Western Clydesdales Harvey Norman under-17s 2025 season preview
The Queensland Rugby League junior rep season is just around the corner and the Harvey Norman under-17s Western Clydesdales team has more to play for than ever before. Check out all you need to know in our season preview, featuring the wildcard players to watch and the full squad.
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The Harvey Norman under-17s season is just around the corner and there is more to play for than ever before with an expanded competition taking place in 2025.
Teams will now compete in six round-robin games before competing in a finals series, as opposed to three games last year without finals.
However, despite these changes, the focus remains the same as before for Western Clydesdales head coach Russell Jones.
“This year they’re playing for competition, my approach is still development, the girls obviously they are keen to win,” he said.
“We’re quite happy with the squad we’ve got, we have a number of young girls and a number of girls returning.”
After an impressive showing in the three non-competitive games last year, Jones revealed what his side’s major focus will be when they begin their season this month.
“Obviously defence wins games but it’s more about working on their skills and making sure they enjoy this adventure and want to come back,” he said.
“Enjoyment really is one of the first things I want it to be and obviously work on their skills and defence is a key focus.
“Our goal is to finish top of our pool but you just don’t know, Ipswich and Sunny Coast will be tough.”
The method of emphasising enjoyment clearly worked wonders last season as the Clydesdales won all three of their games and had three players earn call-ups for the Queensland Country rep side.
Player to watch
“We lost a lot of senior players last year but our captain at the moment is Chloe Thompson, she is returning, she had a great back of the season for Pittsworth (in Toowoomba Junior Rugby League) and looking forward to seeing her lead the girls,” Jones said.
“There’s a number of young ones coming through that we’re quite excited about, we’ve got some rugby union girls among our squad so looking forward to seeing how they all go.”
Wildcard watch
“Young Mikaela Blades is only tiny in stature but her work ethic and her game (against Brisbane Tigers) was David and Goliath,” Jones said.
“She didn’t care how big they were, she got in it and hit them.
“Hayley Wainwright from Warwick way, it was her first season of league last season and we're looking forward to seeing what she can produce.
“Another young girl, Lanelle Maui from Yepoon - a big front rower - so looking forward to watching her over and seeing how she goes.”
Western Clydesdales squad: Isabella Baker, Orla Balmain, Mikaela Blades, Ruby Cook, Shyanna-Cee Crittle, Isabella Duncombe, Isabella Elsley, Stavroula Georgaros, Poppy Gibbons, Eustacia Golobic, Tyla Goodrich, Heelie Hilt, Ella Hollis, Isabel Johnston, Ava Kelly, Ella King, Kaley Markey, Lanelle Maui, Leteena Medland, Sedeequa Nelson, Carla Nobbs, Angela Robertson, Keasharn Sands-Hart, Kelsey Tibbett, Tayla Thomas, Chloe Thompson, Hayley Wainwright, Caitlin Wiggins, Tilly Wilkes, Millie Wolff.
Round 1
Febuary 15
Tweed v Redcliffe
Tigers v Devils
Blackhawks v Capras
Falcons v Clydesdales
Cutters v Pride
Wynnum Manly v Magpies
Jets v Bulls
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