Sunshine Coast Falcons: BMD Premiership squad list for 2024
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Born and bred in New South Wales, as proud a Blue as they come, Maddie Studdon never once imagined that Queensland would be the place she would come to breathe new life into her footy career.
But today, when she runs onto the paddock at Totally Workwear Stadium as part of the inaugural Sunshine Coast Falcons BMD Premiership side, that will be the playmaker’s reality – and she’s loving it.
Studdon, who has played at the highest levels of the women’s game for the NSW Origin team and the Australian Jillaroos, found herself in a bit of a lull in 2023, playing just one NRLW game for the Cronulla Sharks.
It was not the game time she wanted or expected of herself and so the 29-year-old sought out a fresh start, a place to build her confidence back up.
She had heard rumours the NSW Harvey Norman women’s competition was going to be pushed back in line with the 2024 NRLW season – which eventuated – but also knew the BMD Premiership started earlier in the year, regardless.
And with that, Studdon signed on to make the move to Queensland.
“With my limited time in the NRLW last year, I wanted to play some footy and I knew the Queensland BMD competition starts earlier,” Studdon said.
“I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and explore different environments. I heard about the Sunshine Coast Falcons and saw Annette (Brander) and Hayley (Maddick) got signed and I was good friends with them.
“I was keen to go here and the Sunshine Coast really pulled me in. It’s a lovely location and it’s the inaugural side and that’s exciting to start something new, doing it with the experienced girls and Queensland locals as well.
“It’s a point in my career I wanted a change and to get out of my comfort zone. It’s just about building my confidence back up with something new – new coaches, new environment, new teammates, new culture.
“I’ve never lived out of home either so that’s a new experience. It’s the perfect timing of my career to just do that.
“Since I’ve been up here, I’ve enjoyed my footy again and a new style that Queensland play and the coaching staff and my teammates. I’m backing myself and they’re backing me.”
Studdon last played for NSW in 2021 and was also memorably part of the first official State of Origin back in 2018, captaining her side to victory.
The rivalry in the women’s game is just as strong and fierce as that of men’s State of Origin, which is what surprises Studdon about her move.
She has officially relocated to the Sunshine Coast for the duration of the BMD Premiership season and thriving in the Queensland lifestyle.
“No, I didn’t... I never thought I’d be up here living and playing football,” Studdon said.
“But with how the BMD competition has expanded the last three years… I’ve been watching as a NSW player, especially leading into Origin to see how everything goes.
“I never thought I would and I’m quite happy. I’m really loving it, especially bonding in with the Queensland girls.
“There is a massive rivalry but when you’re in one team and see how their culture is, it’s actually a great eye opener and I’m loving this experience, just playing with different players I haven’t played with before.
"In Sydney, you play with the same players all the time and can get comfortable.”
The Falcons will make history today when they play their first BMD Premiership game against the Brisbane Tigers at Totally Workwear Stadium.
As well as Studdon, their line-up is full of familiar names, including co-captains Annette Brander and Hayley Maddick, and fellow New South Wales star Holli Wheeler.
Then there is the up-and-coming talent – names to remember, including Keisha-Leigh Coolwell, Rhemy Hinckesman, Jordan Jackson and Zoey Parfrement.
The Falcons have had to navigate a bit of pre-season upheaval after their original coach Steve Belsham had to step aside, with new coach Danny Grey appointed just weeks out from the first trial.
But Grey has been in charge now for seven weeks and Studdon said the team had united strongly.
Given it’s their first season, Studdon said the Falcons’ main focus was on continuing that bond and representing the region with pride.
“We’re just building each week as it comes,” she said.
“The start of our pre-season was a bit difficult because we had a coach changeover and there were some highs and lows but we’ve come together so well in the past month.
“Each week we’ve sat down and reviewed our trials and then we’ve improved off the back of it.
“Some of these girls are very headstrong on wanting to go out there and doing our role as a team. We’ll play for each other and we know we have each other’s back.
“Week by week, I think we can surprise some other teams in the competition. If we think too far outside of the box, we could get distracted so we need to keep in our circle, in our focus and look after our roles to do our job as a team.”
As for herself, Studdon hopes the move to Queensland gives her what she’s looking for.
She is ready to dig in.
“It’s just taking each game as it comes, each week as it comes and really focusing on myself and my own game and building my confidence back up,” Studdon said of her upcoming season.
“It’s going out there and having fun as well. If you’re very serious, that’s where it gets caught up a bit.
“It’s about being uncomfortable and getting outside my comfort zone to build my confidence up and play the game I know how to play and love to play.”
Sunshine Coast Falcons 2024 squad list
Tangiora Armstrong, Amy Atkinson, Maarire Barnett, Layne Bennett, Nicola Bradford, Annette Brander, Suvanaha Connors, Keisha-Leigh Coolwell, Sheridan Gallagher, Shanae Gray, Ella-J Harris, Makayla Henry, Abigail Hills, Rhemy Hinckesman, Jordan Jackson, Ashleigh Kelvin, Brooke Kingdom, Hayley Maddick, Tyla Mitchell, Mariesha Orr, Zoey Parfrement, Rebecca Prestwidge, Otesa Pule, Sarai Pule, Ruojzharna Richardson, Lauren Sims, Caitlin Sing, Maddie Studdon,
Emmogen Taumafai, Janaya Trapman, Holli Wheeler
