Canberra Raiders NRLW representatives recently travelled to New Zealand to deliver a series of skills clinics through the support of the Raiders Foundation.
Raiders NRLW coach Darrin Borthwick, NRLW players Simaima Taufa, Zahara Temara and Grace Kemp and Raiders Board Member Katrina Fanning travelled to Auckland, Hamilton and Rotorua to run clinics, share the Raiders’ message and do some talent identification.
The contingent also attended the Kiwi Ferns Test Match against Tonga, supporting the three Raiders NRLW players in the New Zealand squad – Apii Nicholls, Ash Quinlan and Cheyelle Robins-Reti.
Borthwick said the trip was a success, taking plenty out of the experience.
“To connect with a few different clubs over there, to go and run a clinic at Madison Bartlett’s club (Richmond Roses), Apii has spent some time there and Katrina played there back in the day too. That was really good and well received,” Borthwick said.
“New Zealand Rugby League were big backers of allowing us to do it and that was really good. To connect with a rugby union school (Hamilton Girls Sports High School), there’s some dual-coders there that play both sports.
“To connect there and spread the message as well that if you are thinking of a path in rugby league, that Canberra is the club you want to be at. It was good to get the message out there, one for our branding and two that Canberra is a great club to come and play for.
“The three girls that we took over there, it was really good for them for their connection as well. To get them to do some coaching in the clinics as well, it was good for them to see the support we are getting over there now with young New Zealand girls that want to aspire to be like Grace Kemp, Zahara Temara and Simaima Taufa.”
While in Hamilton the contingent also toured the Waikato Chiefs facility and completed skills and drills with the women’s Waikato 7s team.
The trip also included a visit to the New Zealand Māori Rugby League tournament in Roturua, which also featured Raider #12, Chanté Temara, playing in the event.
“The Māori tournament was awesome, we got to go there and obviously see some NRLW talent playing in that. It was really good to take Zahara there as well as she is from Rotorua. It was terrific to see how the Māori tournament unfolds and it was really good footy to watch too.”
Borthwick said he was very grateful for the support of the Raiders Foundation, who helped fund the trip.
“We are really happy that we were supported by the Raiders Foundation and we couldn’t have done it without them to be fair,” Borthwick said.
“That was a big motivation for us, to get over there and understand that and spread the word even more on how good this club is and how good the Foundation is for allowing clinics and pathways within the female space to develop and happen even more.
“The exciting part now is we get to come back here and work on our pathways locally and regionally as well which is really exciting. The announcement of our 17s academy trial happening this week is terrific and a good show of support for the female pathways here.”
