Live stream: Emily Dietrich, Grace Dabin, Alice Shannon headline top girls players at ASSRL U18 Nationals
This week’s ASSRL U18 Nationals in Coffs Harbour has unearthed an incredible amount of talented young females who seem destined for higher honours. Check out some of the best.
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The ASSRL U18 Nationals in Coffs Harbour has unearthed an incredible amount of talented young females who seem destined for higher honours.
Every team strung together some impressive passages of play across the week, with the ACT schoolgirls the biggest improvers.
One thing is for sure, there is a record number of girls who could go on to represent NRLW, Super Rugby Women teams, or even the Wallaroos, Jillaroos and Australian 7s teams, in the future.
Some of the impressive youngsters are mentioned below, but there were so many more that did their schools proud.
Reese Vidler (ACT)
The Erindale College hooker was one of her team’s most consistent across the week and was a big reason why the ACT improved so much.
The side went from losing 50-0 in their first game to taking NSWCIS right down to the wire in their last and Vidler, a Year 11 student with one of the finest passing games, was a great leader.
Vidler did both – serviced her halves and did it well but also challenged ruck defence with her scheming runs and playmaking ability.
Makenna Ravouvou (ACT)
NSW Country Under-17s selection Makenna Ravouvou, a Monaro Colts enforcer who worked wonders alongside Stevie Serafin, was relentless.
She began the tournament in fine form and finished it emphatically with a tireless performance against NSWCIS.
Emily Dietrich (NSWCCC)
A sniper off the kicking tee and finisher out wide, McCarthy Catholic College student Dietrich enhanced her reputation with a classy couple of knocks on the left wing, scoring tries here and there and adding the extras – with a sideline conversion on Thursday showing her class.
Indeed, the Hunter Wildfires rugby ace only a fortnight ago was contesting the Australian Schools Rugby Championships on the Sunshine Coast for New South Wales II.
Tarnee Ingram, Macey Cox (NSWCCC)
As mentioned earlier, there were too many players to pick from – but there was something about fullback Cox and hooker Ingram, a Cronulla Sharks junior representative who could play anywhere in the spine.
McCarthy Catholic College student Ingram is also talented at bowling, having represented Manilla Bowling Club last year in the Junior Lawn Bowls State Championships.
Kayla Henderson, Indie Bostock (NSWCHS)
Returning players Henderson and Bostock steered their side to a grand final berth with their leadership and wisdom.
Talented outside backs, Henderson did a bit of everything while Bostock, with limited opportunities, showed her class, especially on the defensive end holding together NSWCHS’ defensive line.
Natalia Hickling, Phoenix-Raine Hippi (NSWCHS)
Promising outside backs from the Lismore region, Hickling and her Tweed Seagulls club teammate, Hippi, were damaging on the right edge.
Hickling, a Rivers Secondary College student, was a mistake-free customer and Titans academy talent Hippi equally impressive and one of the most slippery centres going around Queensland.
Grace Dabin (NSWCHS)
It would surprise not seeing the name Grace Dabin pop up in an NRLW or Super Rugby Womens setup in the near future.
A sporting high achiever from Brisbane Waters Secondary in Woy Woy, Dabin built on her strong showing at the Australian Schools Rugby Championships on the Sunshine Coast with a dynamic display on the edge for NSWCHS.
A Central Coast Roosters junior representative, the determined Dabin is the type of player who could progress to the top level in either code.
Ella Knowles (NSWCIS)
Another Central Coast Roosters junior representative, Knowles excelled as a secondary playmaker for her side playing fullback.
Her ability to put players through a gap, draw in defenders and spin out of tackles is uncanny and despite being slightly undersized, she is no pushover on the defensive end.
Millie Parker, Dior O’Davis (NSWCIS)
The mere presence of young veterans Millie Parker and Dior O’Davis on the edges for NSWCIS had to have instilled confidence in teammates.
Dior, the daughter of Newcastle Knights premiership winner Robbie, returned for her second year of the championships with gusto, leading her team out admirably and influencing matches first with her carries and then with some bone rattling hits.
Her second row partner Millie Parker, a dynamic Kincumber Colts ace in the NSW Waratahs system, was a defensive workhorse.
After showing out at the Australian Schools Rugby Championships on the Sunshine Coast, Parker packed a punch on both sides of the ball in Coffs Harbour.
Alice Shannon (QRSS)
The Australian Schoolgirl selection (2023) made a strong case to again be picked in this year’s team, with her power game close to the line unmatched.
Shannon showed her potential on multiple occasions breaking down opposition defences, which paved the way for her classy outside backs, Zoe Robson, Jennifer Kimber and Taulelei-Siala, to cash in.
Mercedez Taulelei-Siala, Shalom Sauaso (QRSS)
Winger Taulelei-Siala and five-eighth Shalom Sauaso would be the first to thank the great service provided by Raewyn Olomalii for their superb display for Queensland.
A prolific tryscorer, Taulelei-Siala was too fast and too smart with her positioning for her rivals at Coffs, while her Ipswich SHS schoolmate, Shalom Sauaso, was her usual self – a battering ram capable of creating for teammates with her playmaking or acting as a middle forward with her thunderous carries.
Summer Luamanu (Victoria)
The Westall Secondary College five-eighth scored three of her team’s seven tries across the week and was their chief conductor when it came to fifth tackle.
Victoria’s player of the match on Monday, Luamanu backed up a double on the first day with an inspired performance in a losing effort and despite making a mistake here and there, she offered plenty.
Caitlin Loader (Western Australia)
If an NRLW academy hasn’t already noticed, then the Western Force Super W rugby selectors would be wise to look into Rockingham Senior High School edge forward Caitlin Loader.
Loader was arguably the most ferocious defender and against the better teams, she clicked into sixth gear to show who was boss.
She is a mightily impressive young forward who announced herself on the defensive end countless times.
Nelly Thomas (Northern Territory)
A young powerhouse of Darwin rugby, Thomas proved a tremendous leader who when Northern Territory were down and out remained an inspiring teammate.
A Casuarina Cougars (rugby) and Northern Sharks (rugby league) outside back, the Katherine High School student represented her school wonderfully playing fullback for a courageous NT outfit that finished on a 18-4 high note over WA on Thursday.
Originally published as Live stream: Emily Dietrich, Grace Dabin, Alice Shannon headline top girls players at ASSRL U18 Nationals
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