New representative opportunity for Under 18 Girls

Rising stars of the female game will have more opportunities to develop their skills with the Queensland Rugby League announcing a strengthened performance program for Under 18 Girls.

In a change from the 2019 format, the new initiative will run via a decentralised approach, allowing the QRL to reach an extended group of players, with 80 to100 girls expected to be involved in upcoming camps.

These camps are just one part of the overall performance program which is aimed to provide a longer-term development opportunity for players.

Squads will be region based - Central Queensland, Northern Queensland and South East Queensland with two squads due to the larger participant pool, with QRL-appointed staff to direct the players.

All four squads will have coaching and strength and conditioning staff assigned to help with skills development and physical performance. Current Queensland Under 18 Girls lead coach Ben Jeffries will oversee the program for the QRL and the work of the squads. The full staffing details for all of the squads will be announced in the near future.

As with all of the upcoming Queensland female performance programs, the objective of the new Under 18 Girls squad format is to improve the preparation of players at all levels of the game.

The programs will focus on improving player capability across core skills, physical performance and resilience, performance mindset and game awareness. Players will also receive information about nutrition and wellbeing.

This follows on from the recent announcement of a new women’s statewide competition in 2020 which is one of a number of exciting new initiatives in the female game.

This new competition will prove vital in identifying and developing talented players who will be in consideration for representative honours into the future. It is expected these young players involved in these squads will learn from this program and progress into this strong competition as they develop. 

Players taking part in the under 18 squads will also be vying for selection in the Queensland team that will play in the curtain-raiser to the Holden State of Origin match, featuring the Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons, that will be played at the Sunshine Coast in June.

Under 18 Girls Performance Program squads

South East 

South East 

Central

Northern

Key dates

South East - combined dates for both squads

Central

Northern

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