They may be new to the Harvey Norman Under 19 Girls competition, but the Norths Devils team have plenty of experience to draw from when they take to the field this Saturday for their first ever game.
Head coach Shane Morris has worked for years in developing players and the side also have former Queensland representative (QRP #75) Deanna Turner serving as a coach and mentor with the team.
Turner was coach of the Queensland Under 17 City Girls team last year and has seen plenty of young talents coming through the female playing ranks.
The introduction of the under 19 team at the Devils this year has opened a new pathway for young women in north Brisbane, with the club excited to see the first female players represent the Devils’ senior club.
“This is exciting news for the Devils because it begins another chapter for a club that has been part of Brisbane’s rugby league fabric for almost nine decades,” Norths President Michael Crutcher said when announcing the club would enter a team in the 2022 competition.
“We’ve had some wonderful women who have contributed greatly to the Devils’ rich history and now the next generation get the chance to do that on the field.”
As well as recruiting players from their junior affiliate clubs who have been working on developing female talent in north Brisbane, the squad also features young players who made their mark in the competition last year with West Brisbane Panthers and beyond, with captains Fiona Jahnke and Hannah Larsson both part of the Queensland Under 19 squad that played as the curtain-raiser to the Women’s State of Origin match last year.
This weekend, the Devils will take on Wynnum Manly Seagulls and Tweed Seagulls in a three-way game to kick-start the 2022 Harvey Norman Under 19 season, with the opening action taking place at Bishop Park.
Match: Devils v WM Seagulls
Round 1 -
home Team
Devils
away Team
WM Seagulls
Venue: TBA
Match: Seagulls v WM Seagulls
Round 1 -
home Team
Seagulls
away Team
WM Seagulls
Venue: TBA
Match: Devils v Seagulls
Round 1 -
home Team
Devils
away Team
Seagulls
Venue: TBA
This will be the first time Tweed Seagulls feature in the Harvey Norman Under 19 competition after they initially had plans to compete last year.
With a Tweed team already taking part in the QRLW Premiership, participation in the junior statewide competition will strengthen the pathways for girls looking to progress their rugby league in the Gold Coast region.
For this weekend’s matches, the club have named Queensland Under 17 City Girls representatives Faith Tutauha and Imogen Hei, while the other participating team this weekend, Wynnum Manly Seagulls, features representative talent including Jacinta Carter and Sienna Lofipo.
The Wide Bay Bulls, Mackay Cutters, Townsville Blackhawks, Sunshine Coast Falcons, Northern Pride, Western Clydesdales, Central Queensland Capras, Burleigh Bears, Souths Logan Magpies, Brisbane Tigers, Redcliffe Dolphins and Ipswich Jets have a bye this weekend.
Watch all QRL statewide competition matches this season at QPlus.tv.
