The Canberra Raiders NRLW team commenced their inaugural season last weekend with the club’s first appearance in the Telstra Women’s Premiership, and now the inaugural team will be forever recognised on the new NRLW honour roll.
The 17 players who took the field in round one will become the first players acknowledged on the NRLW honour roll, with one exception, with Coach Darrin Borthwick recognised as #1 on the list as inaugural Coach.
NRL Co-Captains Simaima Taufa and Zahara Temara led the charge from the players to have Borthwick named as number one on the list, in recognition of his hard work and the huge role he played in bringing the first squad together.
Taufa and Temara will feature in the number two and three positions respectively on the list as Co-Captains (alphabetical order), while the remaining starting team will be allocated their number in alphabetical order. Players who came from the bench have been given a number based on the order of their appearance during the match.
Moving forward, players who take the field in Raiders NRLW fixtures will be awarded with a NRLW player number.
Raiders Co-Captain Simaima Taufa said it was important to establish and reward those individuals who have represented the club at the top level, as well as giving the rest of the current and any future players something to aspire to.
“I think it’s important for us as a group to show recognition to the players who are the pioneers for the NRLW side here at the Raiders and at the same time give the next generation of players something to work towards,” Taufa said. “We’re very fortunate to have been able to take the field for the Raiders first ever NRLW match and I know the players appreciate the fact they’ll be forever recognised and remembered with their own player numbers.”
Co-Captain Zahara Temara said the gesture by the team to include Coach Darrin Borthwick on the honour roll was something he deserved, being recognised and remembered among the club’s foundation players.
“He’s someone who I respect massively. He is one of the many reasons why I love this club so much and he genuinely cares about this team, the club and the Canberra community,” Temara said.
“We talk about history within the club and I love the symmetry of how the men’s Raider #1 is their founding father Les McIntyre and for us ours is our founder/coach and leader Darrin Borthwick. I’m very honoured that the two names in front of mine are people who I respect and have so much love for.
“I’m proud of how we do things at this club and I’m so happy that he will go down in history and forever be known as our Raiders #1.”
Raiders NRLW Honour Roll
#1 Darrin Borthwick
#2 Simaima Taufa
#3 Zahara Temara
#4 Madison Bartlett
#5 Hollie-Mae Dodd
#6 Sophie Holyman
#7 Tommaya Kelly-Sines
#8 Apii Nicholls
#9 Ashleigh Quinlan
#10 Cheyelle Robins-Reti
#11 Monalisa Soliola
#12 Chanté Temara
#13 Shakiah Tungai
#14 Mackenzie Wiki
#15 Kerehitina Matua
#16 Tara Reinke
#17 Grace Kemp
#18 Emma Barnes
