Former Queensland Origin representative Adrian Vowles has been tasked with re-establishing the Maroons' dominance in women's rugby league having been appointed coach of the Queensland women's team for 2017.
Last season the New South Wales women's team broke Queensland's 17-year stranglehold of the Nellie Doherty Cup with a gritty 8-4 win on the Gold Coast with Vowles coming in to replace current Jillaroos coach Brad Donald.
A veteran of 271 first grade games in the NRL and the English Super League, Vowles served as an assistant coach to former Jillaroos head coach Steve Folkes and the one-time Origin rep said that it was a great honour to take charge of the women's team.
"Women's rugby league is the fastest growing area of our game and I'm honoured to be involved at this level," Vowles said.
"NSW certainly came to play last year and thoroughly deserved their win.
"I know how much this Queensland jersey means to the players and together with our support staff, we'll be doing everything in our power to ensure the group is well prepared to deliver a strong performance."
There will be a wealth of elite level experience in the coaching ranks for the women's team this year with former Dragon and Wests Tiger Ben Jeffries to serve as Vowles' assistant. Jeffries, who played 253 games in the Super League, is a development officer in North Queensland and acts as an assistant coach with Cowboys under-20s head coach Aaron Payne.
Cowboys assistant coach Josh Hannay has been appointed coach of the Queensland under-18 team while new Souths Logan coach Jon Buchanan will coach the Queensland Residents team.
Read the complete release on the QRL's coaching appointments at www.qrl.com.au.
