The Queensland Reds 2023 squad has been confirmed ahead of the 2023 Buildcorp Super W season.
Head coach Simon Craig has named a group that includes six capped Wallaroos, 18 previously capped Reds and 11 potential debutants who have emerged from Queensland Premier Rugby as well as the Queensland Country Orchids pathway, while three players from New Zealand have made the move to Queensland to be part of the Reds program.
Wallaroos and Queensland captain Shannon Parry returns to lead the side in 2023, joining fellow Wallaroos Bree-Anna Cheatham, Madi Shuck, Tiarna Molloy, Annabelle Codey, Cecilia Smith and Ivania Wong.
With Toowoomba product Briana Dascombe becoming the first player to emerge from the Queensland Country pathway to make her Super W debut for Queensland in 2022, she is this year joined by Megan Prinsloo from the Nambour Toads, who starred for the Queensland Country Orchids during their three-game series against Brisbane City North, East and West in 2022.
Three New Zealanders who have emerged from the Canterbury pathway – prop Nina Poletti, scrumhalf Diane Hiini and outside back Sam Curtis – have committed to Queensland for the 2023 Super W campaign, helping to add depth to the squad for the season ahead.
Other new comers in the forwards include lock Deni Ross, who has emerged through Wests Rugby Club and the Australian Defence Force Rugby system, hooker Miki Trbojevic who has made the move North from Sydney, Sunnybank Number 8 Joana Rabaka who has previous Super W experience with the Melbourne Rebels, as well as Easts product Haidee Head, who is also part of the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) Women’s 7s Academy.
In the backs, Gold Coast scrumhalf Terri-Anne Egan and Gympie centre Caitlyn Urwin join the squad, both having spent time as part of the QAS Women’s 7s squad, while Fijian flyer Heleina Young, who set the Queensland Premier Rugby Women’s competition alight in 2022 also joins the outside backs ranks.
There are still a number of positions to be confirmed ahead of Round 1 on 25 March, with final players to be announced ahead of the season opener against the Melbourne Rebels at AAMI Park.
“We’ve been able to put together a really strong squad for the 2023 season,” said head coach Simon Craig.
“In November we started with a group of over 40 players and have managed to condense the squad now to the group that we will take through the season and I’m excited for what lies ahead.
“There is some great experience in the squad with our Wallaroos players led by Shannon Parry, while we also have a great mix of uncapped talent who have emerged through different pathways including both Club and Country Rugby.
“It’s great to see players from Country regions coming into our ranks and Megan Prinsloo has been putting in a lot of work both in person at Ballymore as well as remotely.
“We’ve also seen players looking to move to Queensland from interstate and overseas to be a part of the program we’re building at the Reds which is pleasing to see.
“I feel we have put together a great group of players who are all ready and willing to give it their all this season. We’re all excited for what lies ahead for the Reds in 2023.”
The Queensland Reds begin their Super W campaign on March 25 against the Melbourne Rebels at AAMI Park, before returning home to play at Suncorp Stadium in Roun 2 against the Western Force on Friday, March 31.
