Success stories stack up for Southland female rugby league talent
The Southland Under-14 rugby league girls' team has won a South Island title on the back of some outstanding performances.
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Southland’s female rugby league success stories continue to stack up at a rapid rate with the latest addition a South Island tile at the U14 level at the weekend in Oamaru.
The Warriors South Island Youth Tournament attracted teams from throughout the South Island with Canterbury entering club teams and others lining up provincial sides.
Southern Zone Rugby League general manager Liam Turner said it was great for Southland notch up the victory at the weekend.
“Since I’ve been involved in would be the first South Island title Southland has won in that Youth space, so it’s pretty massive,” Turner said.
Southland is fast becoming an impressive development ground for promising female rugby league players with Aurora College’s Manaiya Leishman one those headlining that list at the moment.
Manaiya captained the Southland team to the U14 South Island title at the weekend and was named player of the tournament of the back of her impressive performances.
Last month - despite being just 14 - Manaiya captained the South Island Scorpians Under-16 team at the National Youth Tournament.
She is also part of the Warriors academy programme being run in the south.
Another key figure in the Southland U14 team was Taimani Tuivailala- Wagner who was also part of the South Island U16 Scorpions this year and was named the team’s most promising player.
“There is some real talent coming through in that girl’s space and those two obviously played a big part in Southland winning that tournament on the weekend,” Turner said.
The under-14 victory adds to the rise of the female game in Southland in a sport which was previously male dominated.
“Both rugby and rugby league, the last three or four years it has really taken off. From Sport NZ right through to the regional organisations there has been a real focus in the girls’ space which has been great,” Turner said.
He added having the Warriors academy setup in the south, which includes females, has helped with the progress on the rugby league front.
“The [Warriors] NRLW team couldn’t come any sooner. I think the boys’ space we’ve got real visibility with the Warriors men’s team but with the girls, to give it that next push, that NRLW side is going to provide a real visibility and pathway. As I said that couldn’t come any sooner.
“Union has got that real visibility with the Farah Palmer Cup being on TV and in everyone’s face at the moment, where we are probably just missing in that.
“But overall, there has been huge increase for the women’s game and continues to be a huge focus for sure,” Turner said.
He added three girls from Canterbury have recently signed with the Penrith Panthers which highlighted the opportunities were there for female players.
Turner agreed it was not unrealistic that we will see a Southlander pop up in the NRLW competition in the coming years.
“I’m sure with the way the game is heading, and the talent that we’ve got, it is only a matter of time. That is hopefully the goal.
“But at the end of the day our big focus at a community level is to provide opportunity and support both player and the person, that’s a big focus.”
Also apart of the rangatahi leadership group…. 👍🏽