GIRLS’ LEAGUE PLANS
WHAT began as a simple dinner-time chat has turned into a potentially-seminal moment for some of the Gold Coast’s best young female footballers as they prepare to fast-track their rugby league education.
Forty girls aged 14-16 will descend on Pizzey Park for a groundbreaking Girls Can Too camp today, with the free, fullday program to cover topics such as nutrition, strength and conditioning, goal setting and on-field skills. The camp is the brainchild of The Rapana Academy – led by Giovanni Rapana and Jillaroos star Tazmin Gray, the siblings of former NRL flyer Jordan Rapana – and aims to help develop players for the NRLW.
Gray, 24, has been among those to benefit from the establishment of the NRLW since 2018, playing for the Roosters in the inaugural season before helping to Broncos to back-toback crowns last year.
“I’ve always wanted to help the younger generation and offer my talents and skills and help them to reach their full potential,” the hard-running back-rower said.
“Growing up and not being able to have things like this (camp), it’s something to create a pathway for these young girls. All my brothers have played rugby league so it’s just to be around and help teach (these girls) the things I’ve been taught.”
Giovanni Rapana said sponsors helped make sure today’s camp was free.
“We were sitting around the dinner table a few months ago and while talking about footy, my sister Tazmin voiced that she would love to put a league camp together to focus on the younger generation and as she has experienced the lack in opportunities for the younger girls in the game,” Rapana said.