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NRLW to Target 7 Stars

Twizzle

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^^^

Rugby sevens stars on NRLW radar after Olympics delay

Rugby sevens stars Charlotte Caslick, Ellia Green and Alicia Lucas are among a host of names who could line up for NRLW clubs in a cross-code recruitment drive that would light up women's sport.

NRL.com understands several players from Australia's rugby sevens squad have shown an interest in playing in the NRLW this season after the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Broncos women's CEO Tain Drinkwater confirmed there was interest in rugby talent on Thursday but insisted no formal negotiations with players had taken place at her club.

"A lot of the rugby sevens girls have reached out to some of the clubs to see if there are opportunities there given their season has been decimated," Drinkwater told NRL.com.

"They're still keen to play footy and be a part of an elite competition prior to the Olympics next year in July.

"If there's an opportunity to get them involved in rugby league, even if it's just for this year, or create some long-term transitions then that's something we'd certainly look at."

Drinkwater maintained the Broncos would remain a club built on loyalty and were not out to poach or transform their successful squad with rugby's best talent after dominating the first two seasons of the Holden Women's Premiership.

However, the possibility of luring a player like Caslick – regarded as the best women's rugby sevens player in the world – was something that not only the premiers, but any NRLW club, was unlikely to ignore.

"If they're under contract then we probably may have a discussion with Rugby Australia around what that may look like, even if it's a temporary release," Drinkwater said.

"There's a lot of water to go under the bridge to secure their services, like for example with Charlotte – she'll be one of Rugby Australia's first signings.

"My expectation would be if she was interested in coming over then that would be a discussion we'd have with the NRL and Australian Rugby around what that may look like.

"We're also mindful about keeping the integrity of the team. We've worked hard over the past couple of years to not only recruit the right player but the right player that fits our culture."

The Broncos will have at least three spots open for the 2020 season with the retirement of Heather Ballinger and a season-ending knee injury to Amber Pilley.

Reliable centre Amy Turner is also expected to miss the competition after the birth of her second child in June.

"Given clubs are really having to look at expenditure across the board, whether it's NRL or NRLW, where we can recruit locally we absolutely will be," Drinkwater said.

"We're anticipating changes to the ruck rules and one referee will apply for the women's game also so that will demand a different style of footy.

"We're looking at everyone who is playing in the South-East Queensland competition and what other talent is out there to suit the new style of game.

Millie Boyle’s reaction to NRLW return

"It's really important for us to acknowledge we've had a successful couple of years but we need to reset and put that behind us. The world has changed and we'll need to adapt to that."

The Roosters and Warriors would also benefit from the services of rugby sevens players across Australia and New Zealand.

After telling NRL.com this week at least 10 Roosters spots were on the table, new coach Jamie Feeney has plenty of room to move with recruitment.

The Warriors could also make the most of their direct contact with New Zealand's rugby sevens talent pool.

St George Illawarra are unlikely to explore the same avenues despite losing Holli Wheeler and Najvada George to season-ending knee injuries, while Takilele Katoa (pregnancy) is also unavailable.
 

siv

First Grade
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6,546
Could be a entertaining NSWRL-W comp with everyone playing

Dragons should come and play
 

10$ Ferret

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There have been RU 15s players playing in the NRLW for both previous years.

IT does remind me too much of Brazil getting in the women's WC without any RL though
 

juro

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Sevens code-switchers won't find NRLW easy, says Jillaroos coach
Sarah Keoghan
July 6, 2020 — 7.31pm
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Jillaroos coach Brad Donald believes that sevens stars making a code switch to the NRLW could have huge benefits for women's rugby league, but insisted the competition would also help the likes of Charlotte Caslick and Ellia Green improve their own games.

Donald said he did not agree with national women's sevens coach John Manenti's comments in the Herald on Saturday, that seven stars looking to make a move to the NRLW would "dominate" the competition, instead believing the athletes would be pretty evenly matched.

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Charlotte Caslick won sevens gold at the Rio Olympics.CREDIT:GETTY

"It would be interesting to see how the dynamic works," he said. "They’re just such different sports. You think about how tight an Origin game is and how open a sevens game is ... one of these girls might be fitter and faster because of their training ... and that's only a good thing."

The comments come after Olympic sevens gold medallist Caslick expressed her eagerness to move to the Roosters, with the sevens World Series on an indefinite hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. The switch has already been given the tick of approval by Manenti and Rugby Australia.
Green and up to three other Australian sevens players are also eyeing a move to the NRLW.

"They’re superb athletes and I expect them to go and dominate, even though they haven’t played the sport before. I expect them to go and do really well," Manenti told the Herald. "I see them as the top female football athletes. There is no reason from a skill-set point of view that they shouldn’t dominate.

281c9c120c7e0db106654f3ced2fbba04f287918

New South Wales captain Keze Apps raises the Shield after last year's Women's State of Origin.CREDIT:GETTY

Donald said the established professionalism of the sevens circuit, in contrast to the semi-pro NRLW, would put pressure on those players coming across to league.

"The rugby girls have been professional for a lot of years now, we’ve transitioned from amateur footy to a more semi-professional environment," he said. "It would put a lot of pressure on those guys as well to perform."

Caslick is not just eyeing a spot in the NRLW but also a Maroons Origin jersey.

"It would be really really hard, especially in those origin teams, NSW have been training since November so have the QLD squad - they bring in their girls from all over QLD every month or so - so it would be really difficult have someone straight into the squad," she said. "But again, it's also something everyone would love to see how the athletes go against each other."

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/se...asy-says-jillaroos-coach-20200706-p559km.html
 

10$ Ferret

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Surely can't be long before we see 2 more teams.

This year would have had 6 rounds instead of 3 except for COVID. Next year was planned to have 2 more sides but it will be interesting to see if that goes ahead
 

siv

First Grade
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6,546
Dragons should have been playing with other NSWRL female teams to make it a even 8 team comp post covid
 

10$ Ferret

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1,094
Dragons should have been playing with other NSWRL female teams to make it a even 8 team comp post covid

They have never been in it, but any way they don't have the time as they are once again too busy trying to pinch all the good players from the other teams :)
 

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