BALANCING the push for their maiden Western Women's Rugby League premiership with ensuring all players get enjoyment - it is something the Panorama Platypi are determined to get right in 2021. While the number of players in a Platypi jumper have increased since the launch of the competition, the decision to expand the 2021 season from five regular rounds to 10 is expected to trigger a further influx. It should help the Platypi, who have played in finals across the age groups but are yet to win a decider, be more competitive. But Platypi president Cas Hanrahan is still intent on giving all players - new and old - the chance to enjoy the growth sport. "It is going to make it harder for us to balance picking the best players and still try and develop those who aren't as good as others and are there more for fun," she said. "We need to make sure we don't lose sight of keeping the game for all chasing glory. Glory is nice, but if we can develop all those girls as well, if they can come away with a smile on their face and say they've achieved something, that's important." READ MORE: Skinner is excited to foster emerging talents in Western under 16s academy READ MORE: Western Women's Rugby League season 2021 will expand to feature 10 regular rounds READ MORE: Western Rams coach would like to see Group clash played prior to Country Championships Developing female talents is something Western Division has done a good job with thus far, with Hanrahan saying she was not really surprised that WWRL unanimously voted to increase the length of the competition. It is a move she described as a "natural evolution" and not only will it see an already popular sport continue to grow, but it is hoped it will give the region's leading talents a better chance at cracking the elite ranks. "The Western Rams with the women are years ahead of some of the other regions that are only now just starting to bring in a women's tackle comp," she said. "Jess Skinner, she is brilliant, she has really pushed and really got those Rams squads going for the girls, created pathways into the Lisa Fioala and the Tarsha Gale [Cups]. She's really pushing the juniors and she's got the open squad as well. It's brilliant the girls have got those pathways. "It will be hard on some of the other sports like AFL which also has girls football, but this is one of the growing sports at the moment."
GETTING STUCK IN: Tiana Monks tries to palm off a Castlereagh rival in the increasingly popular WWRL competition. Photo: PHIL BLATCH
BALANCING the push for their maiden Western Women's Rugby League premiership with ensuring all players get enjoyment - it is something the Panorama Platypi are determined to get right in 2021.
While the number of players in a Platypi jumper have increased since the launch of the competition, the decision to expand the 2021 season from five regular rounds to 10 is expected to trigger a further influx.
It should help the Platypi, who have played in finals across the age groups but are yet to win a decider, be more competitive.
But Platypi president Cas Hanrahan is still intent on giving all players - new and old - the chance to enjoy the growth sport.
"It is going to make it harder for us to balance picking the best players and still try and develop those who aren't as good as others and are there more for fun," she said.
"We need to make sure we don't lose sight of keeping the game for all chasing glory. Glory is nice, but if we can develop all those girls as well, if they can come away with a smile on their face and say they've achieved something, that's important."
We need to make sure we don't lose sight of keeping the game for all chasing glory.
Developing female talents is something Western Division has done a good job with thus far, with Hanrahan saying she was not really surprised that WWRL unanimously voted to increase the length of the competition.
It is a move she described as a "natural evolution" and not only will it see an already popular sport continue to grow, but it is hoped it will give the region's leading talents a better chance at cracking the elite ranks.
"The Western Rams with the women are years ahead of some of the other regions that are only now just starting to bring in a women's tackle comp," she said.
"Jess Skinner, she is brilliant, she has really pushed and really got those Rams squads going for the girls, created pathways into the Lisa Fioala and the Tarsha Gale [Cups]. She's really pushing the juniors and she's got the open squad as well. It's brilliant the girls have got those pathways.
"It will be hard on some of the other sports like AFL which also has girls football, but this is one of the growing sports at the moment."
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