Teens, rugby rising stars, schoolgirls in box seat to impress in Super W for NSW Waratahs

This coach has lost more than one third of his team as they bid to win back one of the most prestigious titles in Australian rugby. And he couldn’t be happier.

Waratahs gun Sera Naiqama (right) looks on in a scrum.

For years, some of the rising stars of rugby have run head first into a roadblock of top talent “stifling” their opportunities with the NSW Waratahs.

But in the wake of a series of retirements and players securing semi-professional contracts in the UK, they have room to impress.

Rather than being disappointed that more than a third of his squad has moved on, Waratahs coach Campbell Aitken is delighted at their new circumstances.

And he believes the time is right for a new generation of players to stand up and be counted in Super W when it kicks off on March 24.

“After the World Cup there was some retirements and we had players who have moved on,” said Aitken, part of a push to have Super W expanded to include New Zealand and other international teams.

Leaney of the Wallaroos celebrates with Arabella McKenzie during the test match between Australia and Fijiana.

“We lost Mahalia Murphy back to rugby league and Emily Chancellor, Arabella McKenzie, Kaitlan Leaney and Lori Cramer are now all playing in the UK.

“That’s so exciting for them, it’s opened up opportunities.

“They are the first ones to go over there and that’s fantastic for them.’’

Aitken said there is another positive to the 13 changes to his 32 strong squad.

“We have always had a core squad of 20 to 25 players for the last four or five years and it has stifled opportunity for young players coming through,” he said.

“That bottleneck has freed up and allows us to free some space for the others.’’

Grace Hamilton is a stalwart of the Waratahs.

Aitken identified a number of young players who will benefit from the movement at the club ahead of their first Super W game on March 24.

Illawarra 16-year-old Bronte Wilson and Camden’s Caitlyn Halse could well make their Waratahs Super W debuts this season despite their youth.

Both come from a Rugby Sevens background and have been identified with potential in the NSW pathay for some years.

Other youngsters to watch include Jacinta Windsor from Bathurst who is 21, Brooke McKinnon, a five eight from Narrabri who is 18, Newcastle prop Georgia Chapple, who is 18, Desiree Miller from Eastern Suburbs and Ella Ryan, who is just 22 but has played for the Brumbies for the last five years in Super W.

The Waratahs last year lost the Super W final to a Fijiana side using the event as vital prep for the women’s rugby World Cup.

The Waratahs Super W side in the past have been one of the success stories of Super W.

WARATAHS 2023 SQUAD: Bree Hoy, Sydney University, Emily Robinson, Warringah, Eva Karpani, Western Sydney Two Blues, Bridie O’Gorman, Sydney University, Georgia Chapple, Newcastle Wildfires, Adiana Talakai, Sydney University, Katalina Amosa, Gordon Britt Merlo, Sydney University, Atasi Lafai, Western Sydney Two Blues, Rosie Ebbage, Gordon, Ana Sio, Western Sydney Two Blues, Sera Naiqama Sydney University, Leilani Nathan, Eastern Suburbs, Piper Duck, Sydney University, Fi Jones, Sydney University, Bronte Wilson.

Grace Hamilton, Sydney University, Loretta Mailangi, Gordon, Ili Batabasaga, Sydney University, Layne Morgan, Newcastle Wildfires, Tatum Bird, Warringah, Claudia Meltzer, Warringah, Brooke McKinnon, Eastern Suburbs, Ella Ryan, Eastern Suburbs, Jade Sheridan, Warringah, Georgina Friedrichs Eastern Suburbs, Cheech Barker, Warringah, Desiree Miller, Eastern Suburbs, Caitlan Halse, Burraneer, Jacinta Windsor, Bathurst Bulldogs, Margot Vella, Warringah, Maya Stewart, Eastern Suburbs.