Rugby union player Samantha Codrington makes Northern Rivers Titans

A rising rugby union star is seeing where a code swap will take her after being selected in the Northern Rivers Titan’s open women’s rugby league squad.

Samantha Codrington makes a tackle for the Casino Bulls against Casuarina Beach in the Coopers Far North Coast Women’s 10s competition. Picture: Mark Kriedemann Moollatoo Photography

A rugby union “try machine” is excited about where her code swap could take her after she and two of her old school mates were selected in a representative rugby league team.

Samantha Codrington, 21, was born at Tabulam and has played her sport between Northern Territory and Casino, where she has been a star for the Bulls.

“I went back to the NT in 2017 and made the state side and went away to Sydney for championships as a winger,” she said.

Codrington has been back in NSW for the past four years and scooped a hat-trick of major awards last season with the Bulls, taking home best and fairest, highest points scorer and top try scorer of the competition.

Casino Bulls players (back, from left) Abbie Lorraine, Abby Benn, Zali Wheeler, Mia Saul, Katie Grimmett, Kirby Petty, Jappirra Torrens, coach Sonia Makings, (second row, from left) Samantha Codrington, Abbey Eggins, Moeisha Davis, Kiera Hickey, Lucy Earl, Lilly McAlpine and (front) Tallulah Mohammed pose for team photo.

Codrington now has her sights set on taking her talent to the main stage.

“Last year was probably by far my best year yet so to add to the excitement I thought I’d try for the Northern Rivers Titans open women’s squad and have a bit of a change,” she said.

“When I play union I’m usually the five-eighth but I’m trying out to be the centre for the Titans team,” she said.

Codrington was selected along with friends and former Casino High School classmates Tamara Clark and Shakaya Williams.

She said her attacking skills were her best highlight.

“I’m hoping my speed and ability to slip through defence will help my team down south,” she said.

“The Titans team (and) coaching staff are teaching me and watching very closely on how I can improve my defence skills too.”

Samantha Codrington (right)with Northern Rivers Titansteammate Katie Grimmett.

She said it was great to have made a representative team having come from a small town.

“We play at the end of February so it’s coming up quickly,” Ms Codrington said.

She said she would love to push for a spot in the Tweed Seagulls pathways programs.

“Tweed Seagulls is a massive step and this Titans program is an awesome pathway for women to be involved in the game.”

She said she would continue playing rugby union and was excited to be changing clubs to the revitalised Mallanganee club for the 2022 season.

“I’m going to play for the Richmond Range women‘s team which is the first in history as Mallanganee have never had a women’s team,” she said.

Casino Bulls co-ordinator Will Campbell said Codrington was a “try machine” and would be sorely missed.

“Sam is a top player that can turn a game around,” he said.

“She’s prepared to lift a team up when they need it most, she’s got her speed and hand and eye co-ordination.

“We’d love to keep her but if she wants to further her game at another club then we wish her all the best.”