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Scoop
3 days ago
- Sport
- Scoop
Rugby: Wallaroo Waiaria Ellis Says New Zealand Was 'The Best Place To Debut'
, Henare te Ua Māori Journalism Intern Western Sydney schoolgirl Waiaria Ellis debuted for the Wallaroos last weekend, playing for her country against her other home side. The Laurie O'Reilly cup match between the Black Ferns and the Wallaroos at Sky Stadium meant the Australian pocket rocket became the second-youngest debutant in Wallaroos history at 17 years and 305 days. Ellis, who is nicknamed 'Baba', was just 60 days short of Caitlyn Halse's record set in 2024. "I wasn't expecting to debut so soon. I thought that I would have had a few more training camps and that, because I'd been to a few, but I just wasn't expecting it, so it's literally so surreal," Ellis said. "There's definitely no better place to debut, to be honest. Like, just being Māori, then being able to debut in New Zealand and versing New Zealand was pretty crazy, but it was amazing." The Castle Hill High Schooler started in the number 14 jersey on the same wing as Katelyn Vaha'akolo. The Black Ferns clinched a 37-12 win over the Aussies. Her mum flew over the Tasman to the capital, and her koro, nan, and aunty drove down from Tūrangi. The Ngāti Tūwharetoa descendant said that having the backing of her family was everything. "I'm just so proud to be Māori. Our culture, our connection to the land, and just my family. Family is a lot to us. It is important." Her dad Ben Ellis played in the NRL for St George Illawarra and captained the New Zealand Māori Rugby League team in 2008. Her sister Ruby-Jean Kennard-Ellis has also played in the NRLW for the Parramatta Eels. The young Ellis looked up to both her dad and her big sister. "My dad helped coach me and everything, and he played in the NRL as well. He knows a lot about footy and he's just helped me a lot with everything in my career. "But then, a few years ago, my sister debuted for Para, Parramatta NRLW, and she was the first junior Parramatta player to play for the women - the first junior one to come through the path - she was actually a very big idol of mine, I looked up to her." She also praised her teammate Caitlyn Halse, who is another strong contender for the number 15 jersey. "She's very, very good, and she's so young, like, she's just a year older than me but she's achieved so much, and, she's just such a great player." Ellis hasn't been playing the 15-aside game long but owes her nifty playmaking ability to rugby league - the sport she has been playing since she was five years old. She has also worn the green and gold in junior Australian gymnastics, Oztag, and schoolgirls sevens. In just her second year on the rugby pitch, she scored a spot in the NSW Waratahs Super Rugby Women's team at 16. The Waratahs won the Super W championship back-to-back, defeating the Queensland Reds 43-21 this year. "Super W season is one of my favourites. The girls are just really good to be around." With a Wallaroo cap under her belt, Ellis wants to see where her rugby career can take her. "Australia has given me everything, all my opportunities and stuff. So I feel like that's who I should be representing." "But also, if I was in a black jersey, I'd be very proud to be in a black jersey as well - both I'd be very grateful for if I ever had to swap for anything." And the utility back isn't limiting her options. "I definitely would want to give sevens a crack." But for now, Ellis' focus is impressing selectors for the Women's Rugby World Cup in England. "Obviously I do other sports and stuff, but I've just been really concentrating on 15s, just because that's, like, the World Cup is literally the pinnacle of our sport. Everyone wants to achieve that, so that would be pretty amazing." Wallaroos head coach Jo Yapp said in a pre-match statement that the coaching staff are "all really pleased for Waiaria." "She has an excellent skillset and her youthfulness has a great effect on the playing group. We are confident in her ability to take the next step at this level." Australia is hosting Wales in a two-test series on 26 July in Brisbane and 1 August in Sydney in preparations for the Rugby World Cup. A squad of 32 will be selected for the World Cup following the match in Sydney, then will jet off for the UK on 11 August.
Perth Now
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Western Force players shine at glamour-packed awards night
Nick MacLennan & Georgina Thorp, Nick Champion & Olivia O'Donnell and Maddi Beale & Kurtley Beale. Picture: John Koh Western Force stars and their partners glammed up for the team's annual awards night, where the best players were honoured for their sporting skills. The River View Room at Optus Stadium was transformed into a sea of glamour as the talented players and team members let their hair down for an evening of celebrations after the Force's season wrapped up. Tom Robertson claimed the Nathan Sharpe Medal which is the club's highest individual men's honour while women's stalwart and captain Trilleen Pomare won the Rebecca Clough Medal for their best Super W player. Nick Champion de Crespigny and Anneka Stephens won the Force man and woman awards respectively, awarded to the players who best embody the Force spirit on and off the field as judged by the coaches.
West Australian
30-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Western Force prop Tom Robertson wins Nathan Sharpe Medal, centre Trilleen Pomare claims Rebecca Clough Medal
Western Force prop Tom Robertson has marked an incredible comeback season by claiming the Nathan Sharpe Medal — the club's highest individual men's honour. It came as women's stalwart and captain Trilleen Pomare won the Rebecca Clough Medal for their best Super W player at the Force's annual awards night. After missing last season through a combination of a torn ACL and study sabbatical at Oxford University, Robertson produced an excellent first year back with the Force. He became the first prop to win the award, which is voted on a 3-2-1 basis by players after each game, finishing on 267 votes ahead of winger Harry Potter (241) and Carlo Tizzano (200), while locks Darcy Swain (196) and captain Jeremy Williams (136) rounded out the top five. A natural loosehead prop, Robertson started every game at tighthead and never once looked out of place, while consistently putting up startling defensive numbers. He finished on 197 tackles for the season, which was second in Super Rugby only to teammate Tizzano heading into the final round of the year. He also scored a memorable, breakaway try against the Red in round seven. The 30 year-old will surely be in Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt's squad for the British and Irish Lions tour, and will be hoping to add to his 30 Test caps. Force coach Simon Cron hailed Robertson's impact this season. 'He has been the rock in the team this year. He's played the most amount of minutes as a front-row forward in the whole competition, which is testament to his attitude and preparation. He's got an unmatched work rate, tackle count and effective involvements. 'He's done an incredible job having to play tighthead prop for us, especially when he's a specialist loosehead. No one else could've done what he's done and we're thrilled to see that recognised.' WA women's rugby royalty Rebecca Clough was in attendance to present her medal to inside centre Pomare, who has missed just one Force game since Super W's inception in 2018 and has been captain since 2020. Pomare had yet another fruitful season, highlighted by her finishing in the league's top 10 for successful tackles and dominant tackles, while also continuing to punish defences with the ball in hand. She pipped back-rower Anneka Stephens to the award, finishing on 74 votes to Stephens' 71, while emerging local Tamika Jones finished third. Force Super W head coach Dylan Parsons said Pomare's 2025 was one of her best seasons and she was a worthy winner. 'She came into the season in a really good position. She was very motivated for the team and herself to do well, and because of that we've seen some really good performances from her throughout the whole season,' he said. 'When things aren't going well, she's the first one to step up and try to make something happen. Trill leads through grit and determination. Pomare was also voted member's Super W MVP, while homegrown Wallaby Tizzano capped a similarly superb season by winning the members' Super Rugby Pacific MVP for the second straight year. Back-rowers Nick Champion de Crespigny and Stephens won the Force man and woman awards respectively, awarded to the players who best embody the Force spirit on and off the field as judged by the coaches. Emerging hooker Albert Alcock and fly-half Grace Freeman won the Matt Hodgson and Debby Carley rising star awards, while innovation and sustainability manager Anton Zackey won the Adrian Blacker award, which recognises an off-field member who upholds and instills the club's values. Nathan Sharpe medal top 10 1. Tom Robertson (267 votes) 2. Harry Potter (241) 3. Carlo Tizzano (200) 4. Darcy Swain (196) 5. Jeremy Williams (136) 6. Nick Champion de Crespigny (115) 7. Ben Donaldson (87) 8. Marley Pearce (86) 9. Kane Koteka (78) 10. Hamish Stewart (78) Rebecca Clough medal top 5 1. Trilleen Pomare (74 votes) 2. Anneka Stephens (71) 3. Tamika Jones (41) 4. Pia Tapsell (34) 5. Ashley Marsters (25)
The Age
24-04-2025
- Sport
- The Age
‘Set up to fail': Levi's World Cup bid in jeopardy as agent raises issue of ‘animosity' among players
The plan was for Levi, arguably the best sevens player in the world, to play some XVs rugby for the Queensland Reds earlier this year, but that fell through when she broke her hand in January. The 22-year-old is contracted with the Australian sevens team and will play for them in the LA Sevens tournament early next month. From there, the expectation has been that Levi will come into Wallaroos camp and push for selection. Levi could have made herself available for the Wallaroos' opening Test next month by skipping the final sevens event of the season. Whether she will commit to XVs remains unclear. Her inclusion would bolster the Wallaroos' chances of making their first World Cup final. Australia have only made one semi-final from seven World Cup appearances. However, if Levi was picked for Australia without playing a single XVs match, it might not go down well with her new teammates. Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp said on Tuesday she did not believe the inclusion of high-profile sevens players – such as Levi, Charlotte Caslick and Tia Hinds – would create tension in camp with regular XVs players vying for World Cup spots. However, Rogers has hinted at existing friction, revealing there had already been issues during Super W involving sevens players. Levi and her sister Teagan were both signed to the Reds, though only Teagan played – in just one match. 'I just think we should let the sevens girls do what they do, and the 15s [do what they do], then right before the World Cup just say to all sevens girls, yeah, you can go and play in the 15s and see if it doesn't create any animosity between the players. Because that's what's happened this year, and it wasn't pretty,' Rogers said. 'I'm being facetious there, but it's been unfair on the sevens girls and unfair on the XVs girls. 'I just know as a player, if I'm busting my butt in the XVs team, and all of a sudden you get these seven or eight girls go, oh, I want to play XVs … I would have been absolutely filthy.' After the Fiji fixture early next month, the Wallaroos have three more Tests in May against New Zealand, the US and Canada. Levi could feasibly play in three Tests for Australia before the World Cup begins on August 23, but the likelihood of that appears to be fading by the day. Loading 'Ultimately, we want to make sure we're setting Maddi up for success,' Yapp said this week. 'Bringing her straight in to play a Test match without any real XVs exposure or experience … wouldn't be fair on her. If we're bringing her in, we need to give her opportunities to train with the group first. 'We know that we've got a strong back line that has been performing well. When you look at Maya [Stewart], Desi [Desiree Miller], G Fred [Georgina Friedrichs] and C Smith [Cecilia Smith] ... they're strong players for us. What it does is allow us to create some depth in areas that we've not had.'
Sydney Morning Herald
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Set up to fail': Levi's World Cup bid in jeopardy as agent raises issue of ‘animosity' among players
The plan was for Levi, arguably the best sevens player in the world, to play some XVs rugby for the Queensland Reds earlier this year, but that fell through when she broke her hand in January. The 22-year-old is contracted with the Australian sevens team and will play for them in the LA Sevens tournament early next month. From there, the expectation has been that Levi will come into Wallaroos camp and push for selection. Levi could have made herself available for the Wallaroos' opening Test next month by skipping the final sevens event of the season. Whether she will commit to XVs remains unclear. Her inclusion would bolster the Wallaroos' chances of making their first World Cup final. Australia have only made one semi-final from seven World Cup appearances. However, if Levi was picked for Australia without playing a single XVs match, it might not go down well with her new teammates. Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp said on Tuesday she did not believe the inclusion of high-profile sevens players – such as Levi, Charlotte Caslick and Tia Hinds – would create tension in camp with regular XVs players vying for World Cup spots. However, Rogers has hinted at existing friction, revealing there had already been issues during Super W involving sevens players. Levi and her sister Teagan were both signed to the Reds, though only Teagan played – in just one match. 'I just think we should let the sevens girls do what they do, and the 15s [do what they do], then right before the World Cup just say to all sevens girls, yeah, you can go and play in the 15s and see if it doesn't create any animosity between the players. Because that's what's happened this year, and it wasn't pretty,' Rogers said. 'I'm being facetious there, but it's been unfair on the sevens girls and unfair on the XVs girls. 'I just know as a player, if I'm busting my butt in the XVs team, and all of a sudden you get these seven or eight girls go, oh, I want to play XVs … I would have been absolutely filthy.' After the Fiji fixture early next month, the Wallaroos have three more Tests in May against New Zealand, the US and Canada. Levi could feasibly play in three Tests for Australia before the World Cup begins on August 23, but the likelihood of that appears to be fading by the day. Loading 'Ultimately, we want to make sure we're setting Maddi up for success,' Yapp said this week. 'Bringing her straight in to play a Test match without any real XVs exposure or experience … wouldn't be fair on her. If we're bringing her in, we need to give her opportunities to train with the group first. 'We know that we've got a strong back line that has been performing well. When you look at Maya [Stewart], Desi [Desiree Miller], G Fred [Georgina Friedrichs] and C Smith [Cecilia Smith] ... they're strong players for us. What it does is allow us to create some depth in areas that we've not had.'
