Nelson Bay Marlins chase under-14 women’s tackle premiership

NELSON Bay Marlins Junior Rugby League Club will be chasing silverware this weekend in the women’s tackle ranks.

The club’s talented under-14 Girls squad are primed to bring home the Hunter Junior League Division Three trophy when they square off with rivals Greta-Branxton Colts in grand final action this Saturday at St John Oval in Charlestown.

Ben Whaler’s fast-developing crop of first-year rookies have taken the competition by storm this season – chalking up 12 wins from their 13 fixtures to capture the minor premiership.

The team had to forfeit a match to the Colts over the June long weekend due to injuries and other representative sporting commitments and lost their only match to Greta-Branxton 22-14 in the recent qualifying final at Tomaree Sports Complex.

Nelson Bay rediscovered their winning groove when they slammed West Maitland Roos 24-12 in last Saturday’s preliminary final at McKeachie’s Sportsground in Aberglasslyn to advance to the title decider.

Now the girls have set their sights on premiership glory and squaring the ledger with the powerful Colts side.

It is the second successive year that the Marlins will feature in an under-14s women’s tackle grand final after finishing runners-up in 2025.

In a historic season for the club, the Marlins fielded a record three women’s tackle teams in the Hunter Junior League’s under-12, under-14 and under-16 competitions.

Nelson Bay’s promising under-16 Marlins finished third in the Division Three women’s tackle competition and bowed out of title reckoning after a 24-18 preliminary final loss to Stockton Sharks last weekend at Lynn Oval.

Under the guidance of co-coaches Whaler and Trent Colley, the Marlins’ under-14s have captured the imagination of the Port Stephens sporting public with their enterprising style of play.

Outstanding halves Cruiz Manning and Maebel Colley have proved attacking lynchpins and try-scoring machines – creating opportunities with their natural ball skills, turn of speed and vision.

The team’s powerhouse forward pack have laid the foundations for many a victory with their drive up front, high work rates and punishing defence.

Rising lock forward Harper Harvey, back rowers Indyana Chapman and Meah Richards, props Harper Lewis and Arabella Whaler and hooker Harlow Colley have turned in consistent displays, with support from Amara Small, Billie Sommerville, Emerald O’Malley, Jessie Last and Adlyn Wilson.

Spearheaded by the classy pairing of team captain Colley and livewire Manning, the Marlins can boast one of the most dynamic back divisions in the women’s tackle division.

Nelson Bay have a gun fullback in Shae Vogtmann, crack centre combination of State relay sprinter Fern Cullimore and the dashing Harlow Earnshaw, who have dented a few reputations with their rugged defence, and quicksilver wingers in Grace Walshe and Laila Shires, who provide plenty of strike power out wide.

By Chris KARAS