Shellharbour Stingrays Open Women’s Tackle team heads stateside at the end of the season to play against teams based in LA and a USA Select women’s rugby league team in Hawaii’s capital, Honolulu.
The spearhead behind the idea is former NRL, English Super League, USA International, Illawarra Cutters, and Wests Devils player Junior Vaivai who now plays for the Stingrays and is also the Club’s coaching director.
The rugby league journeyman sees the trip as an opportunity of a lifetime for his players and for the growth of Women’s Rugby League in America.
“The idea behind the trip is to try and create a pathway for women rugby league players in America,” Vaivai explains.
“Hopefully, we can build a relationship with the Stingrays and get them to come over here to experience rugby league in Australia, where it is popular.”
“It is a little bit hard when you are trying to create a pathway to go straight into a system like the NRLW or the Steelers, so we thought if we create a pathway to a local club where grassroots rugby league is played, I think it will be more beneficial for them in the long run.”
Coming to America
The trip will include a three-day rugby league camp before any games get underway, with more than fifty players from the USA including Los Angeles, Jacksonville, New York, and Cleveland registered to attend.
“USA Coach Adrian ‘Ady’ Cooney is a friend of mine. He is an Englishman living in the US who seems to love it. He was around when I was playing for the US, and it’s always been a plan of mine to create opportunity for rugby league players in the US.”
Vaivai hopes the trip will become an annual event, aiming to take the Stingrays men’s team over next year to play against the USA men.
For now, though, he is concentrating on getting this trip under his belt first.
“They have a really strong competition going on over there at the moment with the women. They play Jamaica the week before they play us for World Cup qualifiers.”
“At the end of the day, you get sick of hearing Australia v New Zealand in the women’s. We already know they are superstars of the game.
“If we can throw the USA, England, and other countries like Jamaica in the mix, I think it will be better for the game.”
Teaching technique
Vaivai, cousin to actor Dwayne ‘the Rock” Johnson, says while the athleticism of the talent in America is second to none, it’s about teaching them the game.
“They are very athletic, but in terms of knowing the game and understanding the game and how it is played, it’s more than being strong and fast. It can be technical at times.”
Stingrays five-eighth Georgia Scott is in her first full season playing tackle after being introduced to the game through touch and tag.
Scott hopes to be on the plane come late September but is still learning the game playing alongside her sister and Steelers Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership player Riley in the new Southern Corridor women’s tackle competition.
“When we are not arguing, it’s good [Laughs],” she says about her halves partner and sibling.
“We’re sitting fourth at the moment. It’s been good having different teams to play against.”
Vaivai says he will have a mix of youth and experience on the trip, including the Scott sisters, Jordyn and Brody Preston, Tiana Kore, his daughter Chelsea, and, subject to availability, Stingrays alumni Teagan Berry.
“It would have been easier for me to go and select a representative team. But from my perspective as coaching director, it’s better for us to see where the American girls are compared to a normal club team.
“If they’re on par with our girls, I can let them know there are opportunities here if they want to come and play for the Stingrays or whoever they choose.”
The Club is seeking sponsors to help fund the trip. If you wish to help out, please email donnasingleton@stingraysrlfc.com
