https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/squads-revealed-foley-shield-preparations-begin/3664988/ RUGBY LEAGUE: Sitting out of the game for 18 months has done little to quell Jolie Lock's thirst for success. After taking a break to meet university commitments, her impressive pre-season form has earned selection in the women's Foley Shield squad. She shone in the City-Country fixture played prior to the NRL trial match on Saturday, and while the young hooker appreciates she is coming into an experienced side, she said just making the squad was an exciting milestone. "I'll play wherever I'm put, but I know there's a lot more experience in that position with other girls who have made the squad as well,” Lock said. "Football in general for me, right from when I started playing when I was 14, has built me as a person. It has helped me gain a lot more confidence in life, let alone on the football field.” In the men's side, Souths Sharks and defending premiers Wests Tigers dominated selection, with nine and eight players named respectively.
The men's team will have two training sessions over the coming weeks, before taking on Central Highlands to gear up for the Shield in May. However, Mackay Cutters duties for some players - including John O'Brien and Masiru Nona - may see the squad undergo some changes. Souths prop Ryan Kinlyside said this might impact preparations; however, he was confident coach Wayne Barnett had picked a high calibre squad capable of producing quality football. This was on display in the City-Country fixture at the weekend, and he said the combination of a strong forward pack and crafty halves pairing would steel the side well moving towards the Foley Shield. "I'd like to think it'll be an exciting, ad-lib kind of football,” he said. "It's pretty hard to play any kind of major structure in these teams where you're thrown together in a few weeks, but a bit of ad-lib footy will be one of our strengths.” In a promising sign for this year's showcase, the Mackay and District side will have greater preparation, with match fitness to benefit from the City and Country match, as well as their clash with Central Highlands. Mackay and District Rugby League chairman Adam Wright praised the strength of the two sides. He said the continued progression of the women's game in the region was particularly pleasing. "We're probably leading the way in North Queensland with women's rugby league,” Wright said. "In saying that we can't rest of our laurels, we've got to push forward and this year we're hoping is going to be an even stronger competition than previous years.”
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorSelection of sport content. I was regularly called upon to assist with sport in the abscence of other staff. Archives
November 2019
Categories |