Rookie watch: Canfield ready for next step after Broncos stint
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Ahead of the rescheduled NRL Telstra Women's Premiership, NRL.com profiles the next crop of talent ready to make their mark in 2022.
Rookie snapshot
- Name: Zara Canfield
- Age: 21
- Club: Titans
- Position: Second row
Titans rookie Zara Canfield may not have played a game for the Broncos during her time at the premiership-winning club but doesn't hesitate when asked what she took away from her experience.
"How hard you've got to work for it," she quipped.
"You can't go in half-hearted at training."
Canfield's shift to the Titans was more tactical than purely for change.
The 21-year-old insists she was given a chance to return to Red Hill but after being stuck behind the Broncos' forward pack, she saw more opportunity at the Titans.
The Titans hit the track for NRLW 2021
"It was tough to leave because I learned so much from the Broncos but it also became hard to watch and celebrate with the team and not take that next step," Canfield said.
"They've changed how I play and approach my game after being in that NRLW environment so I just want that chance.
"Feens (Titans coach Jamie Feeney) was pretty good in trying to get me across.
"He thinks I will get an opportunity to play in the 17 and that's what I want to strive for, to get more game time."
The Tweed Heads product began her rugby league journey aged six alongside the boys but like many female athletes, stopped playing once she hit 12.
She returned from a rugby union stint in 2018 and has been on the cusp of NRLW and representative since.
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"I find it's the fitness that is the biggest challenge and then it goes from there, it's all a mindset," Canfield said.
"We'd been training with [Titans teammate] Georgia Hale in the off-season and she's been intense, definitely someone to look up and aspire to.
"It's been good because we've got a good group of girls we train with."
The Titans have plenty of depth in the back row with Tiana Raftstrand-Smith, Jess Elliston, Brianna Clark and Shaniah Power all vying for edge spots.
Among Canfield's biggest strengths is the ability to run a strong line on the edge.
"I've got the ball skills as well but on my edge at Tweed I was more of the hole-runner and I'm trying to get all of that part right," she said.
Tickets are now on sale for the NRLW season. Ticket prices start at just $12 for adults, and juniors under 15 can redeem a free general admission ticket with any paying adult. Visit nrl.com/tickets
