POWER PLAY FOR WOMEN IN ALL-STARS
SHE has conquered every challenge put in front of her, but next month Shaniah Power takes on one close to her heart. The Townsville league junior will wear her pride on her sleeve as she takes the field for the Indigenous All-stars on the Gold Coast.
It is an opportunity she had not thought possible before the introduction of the Cowboys Women’s Academy.
Their official training kit will be unveiled today, while the Townsville Bulletin can also exclusively reveal the design for the inaugural North Queensland Gold Stars QRL women’s jersey.
COWBOYS Women’s Academy has proven its worth before a pass has even been thrown.
The academy, which will host its first training session next month, has provided an immediate pathway for North Queensland girls with four women named in the Indigenous All-Stars squad.
The group is headed by Jenni-sue Hoepper and Townsville junior Shaniah Power.
While they will take the field at Gold Coast’s CBUS Super Stadium on February 22, the women will also have one eye ahead to selection for the North Queensland Gold Stars for the inaugural QRL women’s competition.
The Bulletin also exclusively reveals the concept art for the Gold Stars inaugural jersey.
SHE has already lined up alongside greats of the game, and now Shaniah Power is set to become one of them.
As a 17-year-old playing for the Northern Marlins, the backrower stood with a contingent full of high-calibre talent.
Renae Kunst, Karyn Murphy, Tash Baggow – these athletes have achieved so much and Power was ecstatic to be on the same field.
Now, following her selection in the Indigenous All Stars side, she has the platform to emulate the respected trio.
“I definitely felt like crying,” Power said of her recent selection. “It was excitement and a bit of relief making the side, just for the opportunity to play with some incredibly talented girls and be able to share my culture.
“I haven’t had a lot to do with my culture so I think it’s going to be an experience for me to learn more about myself.”
Power was briefly enticed to rugby union a few years ago, but the allure of the Townsville women’s competition drew her back and she turned out for the Western Lions in 2019.
She was brought into the Cowboys Women’s Academy when it launched late last year and has felt her game go to a new level in a short time.
With the All Stars match and inaugural North Queensland Gold Stars trials on the horizon a wealth of doors have been opened for the talented secondrower.
“Even just the last year I’ve learned more about football than I have the whole time I’ve been playing,” Power said.
“I know I have so much more to learn, so I’m keen to build my skills and I think the Cowboys academy and Gold Stars gives me the chance to do that.
“It’s awesome, the pathways that are available that weren’t available for us girls up north is a bit overwhelming.”