Female rugby union, rugby league, Aussie rules and football stars to watch in 2022
Sunshine Coast coaches from four sporting codes have revealed which female players they believe are ones to watch in 2022. See the list:
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Amateur athletes are ready for the 2022 seasons and now coaches from four codes have revealed who will be the women worth watching.
The Sunshine Coast Daily revealed the top 50 male sport stars to keep an eye earlier in April.
Now, it’s time to uncovered each coach’s aim for the season and who are the women and girls they believe are ones to watch in 2022.
Noosa Dolphins (rugby union), Nambour Yandina UTD (football) and Caloundra Sharks (rugby league) will look to defend their 2021 premierships having added new and exciting players to their clubs.
Find out below which female players from every Sunshine Coast senior sporting club are set to shine and which ones are due for a breakout season on the field.
All teams and clubs were approached for a comment before the time of publishing.
Rugby League
CABOOLTURE SNAKES (Ray Totoro)
Season aim: “We’d be like every other club on the Coast in that we want to win the premiership so that’s our goal,” he said.
Emmogen and Tamzin Taumafai
“In terms of second year players I’m excited to see how Emmogen and Tamzin perform,” he said.
“They bring a lot of quality to our team so I’m looking forward to see them go to another level.”
Romaine Fox
“She’s a bit of a smokey pick but I think if she can put her mind to it she can be unstoppable,” he said.
“She has a lot of skill especially for a forward so I’m just hoping it can all come to fruition this year and she can really make her mark on the competition.”
BEERWAH BULLDOGS (Rodney Kerr)
Season aim: “We were minor premiers last year so that’s our aim again to get back there and try and improve on our efforts in the finals,” he said.
“If we can progress on that and compete in the grand final this year that would be great.”
Shanae Gray
“Shanae would be a standout as she hadn’t played footy since she was a junior but came back last year and had a great season,” he said.
“With a year like she had under her belt I think she will have another fantastic season.”
NAMBOUR CRUSHERS (Yolanda McKewin)
Season aim: “We don’t have too many on-field expectations, we’re just aiming to have a good, fun season and to take everyone away from their daily lives by doing something different,” she said.
A’Eisha Jeffs
“She’s our captain and she has represented the Falcons in previous years,” she said.
“I’m really keen to see her on the field and I think she can have another breakout year in the female rugby league community.”
NOOSA PIRATES (Scott Christensen)
Season aim: “Really we’re just going to try and win as many games as we can and I know it’s an old saying but if we can improve every week and take it one round at a time I think things will fall into place,” he said.
Shae Holliday
“Shae will play as a lock or fullback for us but she is very fast and very quick on her feet,” he said.
“She has great understanding of the game and will look to improve even further with her skills this season.”
Trinity-Maree Jackson
“Trinity is our hooker and is really good for us in attack and defence,” he said.
“She is another that reads the play really well and has great service from the play the ball but also knows when to run herself.”
Emily Garrett
“Emily is our captain who plays in the second row and she is a very powerful runner of the footy,” he said.
“She has good footy IQ and knows where to be and what to do at certain stages of the game.”
KAWANA DOLPHINS (Rob Brough)
Season aim: “We are just hoping to close the gap on some of the other teams if possible and to have more control over our game,” he said.
“We have worked really hard and as a team we are trying to understand the game better to develop a process that we can rely on.”
Lauren Sims
“Lauren is playing as our five-eight after she played last year and continues to learn the game a bit more,” he said.
“We’ve introduced her kicking game this year and I think she can play well for us.”
Natalie Orth
“Natalie is another player that has led in the off-season and has a terrific work ethic,” he said.
“I believe she played a bit of representative footy last season and can build on her performances this year.”
Rugby Union
CALOUNDRA LIGHTHOUSE (Kelvin Heirdsfield)
Season aim: “We’ve got so many new players so our aim is to just be competitive,” he said.
“My aim and my coaching staffs' expectations fall under the old cliche of just improving week by week.”
Taylor Aldridge
“Taylor is a kiwi player that is in her second season with us,” he said.
“She is our number nine who is great around the paddock, a good organiser and a staunch defender which makes her a bit of a catalyst for our side.”
Ellie Williamson
“Ellie is playing as our fly half and she is an exciting player,” he said.
“She takes the ball to the line really well, has a good kicking game and scored 30 of our 63 points in round one.”
USC BARBARIANS (John Williams)
Season aim: “We don’t really have anything set just because we have a new team with a lot of new players,” he said.
“It’s more about developing and seeing that progression from the girls throughout the year.”
Imogen Brigden
“She is one of our captains this year and is really looking to lead from the front this year,” he said.
Brooke Te Huia
“Brooke is a natural leader on the field in the way that she plays and through her go-forward attitude,” he said.
Rosie Bright
“I think Rosie is someone to keep an eye on as she is completely brand new to the sport and has never played a contact sport in her life,” he said.
“She has already shown a bit of skill and taken to the game like a duck to water.”
NOOSA (Damien Cogill)
Season aim: “We have a really new and young group after we had a few of our other girls move away at the end of last season,” he said.
“We don’t have any real expectations in terms of where we are going to end up, I’m more so just really excited to see how the girls come together and play as a team.”
Tyla Te Moana
“Tyla has been around the scene for a couple of years but is moving into 10 this year which is a bit of a change,” he said.
“I think she is up to it and will be one to watch this season.”
Ashleigh Wark
“We have our leaders in the forwards in Rhiannon and Dillyn but Ashleigh is a player that I’m really excited to see,” he said.
“She has talent even though it is her first season playing rugby union herself and others around her are looking forward to it.”
NAMBOUR TOADS (Luke Zeremes)
Season aim: “We’re just happy to be involved and that we have a presence in the women's competition,” he said.
“We have a really young side so it depends on how they grow as players through the season and rise to playing senior rugby against those other teams.”
Eva Johnston
“She is one of younger players but she has just been selected in the Super W youth side and is a player we really want to develop as a hooker,” he said.
“She is a player that could be playing for Queensland in the next couple of years and she has that drive to go with it.”
Bridget Carter
“Bridget is our lock and has good natural ability,” he said.
“She has developed her game confidence over the last few seasons and is taking her game to a more 15 or 12 a side model.”
Allie Salter
“Allie was plagued by a bit of injury last season but is injury free now and looking forward to seeing her showcase her speed and athleticism on the edge,” he said.
“She's been great in the 7’s work we did at Roma earlier in the year so she’s is another to look out for.”
CABOOLTURE SNAKES (Tony Walls)
Season aim: “The aim is just for the girls to have fun to be honest with you,” he said.
“Success would be a bonus as I believe we have a good side but first and for most I hope the girls enjoy themselves and there’s a want from them to keep coming back.”
Olivia Fido
“Liv is a very good player with good experience on the field,” he said.
“She’s our captain and expecting big things from her again this season.”
Rachelle Ware
“We have got a couple of new girls that have turned up that have never played rugby before and one of those is Rachelle who is an Australian gridiron player,” he said.
“She seems to have taken the game really well and I think she’s one to keep an eye on.”
Football
BEERWAH GLASSHOUSE UTD (Jason Sparrow)
Season aim: “We expect to be at the top end of the league as we really are looking to win it this season,” he said.
“This is my first year and although they have always been at the top we know as a collective we can go one better this season and that’s the aim.”
Samara Christmas
“We have been very lucky in that we picked up Samara this season who has obviously played at a very high level,” he said.
“She has been a welcomed talent and excited to see what she can bring to our team.”
Kirra-Leigh Crouch
“She is a really top quality utility player that can perform well in a number of positions,” he said.
“She’s is only 18 but has really good skill, a really good attitude and is the type of player that every player wants in their team.”
MAROOCHYDORE FC (Gareth Simmonds)
Season aim: “We have strengthened from last year and we were so close to the top so we’re looking to go all the way this season,” he said.
Danae Pryce
“Danae is our captain and our midfielder who in my opinion is one of the best in the league,” he said.
Kirra Guy
“Kirra had a couple years off but is back now and is another good midfielder that brings plenty of skill and composure to our team,” he said.
Gabby Postan
“I think Gabby is in store for a bit of a breakout season in the women's competition,” he said.
“She’s only 16 but scored a few goals last year so looking forward to her hopefully having a strong season and going to another level.”
CALOUNDRA FC (Nic Basile)
Season aim: “We have a very young team so we want to be very competitive and play some exciting football,” he said.
“I know it's a bit of a cliche especially when you don’t know what the other teams are coming in with but I think recently we should be playing finals football with our young team and exciting talent.”
Drew Aiken
“She had a year off last year with an injury but kept on working hard and rehabbing so she’s come back in really good and super strong,” he said.
Annie Campbell
“She is a returning player to Caloundra and she is quite an experienced player,” he said.
Josie Ware
“She is really strong and very fit so looking forward to a good season from her,” he said.
AFL
MAROOCHYDORE ROOS(Steve Moody)
Season aim: “Just to keep improving and keep getting better as individuals but also as a group,” he said.
“It’s pretty hard to say we want to go one better as our group changes around a fair bit at the QAFLW level.”
Demi Norton
“Demi is a player that I think will grow throughout the season which is exciting,” he said.
“I think she has plenty of upside so would really like to see her go well,” he said.
Kiara Hillier
“She played her first senior game in the opening rounds and we would love to think she is going to have a good year of footy”, he said.
Bree Grentell
“She is a new recruit for our club after she moved down from Rockhampton where she was probably the best player in the competition there,” he said.
“She has plenty of talent but now playing in the QAFLW it’s a different grade so hoping she can make that step up.”
Summer Jordan
“She is a Maroochydore junior that’s come through the ranks,“ he said.
“She has some really good talent and a solid footy IQ so hoping she can string together a few good performances this season too.”
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