Burleigh Bears sign French dual international Cristina Song Puche for SEQ division one premiership defence
Burleigh believe they can benefit from fresh blood as they chase an extension of their stranglehold over the South East Queensland women’s division one rugby league competition.
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BURLEIGH believe they can benefit from fresh blood as they chase an extension of their stranglehold over the South East Queensland women’s division one rugby league competition.
The Bears head into this season targeting a fifth straight premiership.
With increased interest in women’s footy around the Coast, Burleigh are set to face more local rivalry than ever before.
Tweed Heads are pushing hard to have their new side entered in division one – and have had veteran former Bears prop Josina Singapu come on-board – while Maroons utility Rona Peters has headed to Runaway Bay to start a team.
However, the Bears have made some additions of their own to be battle-ready for the upcoming season.
Having already signed Wallaroos representative Millie Boyle, who will join the Bears after her Super W duties with Queensland, Burleigh have also gained French dual international Cristina Song Puche.
Sg Pch has previously played in the centres but is being assessed as a halves option at Pizzey Park too.
“She’s played league and union for the French team. She’s doing really good, she has been training really well,” said Bears coach Tahnee Norris.
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“There is obviously a little bit of a language barrier, like she speaks English but there is just that translation of different patterns and things like that but yeah she has been a good find so it will be interesting to see how she goes.
“We have got another girl coming from Innisfail (Sabteca Fejo). She’s an indigenous girl who wants to obviously further her playing career, which her parents and family are very supportive of, so she has come down and done some pre-season sessions.
“Her parents will put her up in a unit nearby and be supporting to see how she goes on the footy field.
“She was a connection through (captain) Tallisha Harden, with Tallisha coming from up there.”
Norris believes Burleigh can achieve plenty with their young talent coming through the ranks; Chante Temara and Laken Paitai were among the teenagers to feature in Burleigh’s premiership-winning squad last year.
“There’s some really good prospects coming through so I’m pretty excited about it,” Norris said.
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