Ferns Find Fresh Faces for NRL Nines

Monday, January 25, 2016

Ferns Find Fresh Faces for NRL Nines

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Kiwi Ferns coach Alan Jackson has named five debutants among 16 players to contest the Downer NRL Nines at Eden Park next month.

Twenty-two candidates assembled in Auckland for the final trial over the weekend and their performances over the two days augured well for the future of the NZ Rugby League women’s programme, with the World Cup looming next year.

“To be fair, it was one of the hardest teams I’ve had to name and I’ve been coaching for a long time,” he told the squad. “It’s changed from when we got into camp for the Anzac Test last year, when I had 19 players to pick 18 and we were really looking around for players.

“This year, it’s been really, really hard and I’d like to thank everybody for the effort they’ve put in. The ones that make this squad owe it to the others to work hard and to do the job in two weeks’ time.

“To those other six, the effort has been great and I just know that if they keep doing what they’re doing, they will play for the Kiwi Ferns at some stage.”

The line-up, captained by veteran Sarina Fiso, features five newcomers to the Kiwi Ferns – May-Jane Ale, Alex Cook, Amber Kani, Annetta Nuuausala and Langi Veainu – and a strong nucleus of players that defeated Australia 2-1 in last year’s three-game nines series.

The team is:

Mary-Jane Ale (Wellington)

Alexandra Cook (Akarana)

Tasha Davie (Akarana)

Maitua Feterika (Counties Manukau)

Sarina Fiso (Counties Manukau)

Teuila Fotu-Moala (Counties Manukau)

Georgia Hale (Akarana)

Amber Kani (Counties Manukau)

Nora Maaka (Counties Manukau)

Kelly Maipi (Counties Manukau)

Charmaine McMenamin (Akarana)

Annetta Nuuausala (Counties Manukau)

Kahurangi Peters (Counties Manukau)

Kristina Sue (Mid Central)

Atawhai Tupaea (Counties Manukau)

Langi Veainu (Counties Manukau)

Their schedule for the Downer NRL Nines is:

Saturday, February 6

v Australian Jillaroos, 4pm

Sunday, February 7

v Australian Jillaroos, 4.05pm

v Australian Jillaroos, 5.45pm

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