The New Zealand Rugby League Sky Sport National Women’s Premiership is set to return with preparations into their final stages by participating Districts and Zones.
The 2023 Premiership Grand Final saw the Akarana Falcons women narrowly go down to the Auckland Vulcans who claimed their first-ever title.
For the upcoming 2024 competition, Akarana has appointed an all-female coaching staff including three former Kiwi Ferns with Charlotte Scanlan at the helm.
Kiwi Fern #103 and former NRLW player Scanlan is stepping up to her first Head Coaching role in the National Premiership, after serving as the team’s Assistant Coach last year. Her appointment is fitting having donned the Akarana jersey herself as a player only four years ago.
Scanlan shared, “I’m extremely blessed and privileged to be giving back to the Zone that helped launch my playing career and solidified my love of rugby league. It was always an honour putting on the Akarana jersey… It’s the same now as the Head Coach, I want to help our players take the next step.”
“There wasn’t an intention to select all females for our staff, but it’s a reflection of the landscape we have here in Aotearoa. More wāhine are putting their hand up to be in this space and the desire to give back and connect with the next group of women coming through is strong.”
Already this year Scanlan has assisted with the One NZ Warriors SG Ball Cup team and coached the Auckland Girls Youth Team in their Australia Tour.
Additionally, Scanlan is currently completing the prestigious High Performance Sport New Zealand Te Hāpaitanga initiative, an 18-month high-performance coaching development programme for wāhine in New Zealand.
The team’s staff is bolstered by Kiwi Fern #130 Alex Walker (née Cook) as the team’s Trainer and Kiwi Fern #34 Tasha Davie as Assistant Coach.
“Tasha Davie and Alex Walker were both influential leaders on-field and I know they both bring a tonne of experience to the space.”
Davie herself has expanded her coaching repertoire in recent years, acting as the New Zealand 18s Clubs assistant coach and Akarana 18s Girls Head Coach in 2023.
She was also named the Auckland Rugby League Women’s Premiership Coach of the Year in 2023 after coaching the Mt. Albert women to a Grand Final in her maiden year as a Head Coach in the Premiership.
Team Analyst Baillie Morton is a former Kiwi Ferns analyst, while Manager Marie Scanlan brings experience from managing the Auckland Vulcans in previous National Championship campaigns.
The NZRL Sky Sport National Women’s Premiership kicks off 7th September with matches taking place throughout the country.
