MEET the pride of Raymond Terrace Roosters Junior Rugby League Club – the Under 15 Girls tackle team that lifted the premiership last season in the Newcastle Hunter Northern competition.

The girls were the only Roosters outfit to win a title in 2022 with the nucleus of the squad back on deck this year and primed for more success in the higher grades.

They are part of a Roosters boom in the women’s ranks that augurs well for the future.

Roosters Head Coach James Ross told News Of The Area, “Our girls were unmatched for skill and tenacity and are an ornament to the club.

“They played an entertaining brand of rugby league under the coaching of Hilary Imber and unearthed some outstanding female talent,” Ross said.

The Roosters had plenty to celebrate when they toppled the Valentine Eleebana Devils in the Under 15s Girls Tackle Grand Final at Cahill Oval.

It capped another fruitful campaign for the side who have been a permanent fixture in the big end of season finals in recent years.

With talented halves Charlise Thompson and Alizae Kuru calling the shots, the skills of fullback Chelsea Bartolo, centres Clair Dyson and Samantha White and wingers Allyra Hill and Demi Portlock were a feature during the premiership charge.

Paving the way for success were the team’s hard-working and mobile forward pack led by hooker Ava Imber, lock Kyra Picton, back rowers Evelynn Adams, Hayley Bridge, props Ella Jarman and Nikki Truman and interchange players Evie Purukamu, Mya Bolte, Lenita White, Chelsea Galpern-Fetterplace and Liliearna Ping.

Team captain Charlise is an exciting prospect and has signed to play with the Bulldogs in the NSW Womens Tarsha Gale Cup U/19 series along with Kyana Patten.

Bree Chester, a powerful second rower, will line up for the Knights in the Women’s Premiership along with rising U/19 juniors Jalice Brown, Lacey Mitchell, Lilley-Ann White, Jasmine Irwin, Angel Hodson, Leelah Marks, Lucy Green and Sienna Limpic.

White, a gun fullback, participated at the recent NSW Sky Blue Camp.

Established in 1968, the Roosters have appointed a new president in club stalwart Craig Langdon and will have former Bulldogs and Penrith prop Tim Browne on board to assist with the club’s Mod League development.

“Our fine crop of junior girls are products of the club’s Advanced Player Development Program,” beamed Langdon.

“The Women’s Program is run by John Wooderson and Nye White who have done a tremendous job in nurturing the talent over the years,” he said.

“Two of our top juniors Beau Hill and Brendan Beetson also came through the APD Program and have signed with NRL clubs,” Langdon added.

Hill, a promising forward, has linked with the Knights and is currently participating in the NSWRL Harold Matthews Cup Under 16s competition.

Promising lock Beetson – a nephew of rugby league Immortal Arthur Beetson – will line up for the Sydney Roosters in the Junior Cup.

Roosters juniors Xanthiah Roach, Lydia Mulherin, Montana McDougall, Allana Johnson, Reiannah Saunders and Rhiannon Slater will compete at the Country Under 17 Championships with Chloe Zebanski to line up at the Country Open titles.

The Roosters finished runners up in the Under 13 Boys, Under 15 Div 3, Under 16 Div 2 and Under 17 Girls competitions last season and according to Langdon will field a host of teams from Under 6s to 12s plus Boys grades from Under 13 to Under 16s and Girls teams in the Under 13, 15 and 17s ranks.

Further enquiries to Craig Langdon on 0408 071 679.

By Chris KARAS