Burleigh four in NRL Women’s elite

FOUR Burleigh stars have been named as marquee players for the inaugural NRL Women’s Premiership later this year.

A 40-strong squad was announced today following a recent training camp on the Gold Coast at the Sports Super Centre in Runaway Bay.

Among those to have made the cut for a top-level contract are Burleigh quartet Chelsea Lenarduzzi, Zahara Temara, Tallisha Harden and Rona Peters. Lenarduzzi and Temara missed the Gold Coast camp due to other commitments but Harden and Peters both caught the eye of NRL elite programs manager Brad Donald, who described the latter as “one of the most natural rugby league players” in the country.

The contract winners will enter an elite system and it is understood they will be divided between NRL Women’s Premiership clubs. They will head to a camp in Sydney this weekend.

Donald, also the Jillaroos coach, wants to see more contracts handed out in future years.

‘’The reality is, there are more than 40 players throughout Australia and many more in New Zealand and throughout the Pacific Islands that are playing fantastic rugby league – up to national and international standard,’’ he said.

“The enthusiasm, commitment and positive attitude of every single player attending the women’s training camp on the Gold Coast last month, as well as many more women playing in local league competitions, fills me with great confidence that this will be a fantastic year.’’