Six Glen Innes women are vying to write their name in the history books when they tackle the Greater Northern Championships this Saturday.
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Courtney Watts, Breanna Grange, Alisa and Amelia Tunamena, Sarah Byrne and Emily McMeniman were chosen in Group 19’s women’s tackle rugby league team for the inaugural Championships in Tamworth.
They will face Group 21 and Group 4 on Saturday and have the chance at being chosen for a regional team to play in the Country Championships.
Of the six, four will line up in the starting side with Byrne and Alisa the bench.
Amelia will start in the forwards and said it is an exciting opportunity to have such a large number of girls in representative colours.
“That is a good, solid percentage in there for Glen,” she said.
“They [Alisa and Sarah] are really, really good impact players.
“I think [Group 19 coach] Kate has left the Granges next to each other which you can’t go wrong there.”
The team began training in December and with Group 19 stretching from Moree through to Walcha, it makes it tough for everyone to come together at once.
Amelia said despite the challenges of distances, everyone has been working each other out and they are looking sharp for Saturday.
“I know there has been a few that have missed different training sessions, I don’t think we have had one where everyone has been there altogether,” she said.
“I was there on Saturday and it seems to be gelling really well.
“We have got Rob [Broadbent] and Amy [Barraclough] in the middle there they are just killing it leading everyone, it is really good.
“Their direction of play and the way they handle themselves is unreal.
“Even just at training runs, they have got themselves sorted and it really does help.
“Everything just falls into place, a good thing to be part of.”
Amelia said everyone is eager to head out on to the field and put into place everything they have trained for.
“I am excited to take this opportunity and see how I go against other girls from other Groups and see where I would fit in, in terms of abilities,” she said.
“I think everyone is excited and we want to go out there.
“It is the first championships that is tackle so it would be really nice to win it and our names to be the first ones on the shield.”
The representative fixtures will be played at Scully Park with the Group 19 women playing Group 21 at 11.05am before facing Group 4 at 1.10pm.