Illawarra Steelers Open Women’s Coach Jamie Szczerbanik has named a youthful squad for the upcoming Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership (HNWP) season.
The squad, to be led by 20-year-old captain Lily Rogan, includes Jordyn Preston, Ula-Mari Time-Cribb (pictured), Olivia Vale, and Zali Yeo, who all featured prominently in the club’s inaugural season in 2023.
“I couldn’t be more pleased with how the squad is shaping up,” Szczerbanik,” said after the first week of pre-season training.
“It’s a good mix of experience and youth, including the nucleus of the premiership-winning Tarsha Gale Cup side.”
Players added to this year’s squad from Courtney Crawford’s undefeated U19s included Brielle Luccitti, Evie McGrath, Hope Millard, Maria Paseka, Herewaka Pohatu, Mia-Rose Walsh, Sienna, and Rhian Yeo.
Kiara Kostovski, Tahlia O’Brien, and Tori Shipton have been elevated from this year’s Lisa Fiaola Cup U17s squad. A host of former Steelers are also on the books, including former Dragons NRLW player Maddison Weatherall, Tayleah Handcock, and Mackenzie Lear.
“With the competition starting later in the season to align with the NRLW, we can also expect to get a few players each week who are not selected for the Dragons NRLW side,” Szczerbanik said.
The squad includes two sets of sisters, Hope and Jayme Millard, and the Yeos, who join their cousin Zali in the open grade for the first time.
[Watch Video] Coach Jamie Szczerbanik on his young squad and pre-season focus…
The Steelers, who received a major off-season boost with the Harrigan Motor Group signing on as front-of-jersey sponsor for the next two years, meet last year’s premiers Mounties in Round 1 on 6 July before their first home game against the West Tigers at Collegians Sporting Complex the following week.
Squad List
Tayleah Handcock (Warilla), Kiara Kostovski (Stingrays), Mackenzie Lear (Stingrays), Brielle Luccitti (Collegians), Evie McGrath (Stingrays), Jayme Millard (Woonona-Bulli), Hope Millard (Corrimal), Tahlia O’Brien (Wests), Maria Paseka (Collegians), Herewaka Pohatu (Stingrays), Jordyn Preston (Stingrays), Lily Rogan (Milton-Ulladulla), Tori Shipton (Collegians), Amy Tietjens (Dapto), Ula-Mari Time-Cribb (Warilla), Olivia Vale (Corrimal), Mia-Rose Walsh (Stingrays), Maddison Weatherall (Stingrays), Tiarna West (Corrimal), Zali Yeo (Corrimal), Sienna Yeo (Collegians), Rhian Yeo (Collegians).
[Watch Video] Newly appointed captain Lily Rogan talks team culture, captaincy and pre-season preparations
[Watch Video] Premiership-winning Tarsha Gale Cup five-eighth Evie McGrath on her expectations stepping up to the HNWP squad.