Keen to answer call
JILLAROOS rising star Zahara Temara dreams of one day running on to a packed football stadium proudly sporting a Gold Coast Titans jersey.
That dream has suddenly become a realistic proposition with the announcement of an NRL Women’s Premiership to launch next year.
The inaugural competition will feature up to six teams and be played late in the season as double-headers around finals time in the men’s league.
Fresh from helping Australia to a World Cup triumph, Burleigh star Temara is keen on the idea of representing her city.
“I love the Titans so I hope they are interested in having a women’s team. That would be pretty cool,” she said.
“Titans and Warriors are my teams – it would be awesome if I could run out in a Titans jersey.”
NRL clubs will nominate to be included in what is expected to be a competitive process, though Gold Coast are unlikely to feature until a future expansion wave.
Titans boss Graham Annesley said the club was not in an immediate position to put itself forward until its new ownership was finalised.
“We think it’s a great initiative and we would love to be involved at some point,” Annesley said.
“Once we get our ownership resolved, we need to sit down and talk about it as we kind of map out the future together with the new owners.
“We have got a great opportunity in the years ahead not only to have a successful Titans team playing in the NRL but also a Titans team playing in a national women’s comp.
“Of course we want to be a part of that.”
Burleigh have been dominant in the southeast Queensland women’s league while Annesley noted the rapid growth and success seen in the recent World Cup and the AFL’s women’s division.
Temara, 20, added female rugby league players had taken interest in their rival code’s boom competition.
“I was actually in the All Stars camp and all the girls were watching the AFL with all the women playing,” she said. “It was pretty cool.”