National Champs a key step for future Kiwi Ferns

This week's Harvey Norman Women's National Championships will offer New Zealand the rare chance to test their elite teenage talent against some of Australia's best players. 

New Zealand will enter a team in the tournament – a U19 selection dubbed Ahi Ka Aotearoa – for the first time this year.

They have been drawn in Pool B alongside QLD Rubys, NSW Country and First Nations Gems. 

With no age-grade national sides for the women currently, or opportunities to develop players through pathways like the Women's State of Origin U19s, NZRL GM of high performance Motu Tony said the National Championships will provide a valuable opportunity for emerging Kiwi Ferns. 

"This is an opportunity for our young women to test themselves against the next crop of NRLW players in Australia," Tony said. 

We wanted to ensure our players had the same opportunities as those in Australia, which is difficult at this stage because the female professional game is still in its infancy. 

Motu Tony

"You can train and play locally, but until you compete with those overseas and test yourself against them you just won’t know individually, or as a team, where you are at."

The Ahi Ka Aotearoa squad is made up entirely of New Zealand-based players who have been identified through the domestic secondary schools competition and other youth tournaments. 

Importantly, Tony said the team will also have 80 percent female representation on its staff. 

Jillaroos head coach Brad Donald – no stranger to helping his trans-Tasman rivals after he coached the Warriors NRLW side in 2020 during the pandemic – said it's crucial New Zealand have the chance to develop pathways similar to those on offer in Australia. 

"We have worked really closely with them to set up the pathways similar to what New South Wales and Queensland have, so players don’t have to leave the comforts of home," Donald said.