’Dedicated resource to female pathways’: Pride’s answer to QRL elite pathways

Northern Pride may have the solution to fixing the pathways issue that has caused a mass exodus of junior female rugby league athletes out of North Queensland.

Northern Pride Chief Executive Officer Garreth Smith backs QRL boss Ben Ikin and the elite pathways program for young female talent in the region. Picture Emily Barker.

Northern Pride may have the solution to fixing the pathways issue that has caused a mass exodus of junior female rugby league athletes out of North Queensland.

On Thursday October 24, it was announced that 14 teenagers had signed with the Illawarra Dragons with players coming from Townsville, Charters Towers, Cairns, Rockhampton and the Torres Strait.

Pride chief executive Garreth Smith said it has always been his clubs focus to keep local talent in the region.

“We have been looking at appointing an elite pathways and development personnel, creating a dedicated resource to the female pathways,” Smith said.

“That is a key focus for us especially with announcing the BMD premiership side for next season.

Northern Pride Chief Executive Officer Garreth Smith backs QRL boss Ben Ikin and the elite pathways program for young female talent in the region. Picture Emily Barker.

“We have some really good talent in the Far North region and we would hope that the development of our pathways keeps them here to grow the sport.”

Following on from QRL boss Ben Ikin comments made on Friday October 25, Smith agreed with his comments about the strength of the pathways.

“As far as the opportunity for it, having a 17s program, 19s program and now a BMD program, I can’t see how else you could provide an additional pathway to that,” Smith said.

“The 17s and 19s are now at a six game competition and that is going to continue to grow as the female game grows.

“You can see that the NRLW has expanded, the BMD has expanded and it is aligned together.

“I would have to agree with Ben (Ikin) that the competition’s are in place, the teams are in place but you can’t turn it on overnight, it just doesn’t work like that.

“You have to be a little strategic, you can’t just turn it all on and you don’t have the players and then what happens?”

Layla Geck, winner of the 2024 Northern Pride academy U19s MVP (Most Valuable Player). Picture: Chris Robson

Northern Pride’s U19s MVP Layla Geck is one of three players from the Cairns-Torres Strait region who have made the move south.

Joining Geck is Meroma McKeown (Cairns) and Lalita Kris (Torres Strait) who made the move through the NQ Sistas.

Smith said the club is concerned when players move away.

“I absolutely do not want to see them leave home, they have been in our system, hence the push for BMD,” Smith said.

“I want them to stay here and be supported by the family and friend networks and make sure they are in an environment when they are on the field and off the field, that’s the important part.

“So if they are moving away, they are moving away from that support network.

“But if they feel there is a better pathway elsewhere, our job is to ensure they get that opportunity to play at the highest level they can achieve.

“But also our job is to provide the best possible pathways here.

“But in the event they do go, we support them but we want to provide something for them for when they want to come home too.”

Similar to the men’s program, Smith is hopeful the players who become aligned with the Cowboys from the Far North Queensland region come back to the Pride when not selected.

“The affiliation of players hasn’t been discussed yet but if it does come around the push will be that any of our girls in the Cowboys squad get allocated to us,” Smith said.

“It is the same way we do it with the men, they get to play at home.

“You would hope they get allocated to us first and foremost but the numbers in the female space will be different anyway.”

Originally published as ’Dedicated resource to female pathways’: Pride’s answer to QRL elite pathways