Four Stingrays of Shellharbour girls selected for Australian U18s Schoolgirls side

Four Shellharbour girls will don the green and gold of Australia after being selected for the U18 Schoolgirls team. Meet the south coast stars who have been chosen for the prestigious honour.

Stingrays of Shellharbour girls selected for the Australian U18 Schoolgirls side (left to right) Indie Bostock, Evie McGrath, Caley Tallon-Henniker and Kasey Reh. Picture: Stingrays of Shellharbour Facebook

The Illawarra and south coast region has some highly promising female footy talent on their hands with four Stingrays of Shellharbour girls selected for the Australian U18s Schoolgirls team.

Indie Bostock, Caley Tallon-Henniker, Kasey Reh and Evie McGrath were all selected for the Australian side following the inaugural Secondary Schools National Championships played at Kayo Stadium in Queensland.

The Stingrays also had a further four girls trial for the team in Mia-Rose Walsh, Ruby Marshall, Sienna Leslie and Herewaka Pohatu, who were unsuccessful in selection despite stellar tournaments.

Coach of the Stingrays U18s tackle side Adam McGrath highlighted how proud he and the club were of all the girls who trialled.

“It’s a pretty great achievement, all the girls had exceptional tournaments,” McGrath said.

Stingrays of Shellharbour girls selected for the Australian U18 Schoolgirls side (left to right) Caley Tallon-Henniker, Evie McGrath, Kasey Reh and Indie Bostock. Picture: Stingrays of Shellharbour Facebook

“Lots of these girls have been Stingrays since day one.

“They’ve gone from winning national titles in U12 Oztag to here, it’s been a real journey together for a lot of them.

“I’m super proud of all them all.”

Evie McGrath (middle) and Indie Bostock (right) of the Stingrays of Shellharbour LLT1. Picture: Supplied

For a lot of the Stingrays, tackle footy has only been available to them for the past two to three years, highlighting how fast a lot of the Stingrays girls have elevated themselves to such a high standard of the game.

This isn’t the first representative side the four girls have played in either, having all been a part of the Illawarra Steelers inaugural Lisa Fiaola Cup team in 2023 that went undefeated.

There’s an Illawarra connection to the whole Australian side in fact, with Melissa Spero of Warilla High School coaching the side.

Meet the south coast girls who made the side:

NSW CHS duo Caley Tallon-Henniker and Indie Bostock ahead of the ASSRL Schoolgirls semi-finals. Picture: Andrew Dawson

Indie Bostock

Sister to current NRL Dolphins winger Jack Bostock, Indie is another who has taken the footy genes in the family and is on the rise.

A beautiful runner of the ball, deceptively fast from the outside edge and a strong defender as well.

Indie Bostock playing for the Illawarra Steelers. Photo: Denis Ivaneza

Coming from LLT1 in 2022, she was voted Best and Fairest in that team, carrying her form into 2023 in the tackle division.

She has a great understanding of the game and a great attitude towards the game of rugby league.

Kasey Reh playing for the Country under-17 women's side against City. Photo: Bryden Sharp

Kasey Reh

The skilful halfback who will be steering the ship in the green and gold of Australia.

A real leader of the girls whenever she’s on the park, organising plays like it’s second nature to her.

Reh is also an exceptional defender for a halfback which stands her out among others in her position.

An old head in a young body, coach McGrath highlights that she will be the first to training and the last to leave consistently.

Evie McGrath representing NSWCCC. Picture: Herdo_Photography

Evie McGrath

Daughter to her coach and proud father, McGrath joins her Stingrays teammate Reh in the halves from the five-eighth role.

She reads the game exceptionally well, possessing great passing ability and decision making in attack.

Deceivingly fast, which adds an added element of x-factor to her side, she’s another who has been putting in the extras an rewarded with a berth in the Australian side.

Caley Tallon-Henniker playing for the Country under-17 women's side against City. Photo: Bryden Sharp

Caley Tallon-Henniker

Was a standout performer for the NSWCHS side from fullback, scoring two early tries to get her side rolling in her side’s grand final triumph over the Queensland Rep Secondary Schools side.

Selected on the wing for the Australian side, Tallon-Henniker has electric pace that is just a level above her opponents.

Small in stature but strong in defence, she handles contact well and won’t shy away from challenges.

She is also one of the best goalkickers going around thanks to her football background, which is an added level of threat for any side she is a part of.