By Lance Jenkinson
Altona Roosters are taking the lead when it comes to promoting the women’s game in NRL Victoria competitions.
The Roosters’ first choice is to promote the game locally, recruit western suburbs talent and develop from within the ranks.
They have assembled some exciting junior talent that will either bolster the Roosters senior ranks in the coming years or go on to the elite level.
Roosters women’s coach Brandon Taunoa believes too many women’s first grade clubs are too focused on the here and now and not laying a platform for the game to grow.
While some clubs have built super teams, it leaves the Roosters top team on the back of some heavy defeats, which can be dispiriting.
While the Roosters have the right structures in place to ride out the bumps, some other clubs have fallen by the wayside.
“We’re the only club in the comp that has girls teams in 13s, 15s and 17s,” Taunoa said.
“We pride ourselves on development.
“We’re trying to develop these girls to be better players and better people and enjoy the game.
“We’ve got a good future in our female section.
“Other clubs we play against, their teams are made up of players from two clubs or three clubs, but we’re one club.
“We don’t need to buy players from other clubs.”
There has been no better time for elite young female athletes to consider rugby league as a sporting career.
Just like the Women’s AFL, the NRL has finally created a pathway to the NRL for girls.
In years past, girls would play with the boys until age 13, then move into non-contact tag.
Now there is the option for girls to get into tackle rugby league and a pathway to the top.
The NRL Women’s Premiership is in its infancy with only four teams – Brisbane Broncos, New Zealand Warriors, St George Illawarra Dragons and Sydney Roosters – competing in the inaugural season last year.
The promising teenagers in the Roosters’ ranks can now dream of playing on the big stage, just like Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, a former Altona Roosters junior boys player who is now in the big league with Canberra Raiders.
Taunoa is excited by the potential for female Roosters’ players to make it on to the big stage.
“It’s always been a male-dominated sport, but now the females see opportunities with the Women’s NRL comp that started last year, and that’s only going to grow,” he said.
“Even the national championships, Victoria has under-16s and under-19s teams, so the growth is definitely there.
“The league tag players are transferring over tackle and they’re loving it.”
The Altona Roosters claimed their second win of the season on Saturday against Melton Broncos to get back into the top four mix.
In men’s first grade, Altona got off the bottom of the ladder with a victory over Melton Broncos. It was the Roosters second win in succession.
