Lisa Fiaola Regional Cup: preview, squads ahead of the 2024 season
The next generation of NRLW stars from the bush will be out to impress when the Lisa Fiaola Regional Cup kicks off this weekend. See how all teams are shaping up.
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While the Lisa Fiaola Cup is three weeks into the season, the regional variation of the competition is set to kick off this weekend as the best under-17 female rugby league players from the bush battle it out for country glory.
In a revamped competition following the decision of the Central Coast, Newcastle, Macarthur and the Dragons to join the fully fledged Lisa Fiaola Cup, six teams will take part in the tournament over the course of the next month, with round one kicking off on Saturday.
Divided into two pools of three teams, each side will play two regular round games before the top sides of each conference meet in the grand final on March 23.
The competition kicks off with the Northern Rivers Titans hosting the Northern Tigers at Frank McGuren Field in Grafton, while the Riverina Bulls face off with the Western Rams at Laurie Daley Oval in Junee.
Ahead of the competition, check out the squads and how things are shaping up.
NORTHERN CONFERENCE
NORTHERN RIVERS TITANS
Captain: Elle Hannigan
Coach: Rodney Joyce
Last season: 2nd in Northern Conference (2-1-1)
Preview: The Titans will be looking to go one better after coming second in the Northern Conference last year. With a strong local women’s competition providing a great pathway for young rugby league players, the region’s best young talent will be out to establish themselves as the premier side in the competition. Led by Casino’s Elle Hannigan, who was recently named the Richmond Valley Young Sportsperson of the Year, and halfback Kate Pryke, the Titans have a talented squad capable of making waves.
Squad: 1. Joshalynn Walker 2. Kaiya Tom 3. Shelera Williams 4. Shaniqua Williams 5. Ngkarla Orcher 6. Lailah Hickling 7. Kate Pryke 8. Indiannah Woods 9. Rhianna Browning 10. Mikalah Teale 11. Ava Lisetto 12. Elle Hannigan 13. Chaise Windle 14. Summer Renolds 15. Madelyn Burns 16. Taylah Pederson 17. Alyssa Roberts 18. Leara Paden
NORTHERN TIGERS
Captain: TBC
Coach: TBC
Last season: 4th in Northern Conference (2-2)
Preview: One of the traditional heartlands of rugby league talent in NSW, the Northern Region has a proven track record of producing quality footballers. With the likes of halfback Hallie Daniels and prop Breanna Allan backing up from last year’s squad, the team will look to challenge the Titans for top spot in the Northern Conference.
With Tigers’ star Summer Dowell having made the progression from last year’s Lisa Fiaola Cup into the Newcastle Knights’ junior rep system, the new generation of Northern region players will equally be hoping to catch the eye of rep selectors over the course of the tournament.
Squad: 1. Emily Dietrich 2. Georgia Clydsdale 3. Regan Simpson 4. Mia Cloake 5. Mia Allen 6. Sophie Greentree 7. Hallie Daniels 8. Ashley Hanslow 9. Ava Mitchell 10. Breanna Allan 11. Scarlett Slade 12. Ella Vidler 13. Lilly Jane Williams 14. Sophie Paull 15. Ella Gleeson 16. Bonii Porter 17. Elizabeth Dyke 18. Mia Baker
NORTH COAST BULLDOGS
Captain: TBC
Coach: Jared Davey
Last season: 5th in Northern Conference (0-4)
Preview: The Bulldogs will be hoping for a much improved 2024 after failing to pick up a win in last year’s campaign. To that end, with the likes of backrower Sharni Graham, hooker Charlize Jones and prop Ellouise Watt all backing up from last year’s, the club is hopeful this experience comes in handy as they seek to put some wins together.
Extended squad: Vanessa Annesley, Jasmyn Barbuto, Sophia Blomgren, Marley Brown, Tilly Cooper, Shonekqua Donovan, Molly Dowse, Sami Edwards, Sehtaya Gordon, Sharni Graham, Amelia Haddow, Sara Harris, Jasmine Hurley, Charlize Jones, Stella Lewis, Talia Marsh, Jocelyn Reardon, Jada Rogers, Ella Rogers, Ella Saul, Shayla Thompson, Ellouise Watt
Round one: Northern Rivers Titans v Northern Tigers at Frank McGuren Field, Grafton, on Saturday 24 February at 12:50pm
Round two: North Coast Bulldogs v Northern Rivers Titans at Rex Hardaker Oval, Toormina, on Saturday 2 March at 11:30am
Round three: Northern Tigers v North Coast Bulldogs at Scully Park, Tamworth, on Saturday 9 March at 10:30am
SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
WESTERN RAMS
Captains: Alana O’Loughlin, Zakiah Jenkins
Coach: Kaitlyn Mason
Last season: 1st in Southern Conference (3-0)
Preview: Western Rams were absolutely unstoppable in the 2023 Regional Lisa Fiaola Cup.
Across three pool games, the Rams scored a whopping 194 points and kept their opponents scoreless in every game. Staggering numbers, and no doubt the foundations for a strong team in 2024.
Returning from last year’s squad is 2023 U17s Country rep Alana O’Loughlin who is rewarded with the captain’s armband, co-captaining alongside hooker Zakiah Jenkins.
Coaching the side is Kaitlyn Mason, who also has Country rep experience as a co-coach in 2023.
Squad: 1. Sienna Sullivan 2. Tameika Clarke 3. Lara Edwards 4. Freya Bryant 5. Samantha Hanrahan 6. Millah Hutchins 7. Abbey Carter 8. Alana O’Loughlin (co-c) 9. Zakiah Jenkins (co-c) 10. Sala-Joy Camaira 11. Bree Muldoon 12. Na’shayea Dickinson 13. Grace MacGregor 14. Jayanna Dixon 15. Grace Milne 16. Amelia Sullivan 17. Adda Craig 18. Daisy Bohringer
RIVERINA BULLS
Captain: TBC
Coach: Damian Willis
Last season: Did not play
Preview: Having not fielded a team in the 2023 competition, the Bulls will be looking for a strong showing this year.
The region is well-represented, with players coming from the likes of Narrandera, Wagga, Albury, Junee, Griffith, Temora and more.
After a tough couple of seasons on the male side of junior reps, the club will no doubt be hunting some positive results under coach Damian Willis.
Squad: 1. Jaida Lyons 2. Shanae Bloomfield 3. Star Slater 4. Charlotte Makeham 5. Zara Stead 6. Ella Semple 7. Jayda Cook 8. Ally Haisell 9. Emily Edson 10. Samantha Simpson 11. Isabelle Makeham 12. Josey Hoey 13. Anabelle Willis 14. Millie Moon 15. Sophie Phegan 16. Kaelani Goolagong 17. Mahlie Ingram 18. Gorgie Levett 19. Leilah-Jane Little
MONARO COLTS
Coach: TBC
Captain: TBC
Last season: 2nd in Southern Conference (2-1)
Preview: The Monaro Colts picked up two wins out of three in last year’s competition, only faltering to the formidable Western Rams.
This was enough to earn the team a second-place finish in the southern conference. With an opening round bye, the Colts will cool their jets for a week before kicking off their campaign against the Riverina in round two as they look to go one better in 2024.
Their 2024 squad features players from a variety of homes, including Belconnen, Queanbeyan, Woden Valley, Yass and Snowy River.
Squad: Mila Ah Key, Alerya Brayshaw, Frankie Cappello, Lara Carroll, Rogue Constable, Jayda Danilczak, Paua-Lee Going, Telaini Latu, Sabrina Marela, Adelaide Norris, Ella Panagiotopoulos, Nevaeh Peace, Leilani Raappana, Makenna Ravouvou, Sara Small, Kymiah Stewart, Uta Uatisone Poka, Ella Van den Heuvel, Ruby Vivian, Dominica White, Jaymie Napier, Lucy Moroney, Isabella Piper, Kezia Hughes-Watts
Round one: Riverina Bulls vs Western Rams at Laurie Daley Oval, Willow Park Complex, on Saturday 25 February at 12:45pm
Round two: Riverina Bulls vs Monaro Colts at McDonalds Park, Wagga, on Sunday 3 March at 11:20am
Round three: Monaro Colts vs Western Rams at McLean Oval, Harden, on Sunday 10 March at 10:00am
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