2022 Super W Season

[Wilson]

Looks like it's time to kick off this thread with the news that the Reds are getting an early start in preperation for the 2022 Super W season - they've assembled a squad of 48, well ahead of the usual start time:

FORWARDS

Alapeta Ngauamo* - GPS​

Aleena Greenhalgh – Bond University​

Annabelle Codey - Wests​

April Ngatupuna - Easts​

Bree-anna Cheatham - Wests​

Carola Kreis - Bond University​

Christina Sekona** - Sunnybank​

Ema Masi - University of Queensland​

Emilya Byrne* – University of Queensland​

Grace Qaranivalu - Bond University​

Haidee Head* - Easts​

Hana Lane - Wests​

Hilisha Samoa** - GPS​

Kiri Lingman** - Easts​

Laina Cooper-Finau - Easts​

Lesa Kaleti Mataafa - Sunnybank​

Liz Patu** - Wests​

Madison Schuck - Bond University​

Melehifo Sikimeti* – Norths​

Okeroa Manihera - Sunnybank​

Shannon Parry** - Easts​

Sophie Holyman - Bond University​

Taulaga Malaitai* - Easts​

Theresa Soloai - Easts​

Tiarna Molloy - Wests​

Tina Brown - Easts​

Tina Campbell* - GPS​

Vuanimasei Rasolea - GPS​

BACKS​

Athena Vili* - Easts​

Caitlyn Costello* - Bond University​

Cecilia Smith** - Easts​

Cobie-Jane Morgan** - Easts​

Destiny Brill - Easts​

Georgia Hannaway* - Wests​

Giverny Robinson* - University of Queensland​

Imogen Mcleod* - Noosa/Queensland Country​

Ivania Wong - Sunnybank​

Lillian Kolb* – University of Queensland​

Loretta Lealiifano - Easts​

Luisa Sekona - Sunnybank​

Malaela Su'a* - Easts​

Melanie Wilks - Bond University​

Natalie Wright – University of Queensland​

Nicola Emsley – ADF/Caloundra​

Renae Nona - Sunnybank​

Sarah Lewis* - GPS​

Tyesha Mikaio* - Easts​

Vani Va'aga* - Sunnybank​

*Denotes uncapped player

**Denotes capped Wallaroo

STAFF​

Head coach: Rama Chand – Rugby Australia​

Assistant Coach: Manuel Cole-Manolis – Iconz Rugby​

Assistant Coach: Simon Craig – Easts​

Strength & Conditioning Coach: Sam Harrison – University of Queensland​

Physio: Emma Ellison – Sunnybank​

Team Manager: Felicity Bennetts – Wests​

Media Manager: Brendan Hertel – QRU​

 

[RugbyReg]

Shannon Parry the big name there - making a run for the RWC squad. Great to see.

 

[Ironingman]

It is great to see Shannon in the mix, and 7 of the 9 Clubs in the Premier Womens Competition represented amongst the 48 selected players.

The 2 clubs without representation are the 2021 Wooden Spooners Brothers, and Souths who managed to Finish 5th on the table ahead of Wests (6 selected), UQ (5 selected), Norths (1 selected) and Brothers.

Credit must go to the Souths coaching group for devising, and the players for executing a style of play that sees them more than competitive without any apparent talent.

 

[RugbyReg]

You make a fair point, who would you have liked to see there from Souths ironingman?

 

[Ironingman]

Reg, I think the two loosies, Amelia Brown and Tayla Rowe display the workrate and momentum changing impact required to be worthy of consideration.
In the backs Larana Thomas who alternates between 9 and 15 and played for Griffith in AON Sevens is worth a look, along with Georgia Sim and Ella Draper who both played for Bond in the AON Sevens.
The tight 5 pretty hard to separate individuals and guess it depends on style of player Coaching group looking for, they certainly held their own as a unit.
Not saying all of them should be there, or that any of them are the finished articles as Rugby players yet, but surprised that 2 or 3 at least are not in the mix.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Don’t know where to put this but it was good to see England girls smash the kiwi women in recent international, as was becoming a concern gap between number 1 and the rest may be widening.

 

[Dan54]

Don’t know where to put this but it was good to see England girls smash the kiwi women in recent international, as was becoming a concern gap between number 1 and the rest may be widening.

England are actually No 1 in women's rugby anyway RN, think they have been for a while. England look a good team, and I think you would have to favour a NH team to win WWC next year, they play a pretty good comp with the ^n, and thing NZ,Aus etc will struggle to beat them.

 

[RugbyReg]

I believe one of the English players just got their 100th cap!!!!

That's incredible. The most capped Wallaroo has 24 caps!

 

[Jets]

Amazing what playing regular tests does for a team. A Pacific Women's comp would be great. Aust, NZ, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, could even get Japan and/or Hong Kong involved. Would give the Pacific teams regular test matched and more exposure.

I understand that NZ would beat everyone up but it could be a development tool for them too. Play their best team against us and test out some other players in some of the other games. Or they could just field a development team and let the Test team tour the NH.

 

[Wilson]

Amazing what playing regular tests does for a team. A Pacific Women's comp would be great. Aust, NZ, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, could even get Japan and/or Hong Kong involved. Would give the Pacific teams regular test matched and more exposure.

That's a big part of it, but it's also the fully proffesional setup England's women have. If we could do the same with super w the Wallaroos would come on in leaps and bounds. Given the way stan seemed to be backing the women's game towards the end of the rugby championship I'm hopeful that they're pushing for this by the next broadcast deal, because it can't come soon enough. Ideally we'd get this in a season or two before the likely trans-tasman comp gets up to come in with the best preparation possible.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

England are actually No 1 in women's rugby anyway RN, think they have been for a while. England look a good team, and I think you would have to favour a NH team to win WWC next year, they play a pretty good comp with the ^n, and thing NZ,Aus etc will struggle to beat them.

I had in my head nz were number 1 - anyhow for a neutral was pleased to see another nation dominating in women’s rugby as competition healthy then utter dominance by one nation .

 

[Dan54]

Michaela Leonard and Arabella McKenzie (Wallaroos) are in the Matatu squad for next year.

 

[RugbyReg]

Great news for this year's comp. Might explain the delay in the draw being released.

The Buildcorp Super W competition will be bolstered in 2022, with the Fijiana Drua to join Australia’s premier Women’s XV Rugby competition.

Supported by the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports program, the Fijiana Drua join the Western Force, Melbourne Rebels, NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds and Brumbies as the competition joins Harvey Norman Super Rugby in expanding into the Pacific.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Great news for this year's comp. Might explain the delay in the draw being released.

Not all that surprising considering it was reported that part of the Aus Govt. funding was going toward the Fijiana as well but most definitely welcome. God I hope this means a home and away schedule. Would be great.

 

[Adam84]

Not all that surprising considering it was reported that part of the Aus Govt. funding was going toward the Fijians as well but most definitely welcome. God I hope this means a home and away schedule. Would be great.

yes it will be home and away

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

yes it will be home and away

Just to be clear. When I say home and away I mean each team would play everyone else twice for a total of 10 games plus finals.

 

[Bandar]

The RA squad announcement says its the squads "for the upcoming home-and-away season" but no more details than that

 

[Adam84]

 

[Adam84]

Fijian Drua playing Queensland Reds in a trial at Ballymore today 3:30 , closed stadium but available to stream at reds websites

 

[RugbyReg]

10 & 12 both 16 year olds