Anthony Swain called for his young squad to “face their fears” and pave their paths to towards the NRLW.

And based on what the Tweed under-19s women’s coach has seen in the pre-season, it will not so much be a case of whether they can reach those plateaus but rather if rugby league can retained the multi-talented squad.

Thus far the Seagulls have gone from strength to strength, culminating in a final trial victory over the Burleigh Bears 28-16 on Saturday.

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The likes of Charlize Ratu and Jaida Faleono have shone in other sports already, with Ratu chosen in representative netball and rugby union outfits, while Faleono has be brought into the Australian 7s development squad.

Swain said he had no doubt several youngsters in his midst had the tools to go far in the 13-woman code, and this coming Harvey Norman U19s season could be the most pivotal in their sporting careers.

“I think the time will come over the next two years where they’ll have to make the decision where they’re going to roll,” he said.

“I think this year for me especially is more a development year, I’m not too concerned about where we finish and how many wins; it’s getting the girls to come back next year.

“I just had to really break us down to coach them pretty much from scratch and start fresh and teach them really the game of rugby league. A lot of them are only new to the game and a lot of the girls that have been playing haven’t bee exposed to this level of football.

“A lot of the girls are outstanding in other sports, so it was just a matter of bringing them all together and teaching them rugby league. I knew a lot of these girls could play rugby league, it was a matter of facing their fears and having a crack and they’ve really surprised me.”

Tweed’s cross-town rivals, the Burleigh Bears, have endured a more disrupted start to their campaign, with new head coach Spencer Taplin barely having a chance to put his feet under the desk.

Taplin took over from Salam Bettridge in the lead up to the club’s defeat to the Seagulls, having previously worked as a QRLW assistant for the Bears under Tahnee Norris and as Tweed’s head women’s coach in the state competition last year.

Far from deterred by last week’s loss, Taplin used his side’s trial against Easts Tigers on Brisbane as the chance to cement his outfit moving towards the season launch this weekend.

Having worked extensively in women’s rugby league in New Zealand and Australia, the Burleigh mentor was hopeful this representative campaign would start top transition into a more competitive club outlet on the Gold Coast.

He said as the game grew and accelerated at such a rapid rate, the grassroots of the code needed to be strengthened to ensure the plateaus of the NRLW had the foundation to develop even further towards professionalism.

“It’s happening quite fast here the growth in the women’s game, and what I’m starting to pick up is that transition from club to NRLW and the representative football,” Taplin said.

“There’s a bit of a gap for playing club to NRLW and then Queensland. The growth in the women’s game is definitely there but it’s probably more how it’s sort of happened is what to be mindful of.

“What you don’t want is girls making that big jump too quickly into that representative footy. “The players need to understand what that looks like and how important club footy is to their program. That why going back to your clubs that have done so much is so important, it’s key to the game but it’s key to individuals; it keeps them grounded.”

TWEED SEAGULLS

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Outside Backs — Madison Tavita, Mercedez Taulelei-Siala, Brianna Watkins, California Barrett, Deanna Makin, Charlize Ratu, Tahlia Mitchell Darley, Phoenix Raine Hippi, Savannah Roberts-Hickling, Gabrielle To’o, Charlotte Day, Ava Swain

She may come from a background in representative netball, but Charlize Ratu has announced herself as a future star of rugby league. In fact, Swain is yet to see the young centre miss a tackle.

Ratu’s presence in Rugby 7s has blessed her with the running game needed to pose a threat out wide, particularly in one-on-one situations.

The teenage phenom was one of seven players to make her rugby league debut in last week’s win over Burleigh, and Swain noticed plenty of aggression come out of Ratu he was eager to work with.

“I haven’t seen her miss a tackle yet; she plays rugby 7s as well and she’s moved into the 13-a-side game and she’s been great,” Swain said.

“I can’t knock her, she’s got a good wraps in her first game and on the weekend it really showed how good and far she can go.

“She was strong and talked well, she gives us lots of energy out wide and the more she can get the ball in her hands the better we’ll be.”

Livewire fullback Mercedes Taulelia-Siala has put herself on course to claim the Seagulls No. 1 jumper, having demonstrated a level of maturity at the back which bellies her age.

Meanwhile Swain’s daughter, Ava, has made the jump from representative OzTag to give a shot at rugby league’s elite a crack, and the centre has already cemented herself as the fastest player in the squad.

“She’s been a Queensland oztag player nearly every year since she was young and plays a lot of netball but has transitioned to rugby league to follow in the footsteps of the family,” Swain said.

“She’s the fastest runner in the team so we’re looking to get her involved and the ball in her hands with a bit of space.

“We haven’t timed her yet, but she’s won every race and she’s been defending really well and has some interest from the BMD (QRLW) coach.”

Halves — Jordan Warneke, Sharnallii Peckham, Leilani Ahsam, Vienna Hobson, Siena Smith, Taylah Fuiava

The sister of a Seagulls legend is plotting her rise to the NRLW, and is set to take the reigns in the under-19s competition.

Sharnallii Peckham, sister of Tweed Queensland Cup skipper Lindon McGrady, is expected to join forces with Vienna Hobson — albeit with plenty of competition for the jobs nipping at their heels.

Swain said Peckham had emerged as every bit the player McGrady has turned out to be, equipped with the same skillset that has led to the captain passing 100 QCup appearances.

“She’s come from Goondiwindi, she travelled twice a week last year to play in the Toowoomba competition and has come to the Gold Coast chasing her dream I suppose,” Swain said.

“She’s only small but she’s shown enough in the last week of training and in the game the other week (to suggest) she has a big future in rugby league.

“She’s the exact (same as McGrady), just with the game awareness, she knows when to run and when to pass and she’s very elusive.”

Peckham is expected to be partnered with Vienna Hobson, who has defied her small stature to emerge as a genuine leader of the side.

While there will be strong competition from the likes of Taylah Fuiava — who has been lauded for having the best passing game of the age group — Swain said Hobson would take on the general kicking duties, courtesy of her acute game sense for when to attack and when to play for territory.

“She’s only small but she’s a very good little halfback and knows exactly where the team needs to go at certain times of the game,” he said.

Middles — Kiana Mc’cabe, Tamika Smith, Sarah Qaranivalu, Sara Matherson-Johnson, Sovika Pousini, Lahlia Everingham Mills

So willing is Tamika Smith to bleed for her team, Swain admits she “gets cranky” whenever she is asked to come from the field.

The Seagulls prop is tipped to be the enforcer for Swain’s side throughout the season, bringing plenty of energy and heart typical of many of rugby league’s leading props.

However the Tweed mentor may only get to utilise Smith for so long, with the teenager expected to earn a call up to the QRLW side come Round One.

“She’s one of the key ones. She’ll spend half the season in our side and once the BMD starts she’ll roll in,” Swain said.

“She’s really good; she’s strong and very powerful. I didn’t need to be there before the game (last Saturday); she brought the energy, the fun and she brought the resilience once we started playing.

“She didn’t give up at all.”

Swain is expected to miss the services of Sovika Pousini for the opening rounds of the campaign, having recently undergone surgery on her collarbone.

Sarah Qaranivalu is also in line to own the number 13 jumper, earning praise for her ability to “clean everything up” and utilise her experience on the field to guide the team.

Second Row — Jaida Faleono, Kali Ainsworth, Mia Dendle, Lana Makin

Fresh off her inclusion in the Australian Rugby 7s development squad, Jaida Faleono is now tipped to dominate the Tweed Seagulls edge.

The nippy edge forward has already proven to have the mettle to thrive on the biggest stage, having been brought into the Titans Academy, and Swain has lofty expectations of the teenager.

“The energy she brought on the weekend was outstanding and just her attitude is just ‘no one is getting passed me, I’ll do everything in my power to stop you’,” Swain said.

“She’s big, strong and you can tell she’s got into the weights to find her body. I’ll be looking for her attacking on that edge, she’s really strong with a good offload.”

Hookers — Allira Watson, Kharis Birney

While he may not have a plethora of hookers at his disposal, Swain will take solace in the fact the two he has will form a crucial one-two punch out of dummy half.

Kharis Birney may be new to the game, but Swain has seen enough in her from the opening trials to appreciate there is plenty of ability in the young livewire.

Meanwhile Allira Watson has come through the ranks and according to Swain has established herself as the premier trainer in the squad.

“She’s very willing to learn and excel in her rugby league career more than anyone in our side,” he said.

“She’s been probably our best trainer most definitely, just with her toughness and her willingness to better herself. She’s gone under the radar but certainly will be on it.”

BURLEIGH BEARS

Outside backs — Bella Thompson, Isabelle Farthing, Marli Jurd, Paige Turner-Rau

Already with two years of experience at this level under her belt, Bella Thompson is in line to become one of the most enigmatic forces in the competition.

The livewire fullback has been praised by Taplin for her constant willingness to learn and hone her craft, in particular for her ability to respond to mistakes.

Taplin referred to a moment in the trial clash with Tweed, where straight after making an error she rebounded and scored shortly after.

It was that attitude the new coach used an example to the rest of his squad about how to act against adversity.

“She’s someone to look forward to in the future with that sort of mindset. After the first trial I played a video clip of her, she attacked the ball but made an error and dropped it. It was more her response, we watched it as a team and I said watch the response,” Taplin said.

“She transitioned from the error to responding to a job really quick and she pushed up in the next couple of plays and scored. That was straight after that error, and I said to the girls this happens in a game, this is how you respond.

“That’s what I liked; that’s attitude, that’s character, that’s what we want.”

Meanwhile the sister of a current Titan is bracing for a massive role in the backline.

Paige Turner-Rau is tipped to take up a centre spot, one of the many positions her brother Paul Turner has taken on throughout his short NRL career.

Taplin said while they were still working on instilling as palpable a professional work ethic in the youngster as possible, there was no doubt a wealth of natural flair within her just waiting to be tapped into.

“She’s a bit green but man definitely she’s got something there, a bit of talent and natural skill there,” he said.

“Paige just has some natural flair, just that natural sort of awareness and natural skills, she just needs a bit more help around understanding her role I suppose.”

Halves — Kyra Tusa, Matisse Bettridge, Sienna Laing, Sienna Norris, Zali Bettridge

Having come through the junior Titans ranks, Mattisse Bettridge will now be out to command the Bears outfit.

The halfback has traits which Taplin has identified as being core to the success of a half; already he can tell she has been exposed to elite environments.

While he admits Bettridge still requires some fine tuning in when to attack and when to compose the side, he had no doubt she would develop those characteristics in quick time.

“I can tell she’s been in the system here, she does a couple of things I can see where she’s been taught this and that in terms of her position,” Taplin said.

“I just have to help make her grow in that half role and get her to understand a few elements of it she needs to keep fine tuning. It seems like she’s been a dominant half for quite a while, what I picked up she sort of commands the ball a lot.

“I know where I can help her is understanding when to pull the trigger or not. She’s definitely a dominant half, it’s just needing to keep increasing that IQ in her position and when to pull the trigger is one thing I like that.”

Middles — Azariah Wallace, Aleyas Manipori, Maaria Ngati, Makia Lehrer-Simon, Matekino Gray, Natalee Rixon, Yasmin Elabbasi

Such is his adoration for what she brings to the field, Taplin is confident Yasmin Elabbasi will warrant a call up to the senior ranks this season.

The lock forward is already a member of the Titans Academy, brought up from the Northern Rivers having been identified as a future middle for the Gold Coast club.

And Taplin said it was the tenacity she brought in putting in the hard yards and saving the moments of flashy brilliance for her teammates that stood out.

“What I liked about her was she didn’t mind the nitty gritty stuff, rolling up her sleeves getting us forward. That says a lot about a player, it’s not all the flashy stuff,” Taplin said.

“At the back end of (the trial) she got some moments where she used her footwork and has a left fend as well.

“She doesn’t mind that physicality and I think she would go all right in the BMD physically.”

Aleyas Manipori and Azariah Wallace are tipped to win a tight race to the starting front row spots, however Matekino Gray looms as another contender given her inclusion in the Titans Academy.

Taplin said across his front row options there were no “one-dimensional” players — each came with strong footwork and that could prove a key cog in the way Burleigh attack this season.

Second Row — Elle Sommerville, Sian McNeill, Grace Granville, Grace King, Jazz Cook-Heafey, Kaliyah Browning, Keely Harris, Matilda Jessiman, Milla Ferguson, Mhia Taylor

Taplin admits the backrow contenders are up in the air, with a host of players up for the role typically plying their trade out wider in the centres.

Sian McNeill, however, appears to have a stranglehold on one of the edge spots, having expressed in the position to the coach.

Coming from a rugby union background, McNeill has been said to have shown a desire to own the role, but Taplin said the closing days of the pre-season would be used to determine who best suited the demands of the job.

“It’s up in the air, last week I have them a go in positions they thought they belonged in and then after seeing what they displayed in the skillset now it’s about putting them in positions I think their skillset suits,” Taplin said.

“In the second row you’re such a key element, people don’t appreciate how important that role is.

“Definitely you hold an edge and you protect your half outside you. You’re protecting them and holding an edge.

“Defensively you’re like the glue on that edge, and on attack you’re so key to creating space and if your lines aren’t right or your timing is off you’re not holding defence and creating space.

“It’s such a crucial role in defence and attack … you get it right it’s so much easier for your halves to work.”

Hookers — Lily Kolc, Nadia Windleborn

Already Lily Kolc has displayed the makings of a future NRLW champion.

The crafty hooker may be in the under-19s set up again to start the season, but with five QRLW appearances to her credit she appears destined for greater exposure to the elite level.

Kolc finished the 2022 QRLW campaign with a bang, scoring a try in each of her final two appearances while making three linebreaks. Prior to that, she was credited with three try assists in her two clashes before.

Taplin confirmed Kolc would start in Round One, however his counterpunching option off the bench has given him just as much cause for excitement.

Titans Academy squad member Nadia Windleborn has impressed already for her tenacity and energy at dummy-half, and Taplin believes her impact off the pine could prove one of his most crucial weapons.

“She’s a pocket rocket; she is quick and full of energy,” Taplin said.

“She’s really young and green but definitely not shy of asking questions. I don’t mind that, it tells me they want to learn and I promote that.

“At the moment our strength is our middle from what I’ve seen so far. You come up with a game plan that suits the strengths of the team.”

nick.wright@news.com.au