Jordan Neal, Mary Tuaana, Akira Kelly, Harmony Vatau and Aroha Spillane have been selected to make their debuts for the Queensland Reds women’s team on Sunday afternoon at Ballymore Stadium.
Tickets: Queensland Reds v ACT Brumbies
The five women will feature in an exciting mix of new faces, experience and ambition from kick-off in the Round One clash against the ACT Brumbies in Swyftx Super Rugby Women’s.
In addition, Tanya Kalounivale, Evie Sampson and Kaelyn Passi can make their Reds debuts from the bench.
Prop Neal summed up the exhilaration of earning Reds selection for the first time.
When she packed her hopes, belongings and two dogs into her pickup truck and left Townsville in December, there were no guarantees.
“Honestly, I was so excited when I was told I literally just stood there,” Neal said of finding out after training on Wednesday.
“I left Townsville because I wanted to have a genuine crack at getting ahead in rugby and get out of my comfort zone.
“I’m so grateful for the help getting a posting in Brisbane.”
The lance corporal in the Australian Defence Force is now based at the Enoggera Barracks after eight years in the army in Townsville.
Her powerful ball carries and improvements since joining training have added a new factor to the Reds engine room.
Neal, hooker Tuaana, who previously played for the Melbourne Rebels, and Wallaroo Eva Karpani will start. From the bench, Black Ferns Test prop Kalounivale, hooker Roni Setu and Wallaroo Bree-Anna Browne will add impact.
“Bree-Anna has been great with all the stuff I’ve had to learn in the front-row. The same goes with Tanya and Eva,” Neal said.
“The set-up, patience to execute well, the hit…I’ve felt the improvements through training and our two trials.”
Flyhalf Kelly will work with fullback Lori Cramer as a double act to distribute and organise the Reds plays as they showed in the 29-27 trial win over the Fijian Drua last Sunday.
It may be Vatau’s Reds debut at outside centre but she is already a Samoan international, who played at last year’s World Cup in England.
Spillane’s excellent second half against the Drua clinched her wing spot and vindicated her move from Sydney to bid for selection.
Halfback Sampson and fullback Kaelyn Passi were both second half sparks against the Drua. Sampson has a background with the powerful Bond University side as well as a sevens history. Passi is a silky passer and mover integrated from Queensland’s champion Next Gen Sevens team.
“I feel that trial win over the Drua has stoked the fire with our fans. We are excited to get the season underway at our home ground,” Reds head Coach Andrew Fraser said.
“The Brumbies have more Wallaroos than we do and probably have a backs-to-the-wall mentality. They are a dangerous opponent so we have to be switched on.”
Fraser said the mix of experience and fresh faces in the squad had made for a positive energy at training.
“We saw Jordy’s ball-carrying ability against the Drua. She’s been rewarded based on everything we’ve seen…her diligence off the field with preparation, her basics and her set piece improvements,” Fraser said.
“She’s taken on good advice from Bree-Anna, who will be a strong contributor for us off the bench in this game.
“Aroha has owned the 5m channel by the sideline in her chances in the trials. She’s scored some nice tries and her defensive pressure has been good.
“The start of a new campaign is always an exciting time. We are ready for it.”
Ballymore Stadium
1:05pm, Sunday June 7
Tickets: Queensland Reds v ACT Brumbies
Watch Live on Stan Sport
1 Jordan Neal - Brothers
2 Mary Tuaana - Wests
3 Eva Karpani - Bond University
4 Dillyn Blackburn - Wests
5 Deni Ross - Brothers
6 Jemma Bemrose (c) - Bond University
7 Zoe Hanna - Bond University
8 Tiarna Molloy - Brothers
9 Sarah Dougherty - GPS
10 Akira Kelly - Bond University
11 Piper Flynn - Easts
12 Ava Wereta - Bond University
13 Harmony Vatau - Sunnybank
14 Aroha Spillane - University of Queensland
15 Lori Cramer - University of Queensland
16 Zophronia Setu - University of Queensland
17 Bree-Anna Browne - Brothers
18 Tanya Kalounivale - GPS
19 Vineta Teutau - Brothers
20 Lucy Thorpe - Bond University
21 Evie Sampson - Bond University
22 Briana Dascombe - Easts
23 Kaelyn Passi - Bond University
