Souths Logan Magpies: BMD Premiership gains and losses for 2024

For the first time in her career, Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons prop Keilee Joseph will this season play in the BMD Premiership.

Brisbane-born Joseph – who made her State of Origin debut last year – has never had the chance to play in the Queensland Rugby League’s statewide competitions after moving to New South Wales at the age of 17.

However, with the New Souths Wales women’s competition now delayed to the back end of the season to line up with the NRLW, Joseph has returned home to join the Souths Logan Magpies for 2024.

“I moved down there to be in the pathway to play for the Sydney Roosters,” Joseph said.

“But this year there’s no comp down in Sydney until later in the year, so that was the main reason why I’m up here.

“(Souths Logan coach) Kimi (Breayley-Nati) messaged me because she saw I was at Broncos for NRLW now.

“She just asked me what I was doing and if I was playing BMD or not and she asked if I wanted to play with them. I didn’t know where I was going so when she messaged, I was really happy that she did.”

Having just bought a house, and with her partner and job still in New South Wales, Joseph will do fly in, fly out for Souths Logan.

She said she is not only settling in comfortably with the Magpies, but is enjoying being around her family again after so much time down south.

“It feels really good,” Joseph said of her situation.

“I’m happy to be around my family and to finally play in this comp. I’m really excited to see how the season comes about.

“I have nieces and nephews and being up here, I get to spend more time with them. Being closer to family is really good. It’s been four years since I’ve been up here fulltime so it’s been really good.

“At Souths, the girls are all very nice. The likes of Lavinia Gould, Destiny Brill and Jasmine Fogavini, I’m really excited to build connections from Souths going into the Broncos with them as well.

“What I’ve seen of them so far, they’re all really close and for a team to do well, that’s the first thing you need. I’m really excited to be involved in that culture with them.”

For Joseph, playing in her first BMD Premiership season was a move she simply had to make this year.

After representing Australia at the World Cup in 2022 and then making her Queensland debut last year, the 22-year-old wants to put herself in the best position possible to continue that success into 2024.

She has her eyes on another Queensland jersey and a successful season with Souths Logan.

“Last year, it was a really big year for me,” she said.

“Going from playing in the World Cup the year before to making my debut for Queensland, it was really exciting.

“For me to be able to play my best footy, I’m really hoping I can just keep expanding on last year’s form and just get better.

“I want to play my footy – run hard, tackle hard. Just be that teammate that everyone else wants around them.”

As well as Joseph, Souths Logan have recruited young forward Malaela Su’a and New Zealand international, Ngatokotoru Arakua.

In 2023, the Magpies went through the BMD Premiership season undefeated but fell short at the finishing line, losing their semi-final to the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.

This year they want to aim for the same, but go even further than 2023.

“They went undefeated all regular season last year so hopefully this year is about doing the same and staying strong as a team altogether,” she said.

“That’s really it. Keep building as a team.”

Souths Logan Magpies 2024 gains and losses

Gains

Skyla Adams (Sydney Roosters Tarsha Gale), Ngatokotoru Arakua (New Zealand), Kiani Brown (unknown), Tori Groves-Little (AFLW), Madisen-Jade Iva (rugby union), Keilee Joseph (Central Coast Roosters), Zhane Kameta (unknown), Finao Mikaio (Goodna Eagles), Gloria Murray-Fiu (Tweed Seagulls), Kiarah Siauane (Souths Logan Magpies Harvey Norman Under 19), Malaela Su’a (Brisbane Tigers), Savannah Tato (Souths Logan Magpies Harvey Norman Under 19), Liahona Theodore (unknown), Jaydah Tofae (Sydney Roosters Tarsha Gale), Julie Tusa (Goodna Eagles)

Losses

Baylee Davies (unknown), Shanae Gray (Sunshine Coast Falcons), Stephanie Hancock (Western Clydesdales), Lavinia Kitai (Burleigh Bears), Sera Koroi (unknown), Jonny Lavender (unknown), Shellie Long (Mackay Cutters), Kalisi Longopoa (unknown), Katherine Moore (injured), April Ngatupuna (rugby union), Jodeci Nicholson (Sydney), Crystal Papalii (unknown), Nive Taulanga (unknown), Luisa Vaa (Brisbane Tigers), Melanie Williams (year off), Georgia Wilson (Norths Devils)