North Queensland Cowboys Women

North Queensland Cowboys
Club information
Full nameNorth Queensland Cowboys Rugby League Football Club
Nickname(s)Cowboys
Colours  Navy Blue
  Grey
  Gold
Founded15 June 2022; 2 years ago (15 June 2022)
Websitecowboys.com.au
Current details
Ground(s)
CEOJeff Reibel
ChairmanLewis Ramsay
CoachRicky Henry
CaptainKirra Dibb
Tallisha Harden
CompetitionNRL Women's Premiership
2024 season6th
Current season
Records
Most capped18 – Kirra Dibb, Tallisha Harden, Emma Manzelmann, Jasmine Peters
Highest try scorer7 – Jasmine Peters
Highest points scorer82 – Kirra Dibb

The North Queensland Cowboys Women is an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, the largest city in North Queensland. They compete in Australia's premier women's rugby league competition, the NRL Women's Premiership (NRLW).

History

[edit]

In April 2019, the North Queensland Cowboys announced a program to support grassroots women's rugby league in the region with the hope of gaining entry into the NRL Women's Premiership. The program featured sponsorship and support for that year's Queensland Rugby League (QRL) Northern Region Women's Championship, as well as sponsorship of the Townsville, Cairns and Mackay women's rugby league competitions.[1] Prior to 2019, the Cowboys hosted the 2015 Women's Interstate Challenge between Queensland and New South Wales at their home venue, Willows Sports Complex, as a curtain raiser to their Round 16 NRL fixture against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.[2] Several Jillaroos and Queensland representatives grew up or spent time playing in the North Queensland region, including Brittany Breayley-Nati, Renae Kunst (Mackay), Heather Ballinger, Steph Mooka and Jenni-Sue Hoepper (Cairns).[3][4][5]

On 10 September 2019, the club announced the opening of their Women's Academy, providing a pathway to elite rugby league for females in north Queensland.[6][7] The first four Academy members announced were Romy Teitzel, Riutoto Te Hiko, Shanaye Watson and Jasmine Peters.[8] Teiztel's father, Craig, played 12 games for the Cowboys in 1995.[9]

On 17 December 2019, the Cowboys announced their first women's team, the North Queensland Gold Stars, who competed in the QRL Women's Premiership. The Gold Stars were a colloborative effort between the Cowboys and their three feeder clubs, the Mackay Cutters, Northern Pride and Townsville Blackhawks.[10][11] On 14 March 2020, the Gold Stars successfully played their first game, defeating Brothers Ipswich 24–10 at Blue Ribbon Motors Field in Ipswich. Emma Manzelmann and Jasmine Peters, who would be the club's first two NRLW signings in 2023, played in the match.[12] The season was cancelled two weeks later due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[13]

On 17 October 2020, Teitzel became the first Academy graduate to play in the NRLW when she debuted for the Brisbane Broncos.[14] On 13 November 2020, Shaniah Power became the first Academy graduate to represent Queensland.[15]

On 15 March 2022, the Cowboys formally applied to enter the NRLW.[16] On 4 June 2022, the Gold Stars won the QRL Women's Premiership Grand Final, defeating the Central Queensland Capras 14–12, with the side featuring six of the Cowboys' future NRLW squad members.[17]

On 15 June 2022, the Cowboys were admitted to the NRLW for the 2023 season.[18] Following the announcement, the Gold Stars folded and were replaced in the QRL Women's Premiership by a Mackay Cutters women's side.[19]

On 24 November 2022, Ben Jeffries was announced as the club's inaugural NRLW head coach, with Anita Creenaune appointed as Head of Women's Elite Programs.[20] On 4 April 2023, Mackay's Emma Manzelmann became the club's inaugural signing.[21]

Players

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Further information: List of North Queensland Cowboys players § Women's

2025 NRLW Squad

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North Queensland Cowboys 2025 NRLW Squad
NRLW Squad – 2025 season Coaching Staff

Head coach

Assistant coaches

  • David Faiumu
  • Alicia-Kate Hawke
  • Anita Creenaune (Head of Elite Programs)
  • Daniel Strickland (Head of Performance)
  • Larissa Di Bella (Sports Scientist)
  • Ebony Bray (Team Doctor)
  • Maggie Dwyer (Physiotherapist)
Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)

Updated: 20 December 2024
Source(s): NQ Cowboys


Coaches

[edit]
No Coach Tenure Matches Won Drawn Lost Win %
1 Ben Jeffries 2023 9 2 0 7 22%
2 Ricky Henry 2024– 9 4 0 5 44%

Stadium

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Main article: North Queensland Stadium

In their inaugural season, the Cowboys will play three of their five home games at Townsville's Queensland Country Bank Stadium. The two other home games will be played at Langlands Park in Brisbane and Cbus Super Stadium in Robina.[22]

References

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  1. ^ "Cowboys unveil women's rugby league program". NQ Cowboys. 17 April 2019.
  2. ^ "NQ hosting Jillaroos in round 16". NQ Cowboys. 28 May 2015.
  3. ^ "Renae Kunst: 'I am a rig and I do not dance'". QRL. 14 February 2023.
  4. ^ "Brittany Breayley-Nati to captain Gold Coast Titans NRLW side in inaugural season". The Courier Mail. 23 February 2022.
  5. ^ "Maroons prop Heather Ballinger to call time on career". Cairns Post. 20 January 2020.
  6. ^ "Cowboys NRLW in sight with new Women's Academy". North Queensland Cowboys. 10 September 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  7. ^ "Women's Academy". North Queensland Cowboys. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  8. ^ "Subscribe to the Townsville Bulletin". www.townsvillebulletin.com.au. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  9. ^ "Gold Stars captain to make community impact". NQ Cowboys. 16 December 2021.
  10. ^ "The Gold Stars are North Queensland's new QRLW team". North Queensland Cowboys. 17 December 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  11. ^ "North Queensland to contest in inaugural 2020 QRLW competition - Cowboys". North Queensland Cowboys. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  12. ^ "QRL Women's Premiership 2020 draw released". NQ Cowboys. 31 January 2020.
  13. ^ "Queensland Cup cancelled for 2020 season". NQ Cowboys. 27 March 2020.
  14. ^ "Teitzel to make NRLW debut this Saturday". NQ Cowboys. 13 October 2020.
  15. ^ "Power named to make Origin debut this Friday night". NQ Cowboys. 10 November 2020.
  16. ^ "Cowboys to apply for 2023 NRLW". NQ Cowboys. 15 March 2022.
  17. ^ "Gold Stars claim title with last-gasp win over Capras". QRL. 4 June 2022.
  18. ^ "Cowboys to enter NRLW". NQ Cowboys. 15 June 2022.
  19. ^ "The QCCS Mackay Cutters to enter BMD Premiership". Mackay Cutters. 29 November 2022.
  20. ^ "Cowboys announce women's leadership structure". NQ Cowboys. 24 November 2022.
  21. ^ "Cowboys announce Manzelmann as inaugural NRLW signing". NQ Cowboys. 4 April 2023.
  22. ^ "Cowboys 2023 NRLW Draw announced". NQ Cowboys. 27 April 2023.
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