Women’s National Championships: State of Origin jerseys and NRLW contracts up for grabs
State of Origin jumpers and potential NRLW contracts will be on the line when NSW’s emerging rugby league stars travel to the Gold Coast for the Women’s National Championships.
Local Sport
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The brightest prospects in NSW women’s rugby league will be battling it out for State of Origin jumpers and potential NRLW contracts when the Women’s National Championships kicks off this week.
In a revamped structure, NSW City and Country will send under-19s sides to the 12-team tournament, to be held at Pizzey Park on the Gold Coast from May 18-21.
They will be joined by two Queensland under-19s teams – the Rubys and Sapphires – as well as an under-19s outfit from New Zealand, playing under the name Ahi Ka Aotearoa.
They will take on open-age teams from other states as well as the Australian Defence Force, a NSW Emerging Country team and a First Nations Gems side.
Given that there will be no championship to play for under the new tournament structure, the NSW representatives will be competing for State of Origin jumpers, with NSW under-19s coach Kate Mullaly outlining what she’ll be looking for as she prepares to select her squad.
“I want smart footballers, strong, tough footballers,’’ Mullaly told News Corp in the lead-up to the event.
“I want passion as well but they won’t be short of that,” she added.
“I also want good people, girls who don’t just communicate well but also get along with both staff and other players.’’
And while Origin jumpers are a big enough motivation, a number of NRLW clubs are yet to fill their rosters and are likely to be on the lookout for outstanding young talent.
“There will be scouts up there from every club,’’ Mullaly said. “All clubs are looking at this event for the future.’’
Ahead of the tournament, we’ve previewed both NSW sides to see who to keep an eye on during the championships.
NSW City
Fresh from a 28-8 victory over Country just two weeks ago, the City side will take plenty of confidence into the championships.
Coach Letitia Taylor says her team will be looking forward to the challenge of playing against their more experienced opponents.
“We play an open-age Emerging Country side on the second day of the tournament,” she said.
“Physically we have a big squad with strong middles, so we expect to hold ourselves. The biggest aspect will be the mental challenge against the older girls, but I think the under-19 City girls will surprise a few sides.”
Forward Alexis Tauaneai is likely to be one the selectors and scouts will be keeping an eye on after an impressive performance against Country earlier this month.
“She led the way through the middle and almost got through the entire 80 minutes,” Taylor said of the Canterbury prop and Tarsha Gale Cup player of the year.
Centres Lindsay Tui and Litia Fusi, who was named Player of the Match against Country, also loom as key players for the City side, with both bringing their own attributes to the team.
“Our left centre Litia Fusi scored two tries in the win over Country, but for me, it was Lindsay’s defence that saved us,” said Taylor. “She’s a very strong defender.”
Elsewhere, Taylor is also expecting some of City’s playmakers to shine this week.
“In the halves, Brooke Talataina should revel in dry conditions on the Gold Coast,” she said. “Brooke scored the winning try for the Roosters in the Tarsha Gale grand final, she takes the line on and is always tough to contain.”
“Those four girls will come under the Origin radar,” Taylor said. “And I know there will be a couple of club scouts in attendance looking to fill spots in their NRLW rosters too. The girls are young, but wouldn’t be out of place in an NRLW squad.”
There could well be a bolter or two in both the Origin squad and on the NRLW radar if players can impress in front of the coaches and scouts, with Penrith’s Yasmine Baker putting in some excellent performances for her side in the Tarsha Gale Cup this season.
“She’s a small and elusive fullback who just needs some confidence,” said Taylor. “She’s quiet, but has a knack of finding space and is one who will get better with a couple of games under her belt at the championships.”
NSW City: Yasmine Baker, Grace-Lee Weekes, Litia Fusi, Lindsay Tui, Debbie Doueihi, Brooke Talataina, Tallara Bamblett, Latisha Smythe, Chelsea Makira, Alexis Tauaneai, Tatiana Finau, Chloe Jackson, Ally Bullman, Sienna Williams, Amelia Pasikala, Tafao Asaua, Noaria Kapua, Jae Patu, Ashlee Pottinger, Joy Levy. Coach: Letitia Taylor.
NSW Country
While Country might have gone down to City in their clash on May 4, there were still plenty of positives to take out of the game, with Country going into the break just 12-8 down before falling away in the second half.
Wingers Georgia Willey and Charlotte Eather were both strong for the Country team in picking up tries and are likely to be threats again this week.
Fullback and captain Krystal Bulmer will also be key to the side’s performances with her talent and organisational work.
Meanwhile centre pairing Lailani Montgomery from the Roosters and Newcastle’s Charlotte Barwick both know how to find the tryline, and will be among Country’s strike weapons throughout the tournament.
Barwick will be joined in the squad by her club teammate and dummy half Leah Ollerton, who had a strong season for the Knights in the Tarsha Gale Cup.
“She has a great running game and we want her to create some opportunity in the middle,” said coach Courtney Crawford.
Elsewhere, in the forwards, Mercydes Faaeteete Metcalf and Hope Millard, who offer plenty in both attack and defence, will look to win the middle for the Country side.
NSW Country: Krystal Bulmer, Georgia Willey, Lailani Montgomery, Charlotte Barwick, Charlotte Eather, Lucy Green, Sienna Yeo, Hope Millard, Leah Ollerton, Mercydes Faaeteete Metcalf, Abbie Grant, Sharlize Campbell, Rangitaiki Pohatu, Kyana Patten, Marley Cardwell, Sienna Limpic, Beyonce Marela, Kayla Fleming, Mia-Rose Walsh, Lara Cosgrove. Coach: Courtney Crawford.
Pools, games, times
The 12 teams have been split up into three pools of four, with all sides to play each team in their pool once, and then one of the other teams on the final day of the tournament, to be determined by their performances.
Pool A consists of NSW City, QLD Sapphires, NSW Emerging Country and Western Australia.
Pool B features NSW Country, QLD Rubys, Ahi Ka Aotearoa and First Nations Gems.
Pool C is made up of Northern Territory, Australian Defence Force, Victoria and South Australia.
NSW City’s first game will take place against the QLD Sapphires on May 18 at 9:30am, while Country will open their account against the QLD Rubys at 11:30am.
All games will be live streamed on NRL.com.
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