When Wests Tigers announced its women’s squads this week, with more than eighty percent of the players being local juniors, it was another sure sign that the club's development plan is working.
As a ‘development club’, the plan for Wests Tigers is to develop and retain local talent. Strategically, player development and pathways planning are fundamental to the long-term growth of our club.
Two of the higher profile local juniors in our senior women’s team are the Curtain twins, Emily and Sophie.
Both are from Campbelltown, both played in the boy’s teams as eight-year-olds, and both have their sights set on playing in the NRLW with the Wests Tigers.
Because of their own journey, the Curtains appreciate perhaps more than most, the need for grassroots development. And for that reason, Emily and Sophie are among the first to put their hands up to help other young girls become involved in our game.
Sophie, and Wests Tigers teammate Sarah Boyle, were recently on hand for an all-female rugby league clinic at Bradbury Oval, open to girls aged between six and 13 years.
It was an opportunity for some enthusiastic youngsters to put their skills to the test and learn from our NRL development officers, and senior women’s players.
Boyle says she gets a kick out of introducing new players to the game.
This was a great way to get young girls involved in the sport, some of whom had never played tackle, oz-tag, league-tag before.
Sarah Boyle
Curtain was excited to see so many attend the clinic despite the dreary weather.
“Being from Campbelltown, it’s extra special for me to see these pathways and development programs happening,” said Curtain.
We didn’t have anything like this, specifically for girls, when I was a youngster coming through.
Sophie Curtain
“Now we’ve got a clear pathway for young girls, all the way from junior rep teams through to NRLW.”
Wests Tigers’ inaugural NRLW season kicks off in July 2023.
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