Women’s Pathways Program on show

Twenty-eight of the state’s leading Women’s Rugby League players, comprising 11 Jillaroos squad members, including Sam Bremner, Ruan Sims, Simaima Taufa and Kezie Apps, will unite in Parramatta on Sunday (24 April) as part of the first-ever NSW Women’s Pathways Program.
 
After holding six Skill, Physical Fitness and Ability Testing sessions in as many weeks across NSW metro and country towns, Head Coach Ben Cross and NSWRL Performance and Programs Manager Jamie Feeney will now focus their attention on clinching the Interstate Challenge against QLD for the first time (on 23 July).
 
The squad, also consisting of nine Indigenous All Stars representatives, including Caitlin Moran, Emma-Marie Young and Simone Smith, will have a training session and review of last year’s Challenge, which resulted in a 4-all draw after 16 consecutive losses.
 
“Having a Pathways Program is really going to help develop these players and hopefully their improvements in skill, fitness and game knowledge and understanding will help us secure a victory in the Interstate Challenge for the first time in 17 years,” Feeney said.
 
The NSW Women’s Pathways Program comes after the NSWRL’s newly introduced pathways system for girls and women wanting to play Rugby League in NSW.
 
The introduction of a second division and more teams in the Sydney Metropolitan Women’s competition, as well as the first-ever 13-15 years and 16-18 years girls competitions in the Sydney Combined Competition, allows girls to continue playing Rugby League and not be lost to other codes, creating a genuine pathway to state level.
 
“It’s fantastic for the women in our game to have the same opportunity as our males always have,” Feeney said. 

“To be able to start playing as a young girl and have the chance to follow a pathway through to represent NSW and the Jillaroos is great for Women’s Rugby League.”
 
The final 18-player team will be selected on 3 July before the side goes into camp on 20 July in preperation for the Interstate Challenge on the Gold Coast (23 July).

2016 NSW Women’s Pathways Squad

• Charmayne Nathan – Berkeley Vale
• Riley McKay – Berkeley Vale
• Jayme Fressard – Berkeley Vale
• Isabelle Kelly – Berkeley Vale
• Jennifer Latu – Corrimal
• Ruan Sims – Cronulla-Caringbah
• Maddie Studdon – Cronulla-Caringbah
• Allana Ferguson – Cronulla-Caringbah
• Kaarla Cowan – Cronulla-Caringbah
• Corban McGregor – Cronulla-Caringbah
• Samantha  Bremner – Cronulla-Caringbah
• Lakieshia Tipene – Forestville Ferrets
• Alexandra Sulusi – Forestville Ferrets
• Ashlee Maaka – Forestville Ferrets
• Cobie-Jane Morgan – Greenacre Tigers
• Chloe Leaupepe – Greenacre Tigers
• Tiaina Tufuga – Greenacre Tigers
• Kezie Apps – Helensburgh
• Rebecca Young – Hunter Stars
• Emma-Marie Young – Hunter Stars
• Caitlin Moran – Hunter Stars
• Vanessa Foliaki – Mt Druitt
• Simaima Taufa – Mt Druitt
• Simone Smith – Port Macquarie
• Jasmine Allende – Redfern All Blacks
• Lavina Phillips – Redfern All Blacks
• Rebecca Riley – Redfern All Blacks
• Nakia Davis-Welsh – Redfern All Blacks

Photo: Sam Bremner in action against the Kiwi Ferns in the 2016 Downer NRL Auckland Nines (nrlphotos.com)