nati (Sunshine Coast)
Athletic and explosive and safe under the highball, the fullback or centre can put a cat among the pigeons when she runs the ball. Watch this space.
Bella Alo (Met West)
A utility back, Alo is coming off a strong season with the South Logan club. The Stretton State College student is strong, reads the game well and is solid in defence.
Leilani Taofinuu (Met East)
The cousin of Roberts, Taofinuu is a tremendous centre or second row prospect who had a big club season in helping the Tigers win the premiership. She is athletic, mobile and hard hitting, and also willingly takes dummy half rucks from the defensive end.
Paulline To’o (Met West)
A powerful house winger from Ipswich SHS, she is hard, tough and is the perfect player to support her forwards at the defensive end. She can also finish a try with her dynamic running and strength.
Evelyn Roberts (Met East)
Roberts is a little bit of everything for the Queenslanders. As a five-eight she reads a game well and is creative with the ball, while her communication skills will be key to the team’s performance. She is also a strong defender who has considerable experience having played the last two summer club seasons with Canterbury.
Torah Luadaka (South Coast)
One of Queensland’s top players, the agile, goalkicking halfback is the best in her position in the state. She can run in a try from 90m out, launch teammates on runs or show and go off the back of her hookers Diamond and Desic. She attends Keebra Park SHS.
Amanii Misa (Met East)
A Queensland U19s No.13, the Broncos-signed middle forward is tough, mobile and a good ballplayer. Misa knows how to get the job done.
Enah Desic (Met East)
In wonderful form, and fresh from representing her native country, Montenegro, in rugby 7s, the Tigers premiership winning hooker and goal kicking ace from Marsden SHS will cause opponents problems in every match she plays.
A wonderful runner, she is calm under pressure and reads the game well.
Deleni Paitai (Met East)
A tremendous running forward, Paitai can hit a hole while also offering a nice passing option if needed. She plays second rower, but is athletic enough to be a centre. The Marsden SHS student also hits hard in defence.
Keira Rangi (Met North)
A strong ball carrier, Rangi is a tremendous talent which complements her hand work and competitive nature. She is an old hand at representing Queensland - she made the Maroons U12 schoolboys side - the only girl to do so simply because she was so good playing against the males at the state carnival.
Orianna Clark (Met West)
Ipswich SHS’s forward leader, the Tigers premiership winning middle forward will be a key player in Queensland’s campaign. She is a strong runner, tough and has a team-first mindset.
Diamond Graham (South Coast
Graham will be Desic’s partner in crime at hooker. She will play No.14 and roar onto the field to add run to the Queensland game. She is quick and explosive, while also being a fine decision maker.
Mamele Misa (Met East)
The younger sister of Amanii, Misa has such a big engine that she would play half a match for the Souths Logan U17s, and then back-up a 90 minutes later and play another half a game for the U19s. She plays in the middle, hits hard and runs hard.
Sienna Trew (Met East)
A true-blue prop, Trew is the ideal bench player. She will live in the middle of the park where her disciplined and hard work will keep the home fires burning. She is also mobile in defence and with the ball.
Cianna Faulkner (CAP)
A Mackay Cutters ace, the Queensland country representative thoroughly deserves a place in this side.
A No.13 young gun, Faulkner brings a high work ethic to the squad. She is a strong ball carrier and powerful in contact, a mobile footballer who also bundles up opposition runners.
Jakaia-Lee Collett (Northern)
Townsville’s Collett is an inspired selection after her bumper season for the Blackhawks in club football earlier in the season. A middle forward, Collett hits hard, runs hard and is agile and athletic.
Sienna Ibrahim (Met East)
Ibrahim is a wonderful all around sporting talent who could play top flight rugby union or Australian football if she put her mind to it. But the game of rugby league is lucky to have her, where she brings pace, strength and desire to centre or edge play.
Nikeisha Ngaru (Met East)
A mobile and explosive talent, Ngaru made the Australian schoolgirls rugby 7s team late last year and also played for City U17s in April. She is a Marsden SHS young gun who is also a strong defender.
Ella O’Dea (Met West)
O’Dea has been rewarded for her elite performances with the powerhouse Ipswich SHS side by earning a place in the forward pack as a replacement for school mate, Lishainah Ulugia. Originally a Toowoomba product, edge forward O’Dea is outstanding on both sides of the ball.
FOOTNOTE: Lishainah Ulugia (Met West)
Ulugia is unfortunately a late withdrawal from the squad. A premiership winner with the Tigers, Ulugia will hit hard in defence and string the shoulders of opponents with her battering ram charges with the ball.
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