GIRLS’ LEAGUE TEAM TO MAKE HISTORY
THE first representative team to play under the FNQ Rugby League banner will feature the best young talents vying to become the next generation of NRLW players.
The FNQ team, coached by Alby Anderson, will hit the road early on Friday bound for the under-17 girls’ Queensland country championships in Townsville.
Much of the squad is made up of players who Anderson coached across his commitments with the Northern Pride’s under-19s and Peninsula School Sport sides. But they represent the new future of rugby league in the north, as they fly the FNQ flag against our nearest rivals.
“We have a good mixture of players from both teams,” Anderson said.
“I’m lucky to have coached a few at the Pride and through Peninsula.
“There are also a few who are part of the RISE program.
“But a lot of them are playing in the CDRL women’s competition, and are among the best players in the league.”
Names like Montana Mook
Kusu, an outstanding secondrower who had a crack in the Pride team earlier his year and has been in good form for Ivanhoes.
“She’s done a lot of work over the year so I’m expecting her to do well,” Anderson said.
“Teesha Potts is another. She’s a typical Tablelands athlete who has thrived in a lot of different sports.”
Aerielle Hobbler, an outstanding hooker or halfback from Kangaroos and the Pride, will likely steer the side at five-eighth and is a talent to watch.
And Anderson can’t wait to unleash Shantelle Ale, a strong centre with a brilliant step who showed what she was capable of in the Pride team earlier this year.
The squad will leave early on Friday to play three games over the weekend.
They first face NQ United, a team made up of talent from the Cape and Gulf regions, before a rivalry clash with Townsville on Saturday afternoon.
A showdown against rugby league developmental powerhouse Mackay awaits the side on Sunday.