The Bulldogs opened applications for players and coaches on Sunday, February 23, which club president Joe Stephens hopes will develop some interest throughout the community.

The push for a senior women's side, Stephens said, is a result of Canberra Region Rugby League's initiative to incorporate the women's competition more closely with the senior men's.

"It just puts it all together, gives them a club feel I suppose, because [the players would] like to get together as a group, so it just allows that opportunity," he said.

"We've got the league tag which started four years ago and has been quite successful, and there's no reason the open tackle can't do the same thing."

There is no doubt Goulburn has the requisite ability to thrive in the women's tackle competition.

In 2018, the last time Goulburn fielded a women's side (as part of the Stockmen), they won the premiership with only 13 players fit for the final. And there are currently four locals in the Monaro Open Women's squad, which will compete in the Country Championships in the coming months.

"Women's sport is growing, especially in the NRL and the regional base with all the rep teams, and [local players] probably don't feel like they've got a home," Stephens said. "So now there's a home for them."

The CRRL's focus on having the Katrina Fanning Shield aligned with the senior men is the reason the new team will come under the Bulldogs banner instead of remaining aligned with the Stockmen, as it was in previous seasons.

This, Stephens said, will re-open the path into senior sides for the junior women's tackle players, and help integrate the Stockmen with the senior club.

"There's the rep scene locally and Canberra's trying to get the next license for a team in the NRL competition, so there's plenty of pathways for women," he said.

"We've got some girls that play in the league tag that also play tackle, so now is their opportunity to play both."

The club will wait until it has an estimate of the numbers before it announces whether or not a team will be fielded for the 2020 season.

When the club does field a women's open tackle team, it will now play on Saturdays alongside the men and league tag instead of Friday nights as in prior seasons.

For more information, please contact Joe Stephens on 0412 996 773.

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