KEEP SCROLLING FOR FULL SQUAD ANALYSIS FOR BOTH SIDES

TWEED SEAGULLS

There has been something of an exodus in leadership at the Tweed Seagulls, but co-coach Lambros To’omaga has declared he has the perfect women to fill the void.

Gold Coast NRLW stars Rona Peters and Jessika Elliston will captain the side in their Queensland Cup title bid, with Peters shifting from prop to replace former skipper and lock Georgia Hale.

Hale has joined her partner and fellow former Titan Sam Lisone at the Leeds Rhinos, taking with her 19 NRLW games of experience as well as 13 international caps for New Zealand.

She is joined in the outgoing brigade by Brisbane Broncos five-eighth Jada Ferguson (Norths Devils) and rising star Chantay Kiria-Ratu (Souths Logan Magpies).

Jillaroos sensation Tarryn Aiken is also yet to determine where she will lace the boots.

However as much as Hale and the like brought to the club as leaders and experienced talents, To’omaga has entrusted Peters and Elliston to set the standard south of the border and lay the platform for the attacking brand of football he is intent on bringing to Tweed.

“Rona Peters is obviously our most experienced player. She has the respect from not just our team but everybody in the competition, so she’s definitely a luxury for us to have in the squad for her experience and knowledge,” To’omaga said of the former Maroons enforcer.

“Having those two in the squad up front doing the tough stuff, they both know how to talk but can back it up and walk the walk.

“Obviously Rona has been playing rugby league at the highest level since she was 15 and she also has a touch footy background as well, so having her ball skills there is just going to help our case.”

To’omaga and fellow mentor Lawrence Faifua will seek to implement an expansive brand of rugby league courtesy of the lightning speed on offer in the outside backs.

The likes of Jaime Chapman, Bridget Hoy and Daisy Gordon have all be timed at around the 5.5 second mark in the 40m sprint, and less than two seconds in the 10m dash.

But the Seagulls will be sweating on the comeback of Brooke Saddler, who missed much of last season due to injury.

Saddler has been on the NRLW periphery since she was elevated from the Titans development list to the full-time squad last season, however an ankle concern kept her to just two QRLW appearances in 2022.

In that time, the 22-year-old still managed four tries — including a season-opening hat-trick against the North Queensland Gold Stars — and To’omaga has tipped her to return with a vengeance and desire to garner an NRLW contract.

“We love Brookie, she has had some troubles with that ankle throughout the preseason but is definitely putting in the work,” To’omaga said.

“Obviously the return is still unsure of when she will be available to come back, but we’re happy with Brookie and what she brings to the team.

“We’re definitely hoping we can get her pushed up. Her communication is probably her strongest trait, and obviously as a fullback with her attack she backs herself 100 per cent.

“If she’s in space she’s away and she won’t look back.”

The Seagulls will open their account against the Capras on Saturday March 11 in Rockhampton.

Outside Backs — Bridget Hoy, Brooke Saddler, Chantelle Holloway-Samuels, Chelsea Apps, Jaime Chapman, Nikiah Campbell, Paremo Gallagher, Sophie Holyman, Gabby Rivers, Daisy Gordon

There is plenty of speed to burn in the Tweed outside backs.

Chapman, Hoy and Gordon are all tipped to take up the Round One spots in the back three, bringing with them lightning pace.

Chapman’s status as a Jillaroo will no doubt be crucial to the side’s cause, however it was of the returning Gordon who To’omaga described as “unreal”.

The former rugby union star has made her comeback to rugby league, having previously been a backrower before taking up the 15-woman code.

But To’omaga said that once she arrived at pre-season it was clear she would be a key winger for his outfit.

“She’s a talent, I’m really to see how she goes. When we were told about her they told us she was a second rower; she showed up to training and I thought what the hell, that’s not a second rower but she can fly,” he said.

“Bridget Hoy is our other winger and comes from an athletics background as sprinter.”

In the centres, Gabby Rivers and Chantelle Holloway-Samuels have emerged as the frontrunners for the spots — the pair each bringing speed and strength to go with a draw and pass to utilise the pace outside them.

Meanwhile, To’omaga praised Nikiah Campbell as the “Miss Fix It” of the squad, and is expected to fill numerous positions throughout the campaign.

Halves — Alani Sullivan, Jetaya Faifua, Karli Hansen, Paige Parker

The Seagulls may have lost a pair of superstars in the halves, but To’omaga is backing a young duo to rise to the occasion and make an immediate impression.

Aitken and Ferguson both leave giant holes at the scrum base, but in Jetaya Faifua and Paige Parker the Tweed coaches are confident an enigmatic style of football will follow.

At just 19, Faifua has already announced herself as a future star — accumulating seven appearances for the Titans over the past two seasons.

For Parker, Round One will be her first foray into the halves, having only played two games previously and both on the edge.

“She’s (Faifua) played out on the edge for the Titans, played at fullback last year, she played off the bench at hooker for the Titans and then I’m really looking to make her number one spot as a halfback,” To’omaga said.

“That’s definitely the plan, we’re really looking to get her into the NRLW as a half. Coming off the back of her past two seasons in the NRLW she’s definitely a leader.

“She’s got those leadership qualities and also with the touch footy background her ball skills are unreal. She has the ability to read the game and her decision making is at a high level.

“Having Jetaya at seven she will be the one who will really be in control and steer us around, whereas with Paige as a number six she’s going play our eyes up footy.

“She’s got a really good running game, I’m really excited to give her a crack. I reckon after this season she’ll definitely show people she is a half.”

Alani Sullivan and Karli Hansen are both tipped to contend for a spot in the outside backs, however will provide good coverage in the halves for the young duo.

Forwards — Georgia Elliston, Jessika Elliston, Kalani Paulo, Rona Peters, Tamika Smith, Jemma Bemrose, Lucy Lockhart, Kaitlyn Phillips, Laken Paitai, Zara Canfield

The growth of women’s rugby league opportunities has culminated in a key poaching raid for the Seagulls, with former rugby union star Lucy Lockhart joining the Tweed cause.

The former Bond Bull Shark’s connection with coach Faifua has led her south of the border, where she is set to bookend the scrum alongside Elliston.

To’omaga said his experienced trio of Elliston, Peters and Lockhart would be crucial in laying the foundation for his nippy outside backs to thrive and play the expansive brand he was pushing.

“With the opportunities that are going around in the NRLW it’s definitely a drawcard for a lot of these players to want to come over and give it a crack,” To’omaga said.

“Lucy just had a baby recently, she did have a bit of time off the field but it’s good to see her back out here running amok. She’s really tough, there’s something all the girls can look up to.

“She definitely brings a lot of experience to the team and is a cool head as well.”

While there is plenty of experience for To’omaga to lean on through the middle, he confirmed the club were awaiting clearance for rising star Tamika Smith to join the top squad.

The prop is currently playing with the Tweed under-19s side, however has been training with the senior group at just 17.

“She’s played a lot of senior footy in rugby union already, so she’s definitely not shy of the contact,” To’omaga said.

“We want them (Tamika and twin sister Sienna) in the squad. They’re only 17 years old but they’re definitely on the right path to come up; they’re turning heads.”

While a wealth of experience may have left the Seagulls ranks, To’omaga has breathed a sigh of relief knowing his edges are well shored up.

Titans duo Kaitlyn Phillips and Zara Canfield are tipped to line up in the second row, with one-time New Zealand Warrior Laken Paitai another contender.

Hookers — Lailee Phillips, Gloria Murray-Fiu

An injury to Lailee Phillips has left the crafty hooker in a race against the clock to be fit for the season opener, but To’omaga said the club would be spared by a recent recruit.

Phillips is no guarantee to add to her 14 QRLW caps with the club in Round One, but in Kiwi product Gloria Murray-Fiu the Seagulls will be covered.

Murray-Fiu, a close friend of Hale’s, comes to the table with a very different style of play, according to To’omaga.

Where Phillips is a livewire, capable of taking on the ruck with ease, Murray-Fiu has been described as more of a grinder with the number nine on her back.

At full fitness, To’omaga tipped the pair to strike up a palpable interchanging combination.

“Gloria is a grinding hooker, loves to defend. There’s not much of her but she doesn’t mind the contact,” he said.

“Gloria would have come off the bench to start, but Lailee has picked up an injury in our last trial. It’s still in the air if she’ll be ready for Round One, so we’re holding out on that.

“Lailee is or little pocket rocket, she loves to get out at hooker and has a good understanding of when to have a crack and she’s got our game plan down time.”

BURLEIGH BEARS

Burleigh Bears coach Scott Cooke lamented the loss of a Gold Coast rugby league legend as “pretty hard to replace”, but the recruitment of a Broncos gun could help cover the void of experience.

Titans winger Karina Brown joins former Jillaroos forward Tallisha Harden at the Wynnum Manly Seagulls for the 2023 QRLW campaign, taking with them a combined 39 NRLW caps across four different clubs.

However the acquisition of Sophie Holyman to the Bears front row will come as profound relief for the inaugural premiers of the competition.

The 25-year-old bookend is a renowned metre-eater in the NRLW, averaging 90m a game from five outings to 2022.

Cooke said Holyman was still pushing to overcome an ankle injury, however her injection to the side would ultimately help offset the dearth that has been created by Brown and Harden’s defections.

“It’s just work ethic at this point from Sophie; although she’s coming off an ankle injury she’s done a lot of training on the side by herself and I can see the intensity that she trains with,” he said.

“They (Brown and Harden) are quite significant losses for the team; very experienced players who have been around a long time and a hard to replace.

“From what I found with Karina she’s a real competitor and she’s quite a good finisher on the wing. Not only that, you have years of rugby league experience in there as well.

“You lose a full package of a player there that’s a specialist on the wing — that’s pretty hard to replace.

“It’s exactly the same with Tallisha, we’ve lost an experienced edge backrow slash middle and they’re very hard to find. We’ve got a lot of good young girls coming through but don’t have that experience.

“It’s a tough one, but the other girls are shaping up OK.”

Cooke’s side are set to welcome back halves stars Ashleigh Quinlan and Zahara Temara, who missed the Bears’ last trial having just returned from guiding the Maori All Stars to victory against their Indigenous counterparts.

Burleigh will launch their season at Bishop Park when they take on the Devils on Saturday March 11.

Outside Backs — Terri-Anne Egan, Ayla Ovari, Caitlyn Ah-Fook, Felice Quinlan, Shaianne McGlone, Alysha Lee, Gaby Watkins, Tarnisha Lyons, Skyla Rogers, Skye Girard, Carmen Williamson

All it may take is one more strong season to propel Felice Quinlan into an NRLW set up.

The 24-year-old has proven to be a try-scoring force for the Bears, crossing seven times in six games last year — all coming in her last four matches.

Those efforts included a four-try heroic spectacle against Souths Logan, and the centre’s hard line running ensured she averaged 84 running metres a game.

When asked if he thought Quinlan was on the cusp of higher honours in the expanded 2023 NRLW, Cooke was steadfast in his response.

“I do,” he said. “Felice just needs to keep working hard and keep trying to progress and evolve from where she’s at.

“If she has another good year I can see good things for Felice, I think she could definitely be in the sight of some NRLW clubs for sure.

“Felice is a powerful runner and runs really strong lines, so on an edge she’s hard to handle. “We’ve got a bit of mix there; power on one edge and flair on another. We’ll be looking to hopefully move the ball around but still maintain some fast footy.”

While Cooke has plenty of strike in the centres and out wider, he admits there are still some lingering questions over who will don the number one jumper.

Last year Brown filled the role frequently, albeit reluctantly as she was considered a genuine winger.

Terri-Anne Egan, who has also been selected in the Queensland Reds Super W squad, looms as an option after trialling against Tweed in the role, but Cooke said he was still unsure who his fullback would be.

“It’s up for grabs, we’ve been trying to narrow down who’s going to fill that position,” he said. .

“I think we struggled there last year, we played Karina but Goose was never an out and out fullback, and although she was doing whatever the team needed she was reluctant to take that position in the first place.

“But another young girl Caitlyn Ah-Fook has come out of Tweed from last year; she’s still very young but is learning very fast and positionally she’s quite good.

“I don’t mind the competition; it keeps them on their toes.”

Halves — Zahara Temara, Ashleigh Quinlan, Myracle Monga, Taylor Fenton, Honor Wilson

Experienced pair Zahara Temara and Ashleigh Quinlan are all but certain to link up at the scrumbase once again, however Cooke said several rising stars could still make for palpable competition.

Temara returns to Tweed with 24 NRLW caps with the Roosters to her credit, as well as six Australia and three Queensland appearances.

Quinlan, meanwhile, was one of the inaugural figures of the Parramatta Eels, setting up three tries and six linebreaks from six clashes.

However Kiwi product Myracle Monga has arrived on the Glitter Strip and has proven to be an avid performer in the maroon and white jumper.

Taylor Fenton also turned in a strong effort in the trial clash with Tweed, while Honor Wilson has shone in junior Kiwi representative pathways, and Cooke called on his seasoned duo to hold the younger brigade to account throughout the season.

“I think they’ll be asking questions of the younger crew that’s for sure,” Cooke said.

“They won’t let them rest and allow things to sort of pan out, they’ll be asking the girls to bring their best every week.

“We know what we get out of the senior girls in the team, so they’re always going to play tough.”

Forwards — Dannii Perese, Liantre Simon-Anderson, Sophie Buller, Chelsea Lenarduzzi, Sophie Holyman, Matakino Gray, Tyler Birch, Rilee Jorgensen, Lahtia Sione, Tazmin Gray, Kelly Jury

Cooke has challenged breakout prop Dannii Perese to come into 2023 with “a bit more oomph” after announcing herself as a future star last year.

The Burleigh prop was one of the pack’s leaders in 2022, averaging 93m and 16 tackles a game from eight appearances.

“She’s so consistent, and last year she was one of our major metre gainers all year,” Cooke said.

“Her stats were always very high with Dannii, I’d just like a little more impact from her.

“I know she can grind, I know she can play long minutes, but we need a bit more oomph.

Meanwhile a pair of youngsters are tipped to take their games to new levels despite still being teenagers.

Middle forward Matakino Gray and Rilee Jorgensen have both been exposed extensively to the QRLW and impressed; yet still have barely scratched the surface of their abilities.

Gray comes from strong rugby league stock, with relatives in Canberra star Jordan Rapana and teammate Tazmin Gray.

Playing for roughly 28 minutes a game, the teenage phenom finished her maiden QRLW campaign averaging 14 tackles each contest — and remarkably only missed one attempt.

Jorgensen, 17, is something of Corey Parker’s female counterpart. The edge forward made a statement in her debut last year for Burleigh: scoring a try, running for 135m with four tackle busts and even kicked five goals.

She made seven appearances and was strong with each outing at just 16, and Cooke believes she could soon find herself in the NRLW frame.

The coach described her as a “rare” talent for her ability to not be overawed in this arena despite such tender years.

“You don’t often see a 16-year-old step up like Rille has done,” Cooke said.

“She still has a lot to learn but has the confidence of chiming in and ‘give me the football I’ll try something’. She’s in that mindset which hopefully she never loses.”

Hookers — Chante Temara, Paige Rogers, Lily-Rose Kolc

“It won’t be long until we see her pushing through.”

That was Cooke’s praise of teenager hooker Lily-Rose Kolc, who will be looking to capitalise on her breakout Bears campaign last year.

The youngster made five appearances for Burleigh in 2022, scoring a try in each of her final two games while also having a hand in three tries and five linebreaks.

She made three linebreaks herself in the season, and while she is still plying her trade in the under-19s Cooke has tipped Kolc to take her game to new heights and keep her name high on the radar of NRLW outfits.

However he stressed the spot was not locked in as hers, with the grinding Chante Temara and “crafty” Paige Rogers to be given every chance to stake their claim to the number nine jumper.

“They’ve all got their own little traits; I think Chante is a very good defender but throws a great ball as does Paige,” Cooke said.

“But Paige I find is very crafty, she’ll jump down a short side and read numbers pretty good. “Lily is a mixed bag of all that, she’ll jump out and bring the forwards onto the footy quite well. She also has a good turn of pace, she sees a gap and she’s young enough to not think the what ifs.

“It won’t be long until we see her pushing through.”

nick.wright@news.com.au