BEARS TEEN MAKING AN IMPACT

AS the Burleigh Bears prepare to launch a back-to-back premiership coup, an emerging talent has established herself as an NRLW star of the future.

Rilee Jorgensen at just 16 has epitomised the ‘age is no barrier’ mantra, playing six games in her debut QRLW campaign.

A try on debut during her fullgame stint in the second row announced her to the rugby league world, before become a valuable utility option off the bench as the Bears’ marquee women returned from the national competition.

Burleigh coach Scott Cooke said it was Jorgensen’s efforts in the under-19s season which caught his eye, and he felt compelled to introduce her to the next level.

Ahead of the side’s semi-final clash with North Queensland on Sunday, the first-year mentor backed his youngster to make an impression in the pressure cooker of do-or-die football.

“She’s a great little player; she defends well, she adds a little bit of spark in attack and she’s just playing footy and loving it,” Cooke said. “She kicks goals as well, so she’s happy to take the footy and have a shot.

“She’s been playing with confidence to start and that’s filtered into the QRLW season.

“Her first game she was (player) of the match (after she) scored a try and kicked five goals.

“She was filling the gaps early, but I think Rile is best suited to the middle. It’s come down to form and the fact she’s been given an opportunity and taken it.”

The Bears will take to Pizzey Park against a Gold Stars outfit brimming with NRLW class — including several familiar Gold Coast faces.

Titans stars Jasmine Peters, Shaniah Power and Destiny Brill will all take their place for the North Queensland unit, as will Newcastle Knights guns Romy Teitzel, Emma Manzelmann, Katie Green and Tahlulah Tillett. However it could be a sibling duo which combats North Queensland’s threats, and redeems their 40-26 loss to the Gold Stars when they last faced this year.

Halfback Ashlee Quinlan has been pulling the strings for the Bears throughout the campaign, and in recent weeks her sister Felice has been emphatic in the centres.

In the past three games, Felice has scored six tries — including four against Souths Logan — while also contributing four try assists and seven linebreaks.

“They’ve obviously got a connection straight off outside of footy so it seems to be they can get that connection on the field quickly and it’s working for them.,” Cooke said.

“Of course there’s plenty of focus on their strong players, but we still need to do our job really well and focus on ourselves.”