Reluctant captain Ashley Marsters is suddenly embracing captaincy as she looks to lead the Rebels into the future.
Marsters is the lone Wallaroo in their squad for 2023 under new coach Jason Rogers.
Catch every game of Super W LIVE on Stan Sport. Start your Free Sport Trial Now
With Mel Kawa missing the season on personal leave, Rogers approached the hooker to take on the position, with Marsters initially a little hesitant.
“Jason (Rogers) posed the question to me and I felt a little inadequate to be honest. I made him wait a little bit,” Marsters admits.
“We had a trial match and I was still asking him and I told him I’d give him an answer after the game and I think after playing with the girls in that match, it solidified it with me that we’ve got something super tremendous here.
“I like to lead through the team and through my actions not so much with the title…you have different types of leaders and I like to do so more on the field so I guess all the media stuff comes along with it I guess.”
It's a historic appointment for the Rebels, with Marsters and Rob Letoa the first Victorian-born-and-bred captains in the club's history.
Marsters was excited about the club's prospects ahead of Saturday's opener against the Reds, pointing to the influence of cross-code star Mia-Rae Clifford.
Clifford makes the journey after a decorated AFLW career with Melbourne, Geelong and Fremantle.
“She was super positive about it and I think she enjoyed it so much so now she’s stuck around,” Marsters said.
“It was our vice-captain Meretiana Robinson that went over to have a run in AFLW and she’s obviously starting whispering into the girls’ ears and is pulling them across.
“With Mia here, she’ll have a bit more influence in growing the game as we’ve seen AFL in Melbourne grow so if we can bring more girls over and build that tension, I’m sure we’ll see a massive growth in Rugby here.”
