The Toyota Forklifts Raiders are pleased to announce that they’ve reached a Memorandum of Understanding with Mounties to further develop their women’s pathways program.
With the Raiders inaugural women’s team set to play in the 2023 NRLW competition later this year, the partnership with the Mounties Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership side provides the opportunity for players to continue to develop their skills in NSW’s premier women’s competition.
The Raiders have had a long history with Mounties, with Mounties having a previous partnership with the club from 2012-2020 in the NSW Cup competition.
Several Canberra-based players are already part of the Mounties Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership squad, travelling up to Sydney to train and play each week, with a view to provide any future contracted Raiders NRLW players with the opportunity to play football in a top tier competition ahead of each NRLW season.
Raiders CEO Don Furner said the MOU with Mounties would give Raiders NRLW contracted players the best opportunity to prepare for NRLW competition and would be used in conjunction with the already successful and expanding Katrina Fanning Shield competition in Canberra.
“The Raiders and Mounties had a long and successful association in men’s senior competitions and we’re really excited to re-establish the partnership for our women’s program,” Furner said.
“We’re very fortunate that we have a growing women’s competition in Canberra in the Katrina Fanning Shield and this partnership gives us the opportunity to see our players play at another high level; ahead of NRLW season fixtures.”
Raiders NRLW coach Darrin Borthwick said the partnership was all about giving players the opportunity to best prepare for NRLW standard rugby league and would also give the club a further avenue to test and assess potential squad members.
“We’re in a wonderful position here in Canberra where players can see a clear pathway to the NRLW from our academy programs, through our Tarsha Gale Cup team and the Katrina Fanning Shield, but this partnership allows us to really see the best players competing against each other before the NRLW season,” Borthwick said.
“It’s our first year in the NRLW competition and we want to make sure we’re giving any potential Raiders players the best preparation before the official pre-season begins later in the year.”
“Mounties is a wonderful club, and we know we’re looking forward to working with them to not only improve our squad but to also help them with their Harvey Norman Women’s team winning games and challenging for titles.”
Mounties Group CEO Dale Hunt is excited about the MOU providing a pathway for women in the game.
“Mounties is a proud advocate for fostering rugby league for juniors through to seniors and semi-professional players and we are particularly proud of the work we have undertaken in supporting our women in league program,” explained Dale.
“This partnership with the Raiders will further cement our spotlight on the women who are instrumental to bringing rugby league to fans and grassroots players across Australia,” he added.
Mounties take on the Wests Tigers in round four Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership action tonight, you can watch it live here.
