THE Gunnedah Bulldogs will be a dominant force in the Group 4 women’s nines representative team next year.
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Seven players have been selected for the side, off the back of strong performances in the first two rounds of the Group 4 competition.
The side will go up against the best women’s tackle players from across the state.
Gemma Wicks, Becky Smythe, Lana Bottrill, Ebone Ison, Becky Smyth,Tara Wilkinson-Ryan, Billie-Jo Power and Zoe Fleming will strut their stuff when the side takes the field in March next year.
The Bulldogs will make up a third of the overall squad, joined by players from across Group 4.
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Wicks said it was an honour to be named in the side after only one season.
“It’s all a bit new and a bit scary but we are all really excited to see how we’ll go,” Wicks said.
“It’s a pretty big thing to get picked for and for seven us to get picked is pretty amazing.”
The selections come off the back of four strong outings for the Bulldogs in the recent competition, which saw them win three games out of four.
“We got stuck in, gelled together and overall did really well,” Wicks said.
“I honestly didn’t think I’d be playing tackle at 26 but here we are and now I’ll be playing rep, it’s pretty amazing.”
Wicks captained the dogs throughout the campaign, which looked to be over before it begun.
“There was a while there where we weren’t sure we would get a team together,” she said.
“Once we did, it looked like a few of the other clubs might not get a side together so we weren’t sure it was going to happen.
“But, we all eventually got it together, got stuck in and had a really good time doing it.”
The girls will now look forward to a break before the representative squad assembles for training in February.
“At the moment we are waiting to see what the exact dates of everything are,” Wicks said.
“From what I understand we will come together in February and train all around the different towns to get everyone involved.
“Then I think we take on teams from other groups in March, hopefully learn a lot of new things and get stuck in.”
The Group 4 women’s nines squad:
- Tenayah Woodward (Boggabri)
- Lana Bottrill (Gunnedah)
- Lauren Clarke (Boggabri)
- Rebecca Clay (South West Robins)
- Zoe Darlington (SWR)
- Montana Ellsley (SWR)
- Zoe Fleming (Gunnedah)
- Ashley Haire (Boggabri)
- Jodie Howarth (SWR)
- Ebone Ison (Gunnedah)
- Chantel Leigh (SWR)
- Maria Monica (SWR)
- Yvonne Murphy (SWR)
- Joan O'Leary (Bendemeer)
- Billie-Jo Power (Gunnedah)
- Alma Saunders (Bendemeer)
- Toni Skulthorpe (SWR)
- Becky Smyth (Gunnedah)
- Gemma Wicks (Gunnedah)
- Tara Wilkinson (Gunnedah)
- Coach: Adelaide Monica (SWR)
- Manager: Carley Howarth (SWR)
