The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles have formed a relationship with the Wentworthville Magpies (Wenty), as a measure to strengthen the club’s female pathways program.
The NSWRL-approved alliance will enable Manly’s junior female players an opportunity to progress to Wenty’s senior programs following the conclusion of the junior representative season.
The Wenty partnership will provide young women in Manly’s junior programs a clear and seamless pathway to continue their development once the junior rep season ends in April.
For example, players from the Sea Eagles’ Tarsha Gale (U/19s) squad will now be able to progress to Wenty’s open-age programs such as the NSW Women’s Premiership.
The Sea Eagles consider the partnership a key step in its long-term vision to field a team in the NRLW Premiership, while in the shorter term, the arrangement will encourage local juniors to remain in Manly’s junior programs.
Sea Eagles Head of Recruitment and Elite Pathways, Craig Walker, is confident the relationship with Wenty will be beneficial to the club.
“This is great news for our female pathways program,” Walker said.
This arrangement will give our local girls a plan beyond just the junior rep season.
Craig Walker Sea Eagles Head of Recruitment & Elite Pathways
“Manly have lost local juniors to rival clubs in years gone by because we could not provide the development stepping stones that the girls need.
“Our best young players can now play Lisa Fiaola (U/17s) and Tarsha Gale with the Sea Eagles, then play for Wenty in the NSW Women’s Premiership. Importantly, they will remain connected to the Sea Eagles and in our system.
“There is still much to do over the next few years, but we see this as an important step towards the Club’s future participation in the NSW Women’s Premiership, and ultimately the NRLW Premiership”.
