Queensland Women’s XV coach Michael Hayes has named his squad ahead of the inaugural Super W season, which kicks off in March.
The squad features a mix of experience and youth, with a total of nine Wallaroos named in the side, as well as 13 players from Queensland’s three AON University Sevens squads and six players who have been a part of the Queensland Academy of Sport Women’s Sevens Academy.
2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup representatives Cheyenne Campbell, Hana Ngaha, Liz Patu, Nareta Marsters, Samantha Treherne and Sarah Riordan have all been selected, with Riordan making the move to Queensland from Victoria ahead of the competition.
17-year-old star Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea, who is already on an Australian Sevens development contract, caught the attention of Australian Rugby fans and media alike over the weekend at the Brisbane Global Rugby Tens, with an impressive tackle and late try in overtime securing Queensland a 10-5 win over NSW and the 2018 Brisbane Global Rugby Tens Women’s title.
The Tens acted as a teaser to the Super W competition, with players such as Samantha Treherne, Liz Patu, Cheyenne Campbell and Kirby Sefo all showcasing the style of play that fans can expect from the Queensland side in Super W.
The squad also features several other notable women’s athletes including capped Jillaroos Lucy Lockhart, Sasha Hallet-Mahuika, Tilisha Harden and Zahara Temara, as well as Youth Olympic Games Gold Medallist Marioulla Belessis.
Queensland head coach, and former Queensland and NSW centre, Michael Hayes said: “We’ve assembled a really strong squad ahead of the inaugural Super W competition with a range of experience and youthful energy.
“We’re lucky to have some seasoned Women’s XV campaigners who have already represented their country, who can act as role models for some of our younger players emerging from various pathways such as Sevens.
“We’re fortunate that Queensland has some quality club competitions with healthy rivalries, which has helped lift the standard of the game in the state.
“We’ve worked hard so far this year to challenge the girls and their traditional ways of playing the game, and we began to see the results of that in our performances over the weekend.
“The XVs game is obviously a different beast to the Tens, but we’ve laid some solid building blocks for the season ahead. It’s an exciting time to be involved in Women’s Rugby. There are a number of pathways through to state and national selection and the current crop of women playing the game are paving the way for future female athletes.”
Queensland Women's XV Super W Squad
Name
DOB
CLUB
HOOKERS
Cheyenne Campbell*10/09/1986 Redlands
Ivy Kaleta*26/06/1992 Sunnybank
PROPS
Bree-anna Cheatham29/03/1997 Wests
Hana Ngaha*29/07/1990 Sunnybank
Liz Patu*15/07/1989 Wests
Toa Filimoehala25/10/1998 Bothers
Vuanumasei Rasolea3/10/1996 GPS
Wynona Baice6/12/1993 Wests
LOCKS
Ashlee Knight15/11/1991 Helensvale
Phoebe Thomas17/10/1990 Sunnybank
Shannon Mato21/08/1998 Sunnybank
BACKROWERS
Jasmine Kemp14/02/1983 Helensvale
Kirby Sefo*31/07/1986 Sunnybank
Kiri Lingman*1/11/1997 Sunnybank
Lucy Lockhart9/02/1993 Wests
HALVES
Ana Afuie17/04/1997 Sunnybank
Asako Ono28/04/1990 University of Queensland
Tallisha Harden21/07/1992 Sunnybank
Zahara Temara4/07/1997 Helensvale
CENTRES
Eseta Aho-Fangaloka2/06/1998Sunnybank
Sarah Riordan*16/06/1992Wests
OUTSIDE BACKS
Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea5/11/2000 Sunnybank
Alana Elisaia26/4/1996 Redlands
Ivania Wong23/09/1997 Sunnybank
Lori Cramer8/03/1993 University of Queensland
Marioulla Belessis4/09/1996 Wests
Nareta Marsters*21/12/1993 Sunnybank
Samantha Treherne*5/12/1993 Sunnybank
Sasha Hallet-Mahuika27/03/1991 Sunnybank
*Denotes capped Wallaroo
Management
Position
Michael Hayes
Head Coach
Moea Niha
Assitant Coach
Shirley Russell
Assistant Coach
Felicity Bennets
Team Manager
Linda Bennets
Physio
Kate Gazzard
Doctor
Will Brown
Strength & Conditioning
Courtney Bennets
Sports Training
Tyrell Barker
Program Manager
Brendan Hertel
Media Manager
