Townsville Blackhawks 2025 squad breakdown: Harvey Norman U17s girls
A Queensland Country star, two highly touted rugby union converts and the daughter of an NRL icon. Find out more about all 30 players in Townsville’s under-17s girls squad ahead of this year’s expanded season.
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A number of North Queensland’s top rugby league prospects are being given their first taste of representative footy this year with the Townsville Blackhawks.
The Harvey Norman under-17s girls is the perfect stage for future NRLW stars to announce themselves on the big stage with clubs around the country taking notice of the fledgling competition.
Now in its second year of running, the U17s competition has been expanded from three games to six.
Townsville will play home and away fixtures against the Northern Pride, Mackay Cutters and Central Queensland Capras.
Townsville Blackhawks under-17s girls coach Rebecca Petersen said this year’s squad was a younger group with the perfect blend of experience and raw talent.
“We’ve got a lot of experience and then we’ve got a lot of players without the rep experience, so it kind of evens it out as such,” Petersen said.
“Looking at this year’s squad, we’ve only got around 12 girls who are turning 17. The rest are actually only turning 16 this year so we’ve got a younger squad.
“It gives them opportunities at a younger age to get that development. There will be girls who obviously won’t get the chance to play this year, but they’ll get the opportunity to have that experience and know what to do to come back into the squad for next season.”
A gruelling train and trial period saw a group of 42 girls reduced to 30 ahead of the six-week season starting February 15.
Petersen said the expanded competition allowed her to do more development work with players that will feature more in years to come.
“We’ve got a lot of new faces this year,” Petersen said.
“We kept (the squad) to 25 last year, but this year our season goes for six weeks so we’ve taken the opportunity to bring a few more in, and give them the opportunity to keep training and developing, and have them there ready if any injuries occur.”
The first opportunity to impress coaches and earn selection for round 1 comes this weekend in Tully against the Pride.
OUTSIDE BACKS / CENTRES
MIA PASHLEY – fullback
Pashley will be given the first opportunity to impress in the No.1 jersey, after a great season with the Kirwan Grizzlies.
The versatile outside back featured for the Blackhawks U17s last year in the centres but has impressed at fullback while captaining her club side, Centrals Tigers.
“We had her last year but she played more in the centres, so she’s done really well to try and confirm that fullback position, and this trial is her opportunity to grab that,” Petersen said.
LARVO NONA – wing
Nona is a talented winger with a lot of potential.
The St Patrick’s College student is an accomplished competitive surf life saver with impressive sprinting ability.
“Larvo has played a lot of local club footy, she comes from up in the islands, up around TI (Thursday Island),” Petersen said.
“She’s got a lot of speed and potential as well. Competition for spots is coming up to another level, so (the trial) is going to be a really good experience for her.”
MATILDA RICHARDS – centre/wing/fullback/half
Richards will join the Blackhawks for her first season of rugby league, although she has plenty of experience in representative sport.
The Townsville Grammar School student represented Queensland last year in rugby 7s, and was also a key player for the Townsville Brolgas. She was named Townsville and District Rugby Union’s player of the year for the under-17s girls in 2024 after her big season with North Ward.
Richards is looking to transition into a fullback but will begin the season on the wing as she continues to learn the game.
“Matilda has just come from union, she’s actually just come back from QAS for a rugby union development program,” Petersen said.
“She has a lot of potential. A lot of speed, good fitness, not afraid of contact – so I’m really interested to see how she goes to a secure spot.”
TAH’LUCY QUERRO – centre/fullback/halves
Querro scored 19 tries for the Western Lionesses under-16s in 2024, finishing second overall in the competition’s tryscoring charts.
The versatile back can play multiple positions but she will play in the centres in Townsville’s first trial match.
“Tah’Lucy has played some school rep footy, so it’ll be a good opportunity for her to step up a level,” Petersen said.
“She normally plays in the halves and fullback, but it looks like she’s securing a spot in the centres for us this year.
“She’s defensively strong, has really good ball skills, and I think she’ll be very damaging on an edge.”
MONTANNA PORTER – centre
Porter will get the chance to prove herself in the centres when the Blackhawks play the Pride.
The hardworking outside back has caught the eye of her coaches in the training paddock and they will look for her to gain confidence in the trial.
In 2019, Porter broke an 18-year record at Townsville North Star Athletics Club in the 10yrs javelin event with an impressive 17.96m throw.
“She’s trained really well this season, put in a lot of effort,” Petersen said.
“I think once she’s on the footy field, she’ll be ready to go. She’s trained super well, and her confidence around training is good, so we’re hoping to see that on the field.”
WENDY BIRE – fullback/half
Bire is a talented backline player who has the skills and strength to cover multiple positions.
Bire has Papua New Guinean heritage and her utility value could see her break into the Blackhawks team for round 1.
“She can play anywhere in the outside backs. She can read a game well, has good ball skills and this is her first time at the representative level,” Petersen said.
“She’s taken everything in and it looks like we might use her as a utility to cover anywhere in the outside backs.”
ALABAMA BENSON – centre/wing/hooker
Benson is another younger member of the squad who will look to develop her game in a high performance environment this season.
“We’ve looked to play Alabama in the centres and on the wing,” Petersen said.
“She’s put in a lot of effort to learn those positions and drill them down a little bit better.
“She has played a lot of club footy at hooker, but we just weren’t ready to put her in the middle at this level yet.
“We’ve done a lot of work with her. She’s willing just to be around the squad, and if she gets a game, she’s happy.
“She’s one of our junior development players coming through.”
HARLEM-RAE HENAWAY SUE-TIN – wing/centre/fullback
The JCU Saints fullback can cover multiple positions in the backline and bring her game-breaking speed to the role.
Henaway Sue-Tin played for Townsville’s under-16s team at the RISE carnival late in 2024, after scoring 15 tries during her RLTD season in the under-14s.
“She has great speed, good ball skills, and she loved to run all day. We’re looking at her as a centre or winger,” Petersen said.
MADDIE HERNANDEZ – outside back/five-eighth
Hernandez has a touch football and oztag background as well as playing rugby league.
An elusive player with good vision and footwork, Hernandez has the ability to step into the halves if called upon.
“She’s got speed, good ball skills. She plays in the halves in club-land, in local footy, but she’s been training and trialling in the centre position and she’s been really good,” Petersen said.
“She’s never had the rep opportunity either so she’s taking everything in and putting in great effort.”
HALVES / UTILITY BACKS
DIAZ BOWEN – halfback/wing/fullback
A famous name in North Queensland rugby league circles, Bowen brings her fantastic playmaking skills to the Blackhawks’ halves.
Bowen, the daughter of 270-game Cowboy Matt, is a talented touch football player whose elusiveness creates time and space for her teammates, though she’s more than capable of breaking the line herself as well.
Since joining the Blackhawks squad, she has been good at taking charge as the dominant half.
“Diaz has a lot of potential. A good touch background but has played rugby league for a number of years,” Petersen said.
“She came in and we selected her as a winger or fullback, but she’s shown the potential to play in the halves so we’re giving her a run there this week against the Pride.”
ALANIETA NAUQE – five-eighth/halfback
Nauqe is a dedicated playmaker who has been given first opportunity in the halves in this week’s trial against the Pride.
The talented halfback was named the Burdekin Roosters’ under-16 girls player of the year and players’ player in 2024.
“‘Ala’ is a Burdekin girl. She’s a little halfback and her commitment has been amazing, showing up to every training session and travelling from the Burdekin twice if not three times a week,” Petersen said.
CHLOE LANE – utility back
Lane will likely play an understudy role to the squad’s first-choice halves in 2025.
The up-and-coming talent will be ready and willing to be thrown into the action anywhere across the backline, or even into the ‘washing machine’ that is the middle of the field if it comes down to that.
“Chloe has got speed and she can play in a lot of positions. She can play anywhere from fullback to wing, to the halves to hooker – so she’s a great utility,” Petersen said.
“She’s one of our younger girls, so it’s good. She’s handy to have there, ready to go.”
HOOKERS / UTILITY FORWARDS
KARA RAINS – hooker
Rains is a tough hooker who win don the No.9 jersey this week in Tully.
The hardworking and dedicated rake can tackle for days and she provides clean service out of dummy half.
“She’s been amazing from day dot. We made the players fill in some player profiles when they walked through the door on the first day and Kara’s main goal was to start at hooker,” Petersen said.
“The potential she has shown is incredible. The effort is there, so we’ve locked her in at training and she’s been great. I’ve got big things on her for the trial, so fingers crossed that kicks it all off.”
JOELENE O’NEILL – hooker/centre
O’Neill is another fresh face to the Blackhawks environment who is looking to continue her rugby league development in 2025.
She has the ability to play hooker or slot in wider into the centres, and will bring her solid defence to either position.
“She’s from Ingham, so she hasn’t had many rep opportunities yet either,” Petersen said.
“She’s one who’s just taking it in her stride. Very quiet, so we’re trying to really get her out of her comfort zone and get the confidence up.”
LIYAH PRIDDLE – hooker/centre
Priddle played in the halves for Kirwan in 2024 but will likely feature as a hooker for the Blackhawks.
She can provide sharp service form dummy half and could break into the team as a centre with her good defence and playmaking ability.
“She was in our squad last year, so she’s got a bit of experience behind her,” Petersen said.
“She’s also in the running for a spot in the centres.”
MIDDLE FORWARDS
MADDISON STRANGE – middle
For years Strange has modelled her game on hardrunning ex-Cowboy James Tamou – and this year the pair will both play for the Townsville Blackhawks.
The physical no-nonsense middle forward plays for Kirwan and is a frontrunner to claim a starting spot in the Blackhawks under-17s team.
NYLANI NAMAI – middle
Namai is a great leader, as evidenced by being named Kirwan High’s school captain for 2025.
Another powerful middle forward with an impressive engine, Namai will co-captain the Blackhawks with backrower Evoltia Tuala.
Peterson said Namai and Maddison Strange had both been setting a great example on the training paddock.
“They’re very damaging. They’re both Kirwan players,” Petersen said of her starting front rowers.
“Nylani has just been named our co-captain. She always give 110 per cent at training. The effort is there and I’m very interested to see how they both go.”
AKEELAH GILBO – middle
Gilbo is a front rower from Charters Towers who packs plenty of punch.
The powerful prop is one of the younger members of this year’s squad but could find herself on the field as part of Townsville’s middle forward rotation.
“She’s on a development journey with us, but she’s got the potential to be playing this year,” Petersen said.
HOLLY DOBLE – middle/edge
Doble is a promising forward who has previously impressed on the soccer field. She’s a hard worker with the ability to play in the middle or on an edge.
“Holly has a good, solid body on her and she loves to work,” Petersen said.
“She puts in 110 per cent effort and she’s just gone to the next level – she has only played club footy in the past, never had a turn in representative footy yet, so she’s loving the experience and we’ve seen her go from one level to the next.
“It’ll be interesting to see how she takes the step up for the trial game.”
MACEY LAHRS – lock
Lahrs is a highly touted prospect who could become a star footballer or basketballer.
The strong and tall lock-forward is the complete package with fantastic ballplaying skills.
Lahrs will not take part in Townsville’s first trial match due to just getting back from time with Queensland’s basketball squad.
“She’s been training really well. She’s just made Queensland basketball as well, so she’s switching and changing a bit and she’s also in Cowboys development,” Petersen said.
“She’s got a lot on her plate but we’ve got high hopes for her when we do have her.
“She’ll be playing lock for us.”
MAKAYLA BENSON – lock/middle
Twin sister to Blackhawks teammate Alabama, Benson will be given the first run at lock while Lahrs is out of action.
She is a tough forward looking to cement herself in the match day squad.
“A little workhorse who loves to tackle,” Petersen said.
“She’s quick with her ball skills, so if we want to use her through the middle as an extra ballplayer, she’s more than capable.”
MARINA ARUBA – middle/edge
Aruba has the size and talent to be a top rugby league player.
With the right coaching and dedication to training, the strong middle forward could have a big future in the sport.
“Marina shows a lot of effort in training. She’s a bigger body who comes from up in the (Torres Strait) Islands and from Cowboys House,” Petersen said.
“She’s still just a bit raw to representative rugby league; if you give her a football she just wants to run hard and tackle anyone in front of her, so we’re just trying to teach her some more structured footy.”
SARAH DAWSON – middle
Dawson has the ability to crack defences with her strong carries, but it’s her sneakily good ballplaying skills that have really impressed coaches at the Blackhawks.
“She’s got a bigger body and really good ball skills, actually, for a middle forward,” Petersen said.
“She’s also willing to put her body in front and make big tackles all the time.”
TAYLAR VIERO – middle/lock
The talented forward returns for her second season in the Blackhawks under-17s.
Viero played lock for St Margaret Mary’s College during the school’s maiden Schoolgirls Cup campaign, and she was a standout during the Confraternity Carnival when her side claimed the division 2 title undefeated.
“She’s had a lot of experience in the rep world, she was in our squad last year and played front row for us,” Petersen said.
“She comes with a lot of experience and just loves to tackle and put a hit on.”
EDGE FORWARDS
EVOLTIA TUALA – edge/middle
Tuala will co-captain the Blackhawks this season in her second year with the under-17s group.
Tuala is arguably the brightest prospect in her age group, and the Cowboys-aligned forward is currently on a pathway to the NRLW.
She was named Queensland Country’s player of the match in the under-17s battle with Queensland City in 2024.
“Evoltia shows true leadership abilities. We had to go to co-captains this year because the Cowboys’ junior development squad actually trains on the same day as us, on a Wednesday,” Petersen said.
“So that’s where Matilda (Richards), Macey Lahrs and also Evoltia head off to on a Wednesday, so we lose them once a week.”
LATAIAH TRINDLE – edge
A Burdekin girl with plenty of promise, Trindle played at halfback for her club side in 2024.
“Lataiah is showing really good commitment and effort, and she’s learning a lot about the game,” Petersen said.
“She has played footy for quite a while. She’s got a very athletic body and she’s putting in the effort so we will give her a chance to prove herself on an edge in that trial.”
ANASTACIA JOHNSON – edge
Johnson is a backrower from Charters Towers looking to elevate her game in 2025.
An athletic player with a lot of potential on the field.
“She’s very quiet around the group but she has good ball skills and she runs hard,” Petersen said.
ANNALISE RIDGILL – edge/lock
A rugby union convert with plenty of upside, Ridgill was named Townsville and District Rugby Union’s player of the year in the under-15s girls.
Ridgill represented Queensland Country under-16s in rugby union last year as a year 9 student at Pimlico High.
While she typically plays as a centre or loose forward in rugby, Ridgill will look to break into the Blackhawks side as a backrower.
“She’s only played a year of club footy, so she’s a little bit raw to the game, but the potential is there,” Petersen said.
“She runs hard, and we’ve done a lot of work with her on her rugby league contact and she has developed a lot within the last couple of months.
“It will be good to see how far we can get her this year.”
KAILA-ANN KRATZMAN – edge
Kratzman had a strong club season with Brothers under-16s and will look to carry that form into the representative season.
Kratzman is looking to develop her game this year to unlock her potential.
“Another with limited representative experience, so she’s just taking every opportunity she can” Petersen said.
“Her work ethic is 110 per cent and she’s really willing to learn and take on feedback.”
SAMMIE RAPSON – edge
Rapson has shown great footy IQ during her time with the Blackhawks and has the training ethic to become a bolter for selection come round 1.
The physical backrower will be given an opportunity to impress on an edge in Tully.
“She has a great understanding of the game,” Petersen said.
“A little bit quiet during training so I’m waiting to see how she goes in the trial to see if she can earn a spot for round 1, but she’s got good potential.”
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