Sleepless Nights for Ferns Selectors

Thursday, April 28, 2016
Sleepless Nights for Ferns Selectors

Akarana second row Annetta Nuuausala is poised to follow big brother Frank-Paul into a test jersey, with selection for the Kiwi Ferns team to contest next week’s Downer Test curtainraiser.

Coach Alan Jackson has named five test newcomers in his 18-strong group to take on archrivals Australia in Newcastle – all but one were part of the roster that defeated the Jillaroos at the NRL Auckland Nines in February.

Nuuausala is excited to continue her family name at international level. Frank-Paul Nuuausala (Kiwi #754), currently playing with the Canberra Raiders in the NRL, chalked up 15 tests for the national men’s side between 2009-13, including the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

“This means the world to me,” says Annetta (21). “After seeing my older siblings participate in sport and then to see my older brother reach this stage too, I thought I’d give it a go.”

Nuuausala made her national team debut at the Nines, a result that will boost the Kiwi Ferns, after losing last year’s Anzac Test in Brisbane.

“The Nines was a good experience,” she says. “I learned a lot from the campaign and took it back with me to my club footy.

“Now I think I’m better than I was last year and without that exposure, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Jackson admits the selection of this outfit presented some tough challenges.

“The selectors and I had a number of sleepless nights picking this team,” he says. “The quality of the players we have in the game in New Zealand at the moment is very, very good, making this a hard job, but we’re very happy with the 18 that we have.

“We’ve built since the Nines. The girls have been working very hard and we’re looking forward to this test match.

“The Aussies have very fast backs and very strong forwards that keep working all day, so it’s going to be a real challenge. They beat us by eight last year, so we’re looking for a little bit of revenge.”

The Kiwi Ferns team for the Downer Trans-Tasman Test curtainraiser is:

Player Zone
Mary-Jane Ale Counties Manukau
Maitua Feterika Counties Manukau
Sarina Fiso Counties Manukau
Teuila Fotu-Moala Counties Manukau
Georgia Hale Akarana
Amber Kani Counties Manukau
Nora Maaka Counties Manukau
Kelly Maipi Counties Manukau
Lilieta Maumau Counties Manukau
Charmaine McMenamin Akarana
Va’anessa Molia-Fraser Akarana
Krystal Murray Mid Central
Annetta Nuuausala Akarana
Kahurangi Peters Counties Manukau
Krystal Rota Counties Manukau
Kristina Sue Mid Central
Atawhai Tupaea Counties Manukau
Lanulangi Veainu Counties Manukau
Coach: Alan Jackson
Assistant coach: Grant Pocklington
Manager: Anita Smith-McKinnon
Trainer: James Delacey
Physiotherapist: Sarah Fanuatanu
Physio assistant: Sonya Rogers
Technical support: Dan Keepa

ends

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