We name Toowoomba Rugby League’s star female players
From rookie fullbacks to forwards who hit like freight trains – we reveal Toowoomba Rugby League’s star female players. Find out who cracked the list from your club here.
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The future of the women’s game is bright across the Darling Downs and South West Queensland.
Just a few short years ago women’s rugby league was relegated to a handful of exhibition games between keen players.
Now eight teams are in action with Gatton Hawks chasing a fourth straight premiership.
With the game on the rise here’s our look at the star players leading the charge.
Courtney Robinson (Gatton Hawks): One of the most seasoned campaigners in the Gatton Hawks’ team, who brings ‘big game’ energy and representative experience to the squad. She
has an exciting playing style, using her lightning speed and tackle breaking ability to
change the momentum of most games. Played 2024 BMD season with the Brisbane Tigers.
Tanika Newton (Gatton Hawks): First year at the Hawks and playing at second row, her crisp line running and ability to tackle break at speed has proven difficult for defensive lines to stop her. As a result, she has six tries to her name this season of the TRL. Played 2024 BMD season with the Brisbane Tigers.
Tahlia Marshall (Gatton Hawks): With the ability to play in numerous positions, she’s cemented the five-eighth position for the Hawks with ease. Evasive footwork and slick passing skills provides time and space for her outside runners. And, like all good five-eighths, she’s
not afraid to take on the line herself, scoring six tries this season. Played 2024 BMD
season with the Brisbane Tigers.
Bridie Gray (Gatton Hawks): Already a damaging ball runner from the 2023 season as a front rower, she’s added late footwork at the line and running a lead line to her repertoire.
This has made it even harder for defensive lines to handle her hit ups, seeing her
score five tries already this season. Played 2024 BMD season with the Western Clydesdales.
Libby Dunn (Gatton Hawks): New into the front row position this year, she’s created many attacking opportunities through the middle for the Hawks this season. Her ability to create
second phase play via a stealthy offload and her developing confidence as a ball playing front rower, see’s Libby setting herself up with a very promising playing future. Played 2024 Harvey Norman Under-19s for Western Clydesdales.
Mia Davies (Gatton Hawks): Leads the TRL’s top try scorers with 13 tries in her first season
playing in Open Women’s, having come through Gatton Hawks junior club. Mia excels at finding tries in broken defensive lines with her elusive footwork, speed and ability to power into space.
Bonnie Zappa (Gatton Hawks): A skilled attacking hooker with a strength in creating defensive confusion around the ruck. Enjoys creating overlaps by running and engaging the
defensive lines but is savvy to know when to pass and when to run which has
resulted in her having scored 8 tried this season. Played 2024 Harvey Norman under-19s for Norths Devils.
Brighid Patterson and Monique Black (Oakey Bears): Playing league for the first time Patterson and Black have taken to the game like ducks to water.
Patterson (playing at fullback) and Black (centre) have quickly picked up the skills needed to be successful and established themselves as two of the team’s most reliable players.
Emma Creevey (Oakey Bears): A tough as teak hooker and five-eighth with a massive future in the game if she continues to develop at the speed she has so far.
Her commitment to the team is unmatched with the 17-year-old returning to the field after dislocating her elbow earlier this season.
Has the skills you need to shine as a playmaker.
Bronte Marshall (Oakey Bears): The hard, no-nonsense lock hits like a freight train in defence and plays with an amazing attitude.
Anna Collins (Oakey Bears): The second and front row star gives 100 per cent of herself on and off the ball.
She runs it forward hard, hits harder in defence and never takes a backward step.
Demi Federoff (Oakey Bears): A utility player who can and will get the job done anywhere on the field.
Never backs down from a challenge or task and inspires her teammates.
Mackenzie Zeller (Highfields Eagles): One of Queensland’s rising stars Zeller, who captained the Western Clydesdales Harvey Norman U19s this season, leaves no stone unturned as she strives to improve as a player working constantly on her fitness and asking questions of her coaches.
Zeller is strong through the middle of the field – running the ball hard and bringing down opposition runners with well timed tackles.
Katelyn Collie (Highfields Eagles): Defence is the name of the game for Collie.
When the Eagles forward lines up an opponent they rarely escape and her tackles make opposition players question their next run.
Collie also creates plenty of headaches in attack thanks to her good offload.
Tee Rogers (Highfields Eagles): One of the team’s veteran players, Rogers is a leader on and off field.
The Eagles skipper is hard to stop up the middle of the field – giving her playmakers room to move off the back of her tough runs.
Rogers is also unofficial manager of sorts rallying the troops every week at training and making sure the Eagles have numbers every week.
Eliza Morcom (Highfields Eagles): A pocket rocket who plays well above her size.
The talented lock gets low in the tackle – chopping down runners with ease.
Morcom is all effort averaging 20 plus hit ups a game and nearly 30 tackles.
Lucy Davis (Highfields Eagles): The silky smooth centre runs great lines, slips through gaps in the defence with ease and is a danger when she has the ball in hand.
The Eagles is currently the competition’s second highest try scorer – crossing the line 11 times this season.
Morgan Prentice (Highfields Eagles): Agile, quick and elusive at the line, Prentice is a handful for opposition defences.
The gun fullback loves having the ball in her hand but is also a keen and committed defender.
Kelsey Price (Highfields Eagles): A extremely versatile player who can line up just about anywhere on the field and get the job done.
Price, who has played the bulk of her footy in the halves for Eagles, lined up at lock for the Toowoomba Clydesdales at the 47th Battalion Carnival and was selected at centre by Queensland Country.
Meg Allen (Valleys Roosters): A determined and committed forward, Allen has quickly established herself as key player despite her relative inexperience in rugby league.
Allen is an all-action player – running the ball hard and tackling without fear.
Her ball playing skills also make her a real handful in attack.
Lidia Kelly (Valleys Roosters): Like her Roosters teammate, Meg Allen, Kelly plays with a lot of heart.
A small and fast winger, Kelly runs the ball like she is a barnstorming prop.
Never afraid to step in off the wing to give her forwards a rest by taking a hard run herself she is a committed and passionate player.
Mikeely Scott (Valleys Roosters): She is not the biggest player on the field but she plays like she is.
Scott defends well, dragging down players far bigger than herself and will tackle all day.
Can and does run out the entire game and while she thrives defensively she is still a major part in attack.
Zoe Cook (Valleys Roosters): A regular in the Western Clydesdales BMD Premiership game day squad, Cook plays with the same commitment, skill, determination and effort when she lines up for Roosters.
The hard running lock never takes a backward step and works hard on both sides of the ball.
Cook’s strength makes her a tough proposition to tackle which creates space and opportunities for her teammates.
Her accuracy off the kicking tee has secured more than few wins for the team this season.
Ruby Vayro (Valleys Roosters): Vayro is a young star on the rise and her love for the Roosters is unquestionable.
With Valleys unable to field an under-17 girls team this season they sought special permission from Queensland Rugby League to allow Vayro play senior footy because she didn’t want to play for another club.
A quiet, unassuming player at the start of the year Vayro has found her voice as the season has progressed and expertly marshalls the defence from the back.
Vayro is a speedy fullback who isn’t afraid to take the hard runs when needed.
Chontelle Orcher (Brothers): An inspirational prop who lifts the rest of the team with her.
The forward pack has been Brothers’ biggest strength this season and with Orcher making runs, it is no surprise.
She plays pure hard football and is a game changer.
Latiesha Orcher (Brothers): Latiesha Orcher proves that the talent runs in the family and is a quiet achiever who has impressed in the second row this season.
She makes the most hit-ups and is always involved in the action one way or another.
Chelsea Middleton (Brothers): She may only be 18 years old, but Middleton is already a leader in the Brothers ranks.
She is mature for her age and is an exciting lock who has been thriving playing against older opposition.
Emily Robinson (Brothers): A centre who is in her first year of football but already taking the game by storm.
She brings plenty of power with her runs and is strong in defence.
Emma-Lea Herridge (Brothers): Herridge has moved to centre this year and has been a class above.
She is a weapon in attack and continues to get better each week.
Lara Duncan (Dalby Diehards): Duncan has moved from five-eight to lock this season and her defensive work has been a class above.
Along with her impressive work on the defensive end, she brings impressive ball skills to open the game up in the middle.
Sarah Milton (Dalby Diehards): A leader who wears her heart on her sleave and is the ultimate club player.
Milton is the perfect halfback who rallies the troops and enforces herself on the opposition.
Eva Fisher (Dalby Diehards): Fisher came up from the under-17s this season and has been a revelation in the centres.
While she may be small in stature, Fisher is an absolute workhorse and a weapon in attack.
She loves a collision and is not afraid to get stuck in and receive contact.
Emma Edwards (Dalby Diehards): With injuries ravaging the Diehards throughout the campaign, Edwards has stepped up and her versatility has been key in her switch from the centres to fullback.
The move has been a masterstrok
e as she has developed her game and filled the role admirably.
Grace McLauchlan (Newtown Lions): The Lions captain has been in elite form in the TRL this season.
She is an ultimate leader in the second row with tireless performances.
Between hard-hitting runs and relentless defence, McLauchlan always leads by example.
Janet Morofa (Newtown Lions): Morofa brings a level of versatility which is pivotal in the women’s game and is the perfect teammate.
Along with being a key team player, she also has great passing and running skills.
Tamika Clevin (Newtown Lions): A hooker who can easily play the full game without any break.
She is one of the senior players in the side and does all the little things which normally go unnoticed.
Lorna Murray (Newtown Lions): Murray plays in the centres and is one of the more experienced Lions backs.
She is always at her best and is strong both defensively and in attack.
Kiara Taylor (Newtown Lions): Taylor has been in electric form since returning from having a child.
She plays in several positions and is a leader wherever she is on the field.
Her versatility has also helped her become one of the leading attacking players in the competition as she is regularly involved in tries or attacking plays.
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