New Wallaroo Ava Wereta has made a strong start to her key role at inside centre for the Queensland Reds women's team in their big trial win in Canberra on Saturday.
Wereta, still just 19, and Samoan international Harmony Vatau were standouts in the dominant 52-12 victory over the ACT Brumbies in the tune-up for the Swyftx Super Rugby Women's season.
Wereta is relishing the extra responsibility after her recent blooding for the Wallaroos in Tests against the USA and New Zealand.
Finishers Aroha Spillane, Charlie Brigstocke (two) and Piper Flynn all showed the value of speed on the edge by finishing with four tries between them. Replacement Spillane's long-range effort to finish a counter-attack was one of the tries of the day.
"It's exciting to see what more we can bring because we've only trained as a full squad for the past few weeks because of Wallaroos duties," Wereta said.
"It was really enjoyable to see the connections on the field. I think Harmony and I have a good balance in the centres, she as a strong ball-runner and me as more of a distributor."
Wereta said her extended time training and playing with the Wallaroos, with a focus on the No.12 slot, had been hugely beneficial.
"Honestly, I was so grateful to be selected and learning so fast at that level. It's given me a lot more confidence coming into the Reds and knowing my job as an inside centre rather than moving around in the backline."
Wereta was one player unsurprised by Brigstocke's speed and swerve.
"I've played against Charlie in Next Gen 7s, when she was at the Brums, so I know she's electric on the edge and it's smart to get the ball her way," Wereta said.
Youngster Charity Wightman-Beaven, the youngest in the squad at 18, played the final quarter of the trial at flyhalf in a baton change with starter Akira Kelly.
The Reds backrow of skipper Jemma Bemrose, Zoe Hanna and Tiarna Molloy were all back in action after injury lay-offs.
All showed promising signs and will be better again in the tough second trial against the Fijian Drua at Ballymore Stadium on Sunday, May 31.
"There was a lot of energy to our build-up and play. It's just exciting to go away with a lot of new faces, put together some good rugby and bond together more," Reds Head Coach Andrew Fraser said.
"Ava and Harmony in the centres both made some good linebreaks and were defensively solid. It was a good start for that partnership.
"Akira found the rhythm of the game the more the trial went on and the chemistry started to build for the backline.
"Charlie is an athlete and her power and speed was evident every time she touched the ball."
Up front, Wallaroo Eva Karpani and Black Fern recruit Tanya Kalounivale shared the 80 minutes at tighthead prop.
"We definitely benefitted from Tanya's experience and ball carries. Our backrow all indicated they were running out some rust so it was a positive start for them," Fraser added.
"Jemma was defensively very good, Zoe grabbed an amazing turnover to initiate a try and Tiarna showed how good she is as a ball-carrier to go with her workrate."
QUEENSLAND REDS 52
Tries: Charlie Brigstocke 2, Aroha Spillane, Lucy Thorpe, Harmony Vatau, Eva Karpani, Ava Wereta, Piper Flynn
Conversions: Lori Cramer 4, Charity Wightman-Beaven 2
Def
ACT BRUMBIES 12
