GIRLS READY TO TACKLE NEW SEASON
CAIRNS District Rugby League will relaunch its women’s tackle competition this weekend, with six Far North clubs fielding teams for the 10-round 2021 season.
For Atherton’s Taneel Barton, it has been a long time coming, and she couldn’t be more excited for her female rugby league counterparts.
“Finally it’s happening,” she said.
“I’ve been wanting to play for as long as I can remember, it just never really happened until now.
“There’s a few girls who are just beginners but they’ve been doing really well at training and they’re all really keen to play.
“They’re really determined and we’ve all got to start somewhere, so it can only go up from here. We’re all just really happy it’s happening now for women.”
Barton, who played junior rugby league for Western Lions in Townsville, said she had been waiting for almost 15 years to get back on the field and play competitive rugby league.
“I played for as long as I could, up until girls weren’t allowed to play,” she said.
“I was playing with the boys until I was turning 13, but after that I wasn’t allowed to play anymore.”
She said she wasn’t sure what to expect from the first hit-out against Yarrabah at Jilara Oval on Sunday, apart from a sore body afterwards.
“I just hope the girls get in and have fun,” she said.
“A win will be good, but whatever happens, I’m just glad to be out on the field.”
Yarrabah will take on Brothers in three grades after the women’s clash, with the day to promote Domestic and Family Violence Prevention month, which has become an annual activity of the club in recent seasons.
In the round’s other women’s matches, Edmonton host Ivanhoe at Petersen Park and Kangaroos take on Innisfail at Vico Oval. All women’s game will kick-off at 10.30am on Sunday.