This week Canberra Raiders announced the final makeup of their women’s rugby league squads for 2017.
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The inclusion of Jennaya Ottaway and Pearl Rakete didn’t come as a huge surprise for the open women’s side that is expected to play a series of league nines exhibition matches at NRL fixtures this season.
The big surprise was the inclusion of Grace Marshall who has not played full contact rugby league since she was about 10 years old in the local Stockmen’s under 12s competition with her brother.
“I went along to a selection trial with a friend and I was really surprised to get into the squad,” Marshall said.
“I have no idea which position I will predominantly play in but I would like to play in the halves or as hooker, but they may put me on the wing.”
Ottaway and Rakete have been playing in the regional women’s competition, which is administered by the Canberra Junior League, since they were in the under 15s Stockmen. They were also in the Raiders squad last year. The first of the Raiders Women’s Nine’s exhibition matches is on March 11 against the Cronulla Sharks at GIO Stadium.
On March 26 they will play a 13-a-side game at Batemans Bay against Illawarra, at which selectors will be on hand looking for players for the City versus Country game at the CRL Championships in May.
Hollie Deaton was selected in the final squad for the Raiders Tarsha Gale Cup competition this season. The first game was called off because of the heat and the second last weekend was postponed after the Panthers’ bus broke down. This game is being rescheduled, probably to be played in Goulburn at a date to be determined.
Ottaway and Rakete are still playing for the the Goulburn Stockmen in the now open women’s Canberra competition, coached by John Thomas.