Region’s best chase honour
SEARCH ON FOR LEAGUE’S NEXT BIG THING
WOMEN’S rugby league is booming.
The 2022 QRL’S BMD Premiership competition was rounded out by a thrilling grand final, the NRLW will expand to 10 teams next year and the Australian Jillaroos are chasing their third consecutive title at the Rugby League World Cup.
Many of those players who are now showcasing their skills on the higher stage got their start on regional fields in Queensland.
News Corp is looking to identify the game’s next big thing in the hunt for the state’s best female grassroots rugby league player.
It has compiled a list of 58 players from 31 clubs and you can have your say by voting in our poll.
One-quarter of that number have been drawn from Townsville rugby league in a coup for the incoming North Queensland NRLW team, which will benefit from a talent-rich environment.
The local nominees are:
JAIREL MARTIN-SAVAGE Western Lions
An up-and-coming livewire who can play dummy-half or in the halves. She has the ability to play eyes-up attacking football and can turn a game in an instant with her blistering pace and knack for finding space. She is also a great defender.
MARY-JANE “MJ” WAIA Western Lions
A strong, skilfully gifted fullback with an immense running game. She can find the tryline in attack and also defend her own extremely well. Has a great football brain.
SAMARA LUTA Centrals
A North Queensland Gold Stars player who came back to the team this year. Her efforts on the field are always above and beyond what is asked of her. The 25-year-old five-eighth also helps out with all the junior players coming through.
SERA SADRATA Centrals
One of the newcomers to the Tigers this year. In her first year at the club she was the team’s go-forward player, leading the team in carries from the front-row. A great trainer who can always be relied on to do her job.
JODIE TILSE Herbert River
A 60-minute player who gives her all each and every game. It doesn’t matter if she is playing at lock or hooker, she always has a big impact.
PAIGE HORVAT Herbert River
The Crushers’ fullback and captain leads by example and is dangerous every time she returns the ball from kicks.
HAYLEY O’KEEFE Charters Towers
Was crowned the Townsville competition’s best back after a breakout season with the Miners. The 17-year-old centre regularly beats defenders with her stunning turn of pace, and has great hands that make her a constant threat in attack.
SHIRIKA TOBY Charters Towers
Named the club’s best forward at the end of the season and she’s a really good allrounder. Her versatility allows her to play in the secondrow or at lock, and she is a leader in the Charters Towers playing group.
ALICIA FOORD Brothers
An elusive halfback who played for Brothers as well as the North Queensland Gold Stars. She has a great mind for the game and is a master of spotting weaknesses in defensive lines. Foord has a strong kicking game and her speed off the mark constantly catches defenders slacking off.
PRUE PETERS Brothers
An up-and-coming player at Brothers whose knowledge of the game far surpasses her age. Peters plays at lock for the under-19s Townsville Blackhawks, but plays at fiveeighth for her club. As well as being a tough defender, she possesses a complete range of skills including a great pass and a talent for putting her teammates into space.
STEPHANIE MONDAY Burdekin
Led the competition with 25 tries, 12 more than secondplaced Ieysha Dempsey. The goalkicking halfback was named the Townsville competition’s player of the year, and she was the club’s clear standout player.
TAHLEAH BACKO Burdekin
Backo is a physical frontrower. She is a consistent performer and has all the skills to be a complete player. Backo was named the Burdekin Hens’ best forward for 2022.
MADDY HEGARTY Norths
Hegarty is a skilful secondrower who has the ability to organise and ball-play like a half. She scored five tries this year in a Norths team that struggled.
LISA WELLINGTON Norths
Wellington is a strongrunning second-rower who backs up that asset with really solid defence.