Season Preview 2023: Queanbeyan Kangaroos
Former Raiders Sam Williams (#296) and Sia Soliola (#326) will bring a wealth of NRL experience back to the Blumers Lawyers Canberra Raiders Cup as they look to taste glory for the Roos in 2023.
Williams announced his NRL retirement mid-way through the Raiders season last year before signing with the Queanbeyan club to play their final eight games of the season.
After leading the club to six wins in their last eight games to just miss a finals spot, Williams has now taken the reigns as captain-coach, and has recruited good mate and NRL veteran Sia Soliola to return to rugby league at the Kangaroos.
Soliola spoke with media about the influence of Williams and his decision to return to the game after an 18-month absence.
"It's been nice to be apart of a group such as a club of the Queanbeyan Roos, headed by our captain coach in Sam Williams. He's done a really good job in bringing everyone together and it's nice to be in that footy environment and work toward something again," Soliola said.
Carrie Mitchell spoke with media about the Kangaroos inaugural Katrina Fanning Shield side and their excitement about their special debut season.
"I'm really excited about this year. The girls have grown in preseason where we started really early," Mitchell said.
"We do have a few girls that are starting in the deep end, coming over from tag to tackle. Watching them on the weekend was perfect and I'm really stoked."
League Tag representative Veronyka Zanatta touched on the side's preparations heading into the new season.
"The girls have been training really well. I'm very pleased with how we've been getting together collectively," Zanatta said.
"We've got a couple of fresh legs on the team at the moment, so just getting those fundamental skills and those foundations have been a little tricky. But we had a trial match over the weekend and the girls did really well and I'm super proud."
The Queanbeyan Kangaroos will travel to Goulburn to take on the Bulldogs at Workers Arena in round one.
