New coach calling on players to show their interest
The Riverina Bulls women’s side has a new face at the helm ahead of the 2023 Country Championships, with former Weissel Medallist and current Albury Thunder league-tag coach Craig Blackhall taking the coaching reins.
Blackhall steps in for the departing Andrew Hinchliffe, but he has been around the team in recent seasons, and he explained how he landed the coaching gig.
“I actually got messaged through the rugby league club (Albury Thunder) down here and was asked if I was interested,” Blackhall said.
“I was already over there with the team over the last few years watching my daughters (Jaxan and Gemma) play, and I thought why not get more involved since Hinchy (Andrew Hinchcliffe) was stepping down.
“I got onto (David) Skinner and Smarty (James Smart), and it all got done pretty quickly from there.”
Blackhall led his first session at McDonalds Park on Sunday, and he was pleased with the turnout.
“We had a run on Sunday, and 16 or 17 girls turned up and we only had a light training run because it was more of a chance for everyone to get to know each other,” Blackhall said.
“Bernie (Delaney) and Wal (Stenhouse) said they never had that many at training all of last year, so it was a really good start.
“A lot of girls that were there are pretty new to it, and we had some of the regulars, but we are really looking forward to seeing how they turn out over the next few months.”
Training will officially kick-off on Sunday, January 29 at McDonalds Park, with sessions starting at 11am, and the side will train each Sunday in the lead up to the Country Championships, which are scheduled to kick-off in April.
When asked what he will bring to the Riverina representative system, Blackhall suggested it will be all about teaching his players the core skills they need to be competitive.
“I have been around for a little while, and as far as the girls, I’ve mainly been involved in the league tag, but I am looking forward to taking charge of the senior girls, and just popping in and giving them advice and showing them what I have done and what I know how to do, and hopefully that translates into their play and we can win some games,” Blackhall said.
“As long as we are on the same page and enjoying ourselves, that is all that matters.”
Ua Ravu and Biola Dawa headlined some of the bigger names at the first training run, while Tumut products Monique Toppin and Monique Bullock were in attendance too.
Blackhall hinted that competition for spots will be fierce, as he will be looking at the team as if they were a blank canvas ahead of their Country Championships campaign.
“I can only really pencil in five or six girls straight away, but that’s not half a team and there will be plenty of opportunities for girls to show me what they are capable of and earn a spot in the side,” Blackhall said.
The Riverina squad is open to anyone playing, or interested in playing rugby league in the Riverina, with most players coming from the Group 9 and Group 20 competitions, and Blackhall offered an open invite to anyone interested in playing for the Bulls in the 2023 Country Championships.
“If you have got an interest in playing rugby league and want to potentially take it further to the Canberra Raiders or the NRL, this is a good starting point,” Blackhall said.
“You’ve got to start at the bottom, and Riverina will be a good opportunity for girls that are trying to take their rugby league a little further.”
With training kicking off in February, Blackhall wants to see more new faces when they meet again at McDonalds Park next month, and for more information, any prospective players can email Bernie Delaney at [email protected].
