The motivated Queensland Reds will field six Wallaroos in their starting backline for their season lift-off yet the debuts looming for two teenagers are just as exciting.
Sunday afternoon’s clash against the Fijian Drua at Ballymore from 1:35pm AEST is a quality opener for the Buildcorp Super Rugby Women’s season.
New captain Cecilia Smith, Carys Dallinger, Ivania Wong, Mel Wilks, Sarah Dougherty and Lori Cramer have all represented their country.
They give the backline an experienced core before you add the pace and tackling tenacity of winger Caitlin Urwin.
Look further to the bench and the Reds are backing the potential of utility back Ava Wereta, 17, and centre Shalom Sauaso, 16, as reserves.
Wereta has finished her schooling on the Gold Coast at King’s Christian College.
She learnt the game from her Kiwi father and brothers, starting as a six-year-old with the Coomera Crushers and blossoming with Bond University.
“Rugby was kind of born into me. I’ve grown up with it and been passionate about it my whole life being around dad and my brothers,” Wereta said.
“I obviously played with the little boys growing up and expanded more into the women’s pathways when they came along.
“There are now so many more opportunities for girls (in rugby). They’ll continue to grow. It’s exciting to think of where it can take you.
“It’s crazy to have the experienced girls around me. I’m so lucky. They really help out us young girls, guide us and give us confidence.”
Sauaso made an instant impact with her strong ball-carries from inside centre when she stepped up for the Reds in their pre-season trial against the NSW Waratahs in Roma.
It’s hard to believe she is still in Year 12 at Ipswich State High School.
Winger Wong, a foundation member of the Reds’ first Super W team in 2018, is energised by the new talent in the squad.
“We’ve got a balance of experience and youth with a couple of young girls coming in who are excited to be a part of this,” Wong said.
“For the older girls, it’s teaching them the right things and helping them to play their brand of footy.”
Smith’s calm, steering hand at inside centre is valued highly by everyone in the Super W squad.
She knows how much it will take to put pressure on the two-time champions from Fiji.
“They obviously play their offloading game so our tackling and slowing them down to apply pressure is very important for us,” Smith said.
With a laugh, she added: “The young girls really add to our squad. Shalom has really impressed me…she could take my spot.”
