Sport
13 June, 2025
Women’s team full of Pride
HISTORY is in the making for women’s rugby league in the Far North as Northern Pride celebrated the launch of the BMD premiership season and their first ever team to compete in the competition last week.
Over 100 players, their families, board members, staff and sponsors attended the BMD campaign launch at the Cairns Regional Council civic reception rooms last Friday to commemorate the inaugural BMD Northern Pride team and the start of the season.
During the celebration, the club reflected on the journey of women’s rugby league and marked the milestone of launching the first women’s BMD team.
“This is our inaugural season and first ever launch and it was an opportunity to get all the players and their families in along with members, sponsors and the staff and board,” said inaugural head coach Colin Wilkies. “It was a great night and this is massive for our rugby league. There’s never been an opportunity for our local players to play at this level in front of their family and friends at home.
“It’s a great opportunity for the ladies that have had to move away to chase their dream, an opportunity to bring them home while still being able to play at a high level of rugby league.
“Also, for our pathway players who are starting their rugby league journey, they now have the option to stay at home and get all the same opportunities they would get down south, so it’s a very exciting time.”
Mr Wilkies said Pride had a great BMD team and they were eager to get the season started.
“The team is great, a lot of the girls didn’t even know each other before we started, so that was the main focus of the pre-season – building the connection among the playing group,” he said.
“There’s plenty to look out for. I’m really excited for Stephanie Mooka, she’s played State of Origin for Queensland back in 2018, she’s well into her 30s but she came into the squad and put her head down, worked so hard. She would come on her day off and work on conditioning to make sure she’s prepared for round one.
“Her niece is also in the squad, that’s Sareka Mooka and she’s just come from playing with the NQ Cowboys and her experience and presence around our team has been outstanding.
“Also one of our new players Syan Williams, moved from Townsville, it’s only her third season of rugby league so she’s still learning. She plays on the wing but she’s super-fast and she’s the toughest front rower, she’s very enthusiastic and has applied herself through pre-season.
“There’s no pressure, it’s more of a privilege and an honour to be coaching this team and we’re eager to go away to Brisbane this weekend.”
The BMD Pride team will face the Brisbane Tigers this Saturday from 12.40pm.
