NEW-LOOK CANTERBURY WOMEN’S SQUAD PRIMED FOR NATIONALS
Canterbury will send a team short on experience but lacking nothing in the enthusiasm department to the NZRL National Women’s tournament, which kicks off at Auckland’s Cornwall Park on Saturday.
The squad initially selected has been hit by injury withdrawals, while the absence of Kiwis Ferns reps Corinna Whiley and Bunty Kuruwaka-Crowe is a big blow to Canterbury’s bid to repeat and improve on their watershed third-place finish in 2017.
New coach Tom Ball says over half of the 22-player squad are representative rookies, but he’ll be looking to the likes of experienced skipper Carissa Leka to provide the necessary leadership for his youthful squad.
Ball, a former New Zealand 18s coach, and his team are looking forward to the challenge.
“Being a new coach, for me it’s about creating a culture and going up there and giving it a real dig,” Ball says.
“A lot of it will be getting them introduced to that level of competition with so many new faces.”
Canterbury are in Pool B alongside Akarana Falcons and Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions; Pool A consists of Counties-Manukau Stingrays, Auckland Vulcans Development and Wellington Orcas.
The tournament runs from June 2-4, with Canterbury taking on the Vulcans in their cross-pool match and then the Falcons on Saturday, and the Stallions on Sunday.
The Stingrays, eight-time defending champions, have defeated the Falcons in each of the last three finals.
“Counties haven’t been beaten for the last eight years, so they’re the ones to beat,” Ball says.
“We were third last year and we’re trying to consistently get up in that top three.”
UPDATED CANTERBURY WOMEN’S SQUAD
| 1 | Bobby Lee Ross |
| 2 | Shady Pakau |
| 3 | Amanda Clarke |
| 4 | Lucy Crabbe |
| 5 | Michelle Wong |
| 6 | Cassie Siataga |
| 7 | Carissa Leka |
| 8 | Jasmine Wynyard |
| 9 | Kadison-Tyra Robertson |
| 10 | Epenesa Ki |
| 11 | Fleur Barker |
| 12 | Mareta Pelenato |
| 13 | Sui Pauaraisa |
| 14 | Taryn Caley |
| 15 | Rebekah Wawatai |
| 16 | Wirihita Shelford |
| 17 | Eti Viliamu Tuiloma |
| 18 | Karita Agafili |
| 19 | Kahurangi Shelford |
| 20 | Meshelle Rosvall |
| 21 | Santana Ngatuere |
Team Management: Tom Ball (Coach), Sabrina Manu (Manager), Tyrone Rapana (Trainer), Renee Puru (Assistant Manager)
Meanwhile, the National Women’s Tournament provides players with the chance to earn a spot in Kiwi Ferns wider squad of 30 which will be named at the conclusion of the tournament on Monday.
There’s also the inaugural NRL Women’s Premiership later this year, which will see Brisbane, St George Illawarra, Sydney Roosters and the Warriors constructing squads in the coming months. Warriors coach Luisa Avaiki will be running the rule over the best New Zealand-based talent this weekend.
Download the NZRL app on your iphone or android through the app store, and you’ll receive live notifications as the results come in. You can refer to LeagueNet (click here for link) for live scoring and results as they happen too.
There will also be daily wrap-up graphics on the NZRL Facebook page and the NZRL website. These wrap-ups will be accompanied by interviews with players so you don’t miss out on the action.
NZRL NATIONAL WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT – CORNWALL PARK, AUCKLAND
Canterbury v Auckland Vulcans – 11:30am, Saturday, June 2
Canterbury v Akarana Falcons – 3:30pm, Saturday, June 2
Canterbury v Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions – 10:30am, Sunday, June 3
SEMI-FINALS
1st Pool B v 2nd Pool A – 1:30pm, Sunday, June 3
1st Pool A v 2nd Pool B – 1:30pm, Sunday, June 3
FINALS
5th/6th Playoff – 3rd Pool A v 3rd Pool B – 10:30am, Monday, June 4
3rd/4th Playoff – Loser Semi 1 v Loser Semi 2 – 11:30am, Monday, June 4
Grand Final – Winner Semi 1 v Winner Semi 2 – 1:00pm, Monday, June 4
