Bond University trio Eva Doblo, Zara Colless and Paris Mohr have been rewarded with first-time places in the Queensland Reds women’s training squad.
This strong vote for club form helped formulate the squad to focus exclusively on the September 20 clash against the NSW Waratahs at the Santos Festival of Rugby in Narrabri.
Compact finisher Doblo, playmaker Colless, the Cheyenne Campbell Medal-winner as Player of the Grand Final, and lock-backrower Mohr were all high-performers in the Bull Sharks’ fourth consecutive premiership.
“The Bond women and others put a marker down with their club form and we are excited to bring them into a higher-level environment to prepare for this match in Narrabri,” Reds Head Coach Andrew Fraser said.
Doblo, 20, said she was delighted with a selection she never saw coming.
“I’m stoked. I’ve worked so hard but it’s also a credit to our Bond Uni team and how well-drilled we were on what was needed in the finals,” Doblo said.
Doblo always plays above her compact 60kg on the wing and her commitment to tackling some far bigger Easts players in the StoreLocal Founders Cup grand final was noted.
“I don’t know what takes over me but I’ve got a different persona on the field. I’m super-competitive, get more aggressive and fears just disappear,” Doblo said.
Representing Australia at Oztag has given her a headstart in experience at higher levels, discipline and dealing with the pressure of finals.
The squad for Narrabri has an experimental look with opportunities aplenty for girls to press for further selection in the Reds’ 2026 Super Rugby Women’s squad.
Wests halfback Jess Craig, Sunnybank flyer Kalisi Longopoa, Wests flyhalf Leila Wood and Wests hooker Mary Tuanna are among others to win spots based on club performances.
Youngsters Sarah Pascoe, Charity Wightman-Beaven and Lilliana Nati are stepping up from the Emerging Reds Academy as longer-term projects.
Prop Jordan Neal has also been included. She is a Townsville-based soldier in the Australian Defence Force but will be posted to Brisbane later this year.
Hooker Ella Hopper headed to Canberra to crack Super Rugby Women’s. The Coolum-raised forward is back with the Australian Army in Brisbane.
The positive cross-over with sevens rugby players is also reflected in selection.
Ava Wereta, Kaelyn Passi, Taleah Ackland and Tahlia Evans will all transfer their skills from a Next Gen 7s focus to the 15-a-side game.
“This match in Narrabri falls at the perfect time. It’s straight after club finals and the Next Gen 7s finals,” Fraser said.
“It gives us a great opportunity to work with the skills of a wide range of players.
“What was created this year with the warm welcome to the Australian sevens girls, like Charlotte Caslick, continues.
“Ava has been part of the Reds program before. She’s played, as a midfielder, at Bond with Kaelyn while Taleah and Tahlia are much newer to 15-a-side.”
Ava Wereta - Bond University / Reds 7s
Briana Dascombe - Wests
Charity Wightman-Beaven - Easts / Emerging Reds Academy
Dillyn Blackburn - Wests
Ella Hopper - Brothers
Eva Doblo - Bond University
Jemma Bemrose - Bond University
Jessica Craig - Wests
Jordan Neal - North Ward (Townsville)
Kaelyn Passi - Bond University / Reds 7s
Kalisi Longopoa - Sunnybank
Kieran Berry - University of Queensland
Leila Wood - Wests
Lilliana Nati - Emerging Reds Academy
Mary Tuanna - Wests
Matauimalo Malele Iafeta - University of Queensland
Molly Kennedy - University of Queensland
Paris Mohr - Bond University
Piper Flynn - Easts
Renae Nona - Easts
Sarah Dougherty - Brothers
Sarah Pascoe - Brothers / Emerging Reds Academy
Sarah Riordan - Brothers
Tahlia Evans - University of Queensland / Reds 7s
Taleah Ackland - University of Queensland / Reds 7s
Tiarah Minns - University of Queensland
Vineta Teutau - Brothers
Zara Colless - Bond University
Zophronia Setu - University of Queensland
Bree-Anna Browne - Brothers
Caitlin Urwin - University of Queensland
Carys Dallinger - Easts / Reds 7s
Deni Ross - Brothers
Eva Karpani - Bond University
Ivania Wong - Sunnybank
Jiowana Sauto - Sunnybank
Layne Morgan - Hunter Wildfires
Lori Cramer - University of Queensland
Natalie Wright - University of Queensland
Sky-Yvette Faimalie - Sunnybank
Tiarna Molloy - Brothers
Zoe Hanna - Bond University
