There is a renewed push for the Sunshine Coast to have a team in the Queensland women’s rugby league competition, after the region’s rep team won a coveted title last weekend.
It is hoped the Falcons will be admitted to the BMD Premiership in 2024, after an impressive display at the 47th Battalion carnival at Emerald.
They defeated Toowoomba, Gladstone and Rockhampton at the event, which attracted teams from around central and southern Queensland, to win the tournament for the first time.
The Falcons squad included the best players from Sunshine Coast clubs.
Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League president Jodi Price said there had been a concerted effort to strengthen women’s rugby league in the region during the past season or two.
“We have not had the pathway opportunities for our women in previous years … and we identified this as a priority within our league last year,” she said.
“Earlier this year, we established the Sunshine Coast Women’s Rugby League Development Academy, led by coach Stephen Belsham.
“Our aim is to join the BMD statewide women’s competition in 2024.
“We would have liked this to have happened this year, but many circumstances out of our control did not make this possible, so we set up the academy to continue developing our local ladies and are pushing for us to join the BMD comp next year.
“The success at the 47th Battalion has shown how far we have come in developing our players and the opportunity to be able to provide further pathways to our female players is within reach.”
Ms Price said she was committed to providing more opportunities for female players.
“It was at the top of my priority list for 2023,” she said.
“We have had a number of players have to move to other areas to be able to join teams (in the state league), which reduces the number of participants in our local games.
“(But) winning this carnival is a feather in the cap, not only for the players, but for all the hard work the development team are doing in the background and assist growing our local competition overall.
“The experience and skills of these women will be such a great asset to their home clubs.
“I could not be prouder of the team and how far they have come through hard work and perseverance.
“I cannot speak highly enough of our leaders in team captain Ella-J Harris and coach Stephen Belsham.
“It has been a whole team effort to get this win but the driving force for success, from the initial start up of the academy, has been from these leaders.
“And the bond between these players is incredible. We had representatives from every single one of our women’s clubs, and to see them come together so well on and off the field is fantastic.
“We will not stop campaigning for more opportunities for our women’s development and hopefully winning this championship shows the talent that we have right here at home.”
Ella -J Harris was also adjudged Player of the Carnival. A trio of Falcons, including Harris, Lauren Sims and Macey Finlay, were selected for the Central Crows team to play against a Queensland Police Service team in a charity match at Chinchilla on May 28.
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