Newbies Named for NRL Nines Squad

Newbies Named for NRL Nines Squad

Kiwi Ferns coach Alan Jackson has introduced several new faces to his national women’s squad to contest the Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines series against Australia in February.

After last weekend’s trials in Auckland, Jackson has named a 23-strong squad that will be honed down to 16 for the tournament at Eden Park, February 6/7.

The Ferns defeated their trans-Tasman rivals 2-1 in this year’s inaugural series and 11 of that side are still in contention for the 2016 rematch. That means more than half the squad is made up of nines newbies.

“There are some unlucky players that have missed out and I think you get that every time you have to name a team,” admits Jackson. “But we’re pretty excited by what we saw at the trials.

“There were a couple of new faces that we knew about, but hadn’t seen much of. A lot of the new girls had attended nationals and the more football they play, the better they get.”

Jackson was also impressed with the fitness of his trialists, an important element of the abbreviated format.

“We were looking for a bit of mobility,” he says. ‘With eight less people on the field, your forwards are going to find themselves marking backs at some point, so we were pleased with the standard of those that trialled.

“Some of the girls are in quite good shape – we might have to cancel Christmas, so they stay that way.”

The squad will assemble for a final selection camp on January 22-24, before Jackson and his selectors reduce the group down to the tournament roster.

The full Kiwi Ferns nines squad is:

Mary-Jane Ale (Wellington)
Ngatokotoru Arakua (Akarana)
Alexandra Cook (Akarana)
Tasha Davie (Akarana)
Maitua Feterika (Counties Manukau)
Alaimoana Fenieaso-Levi (Akarana)
Sarina Fiso (Counties Manakau)
Teuila Fotu-Moala (Counties Manakau)
Georgia Hale (Akarana)
Nora Maaka (Counties Manukau)
Kelly Maipi (Counties Manukau)
Laura Mariu (Counties Manukau)
Lilieta Maumau (Counties Manukau)
Charmaine McMenamin (Akarana)
Va’anessa Molia-Fraser (Akarana)
Krystal Murray (Mid Central)
Toka Natua (Upper Central)
Annetta-Claudia Nuuausala (Counties Manukau)
Kahurangi Peters (Counties Manukau)
Kristina Sue (Mid Central)
Atawhai Tupaea (Counties Manukau)
Janna Vaughan (Mid Central)
Lanulangi Veaimu (Counties Manukau)

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