Season Preview 2025: Woden Valley Rams

Key off-season signings have bolstered the Woden Valley Rams' already strong roster, positioning them as top contenders for the 2025 Blumers Lawyers Canberra Raiders Cup.

In the Katrina Fanning Shield, Woden aim to go deeper after an early finals exit, while their League Tag squad is chasing a fourth straight premiership.

The men's first-grade side were among the top contenders in 2024, finishing third but level on points with the top two teams.

After falling six points short in the preliminary final, the Rams have retained most of their squad and added key recruits, positioning them as a powerhouse for 2025.

“Our pack’s a lot bigger; we’ve recruited a fair few middles – we’re looking a lot stronger than we were last year,” Rams five-eighth Brendan Jimenez said.

“We’re looking for the GF, we’re looking to win the comp, and we definitely have the team to do it.”

Among their new signings are props John Papalii and Atu Tupou, who played a key role in the Queanbeyan Blues’ successful 2024 season.

In the Blumers Lawyers Katrina Fanning Shield, the Rams finished third but bowed out in the opening week of finals.

Rams player Abi Taunton believes the team is ready to take the next step in 2025.

“Last year, we improved a lot with new players coming in, and this year, we’ve kept that core while adding more recruits,” Taunton said.

“We came a long way last year, and we’re looking to build on that. No team can stop us if we do everything right, listen to our coaches, and believe in ourselves.”

Woden continued their dominance in the League Tag competition in 2024, securing their third consecutive premiership.

Key player Emma McDonald credited their success to a strong club culture and is excited to see young talent stepping up this season.

“Those three premierships came from a lot of hard work, a dedicated coach, and a great club culture, with 20+ girls showing up each week and giving it their all,” McDonald said.

“We’re going to do the same thing this year - just get a great bunch of girls, play some footy and see what happens.”

“We’ve got a great junior club, and they’ve given us a few extra girls this year as well as a few recruits from outside the club as well.”

In Reserve Grade, the Rams will look to defend their premiership after dethroning the Gungahlin Bulls - a testament to the depth of their senior squad.

Meanwhile, in Under 19s, Woden will chase a third straight title following their dominant 34-12 grand final victory last season.