Sophie Duff’s elevation to captain of Queensland’s Next Gen 7s team is a glowing endorsement of her determination to fight back from injury.
When Duff was unable to walk for six weeks following a Lisfranc injury, any sort of jogging looked too far in the future to even contemplate.
Duff, 22, is a youthful talent on the rise herself but her experience is vital to the leadership of an even younger Queensland line-up.
The Queenslanders have finalised a 13-strong roster for Sunday’s series kick-off at Sunshine Coast Stadium where they will face NSW and the Brumbies.
Anna Park, Charli Nikola, Evie Sampson and Madi Collins are new faces stepping up to a new level under savvy coach Shannon Parry, the 2016 Rio Olympics gold medallist.
Duff didn’t know where she was headed in December last year when she limped off in Dubai where she was playing for Australia A.
She’d made a break and a defender dived on her planted foot. Lisfranc injuries are notoriously fickle with the damage to the midfoot.
“I tried to walk it off but it was no good. I had surgery back in Brisbane and three screws put in the foot,” Duff recounted.
“Lisfranc injuries are tricky. It was six weeks being unable to walk for starters and five months until I could run again so it was tough.”
A second TightRope implant surgery, which essentially stabilises the foot with a synthetic ligament, advanced her recovery along with the rehab work of Bec Brown.
“I had a really good rehab with Bec. To now be back ready to play for Queensland is some of the most exciting footy we play,” Duff said.
“To have the trust of ‘Shanno’ to captain a young group of girls is a good feeling.
“I had Bella Nasser as my first captain of Queensland. I find her so inspiring and she’s now the Aussie captain.”
The Gladstone product has high hopes for the young guns who will get their chances in four games on Sunday.
“Someone like Evie Sampson has been killing it at training. She’s a halfback who pops up everywhere on the field. She has a really high workrate,” Duff said.
“Charli Nikola comes from a representative touch background. She has great ball-playing skills and footwork.
“Madi Pomerenke is still at school. She is an absolute weapon when it comes to defence and she’ll run over anyone.”
The Queenslanders play their first game at 9.30am on Sunday and their final match at 3.30pm.
Queensland Reds
Anna Park
Ava Wereta
Carys Dallinger
Charli Nikola
Emmisyn Wynyard
Evie Sampson
Kaelyn Passi
Kianna Maclean
Madi Collins
Madi Pomerenke
Tahli Devine
Taleah Ackland
Sophie Duff (c)
ISPS HANDA NEXT GEN 7s SCHEDULE (All Games Live on rugby.com.au)
Round 1 - Sunday - Sunshine Coast Stadium
9.30am: Reds v Brumbies
11.00am: Waratahs v Reds
12.30pm: Brumbies v Waratahs
2.00pm: Reds v Brumbies
3.30pm: Waratahs v Reds
